Neighbors Helping Neighbors

In order to sucessfully survive and prosper in an urban neigborhood you have to help each other. We have many such neighborly efforts.

2 weekends ago we had Paint Your Heart Out! Tampa "...... a city-wide program that enables citizens, businesses, clubs, and organizations to lend a helping hand to low-income, elderly citizens in our community. Over the past 16 years, volunteers and sponsors have given of themselves to paint the homes of more than 1,600 grateful and deserving homeowners." SE Seminole Heights has been involved in the program since 1989, one of the earliest neighborhoods. My house was a PYHO house in 1993 under a elderly prior owner.

Now comes this article in the Tampa Tribune about a new "grassroots" (I'm feel no remorse for the pun) reduced rate lawn cutting program for the elderly started in Old Seminole Heights.

"Apr 28, 2005
A Neighborly Cut Above
By KATHY STEELE ksteele@tampatrib.com

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS - The trimmed lawns and tree-lined streets were what Nancy Dessart liked about the Seminole Heights neighborhood where she bought her home five years ago.

But then the 62-year-old didn't figure on the work it would take to keep her home trimmed. She tried several lawn services and hired neighborhood children to mow, clip and edge. Nothing quite worked.

``I was questioning the wisdom of purchasing a house,'' Dessart said, rethinking her decision years ago not to buy a condominium.

Enter the Grass Girls Lawn Service - a 10-member volunteer team of women who live in Seminole Heights and do it all grasswise for $10 a lawn or $20 for a double lot.

Dessart's dilemma, and that of other seniors living in Seminole Heights, is exactly why the grass girls cranked up mowers and revved blowers.

Too many seniors aren't able to do the heavy lifting anymore or they have limited income, said Diane Jenkins, who heads the green space and beautification committee for the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association.

She heard horror stories from two older residents about a man who mowed their lawns and then demanded a fee plus $40 extra to repair a lawn mower blade.

Jenkins talked to more neighbors.

``It got us to thinking if this is happening to two people in the neighborhood in a week, this must be pretty big,'' Jenkins said.

They surveyed 25 seniors in Seminole Heights about a nonprofit lawn service for older and medically needy residents.

``They were very receptive, and some people told us they kept lawn services because they felt bullied,'' Jenkins said.

That was nearly two lawns and a year ago. The grass girls now mow 20 lawns, exclusively in Seminole Heights, for residents who are 65 or older, or who are medically disabled. Their oldest customer is a 93-year-old woman.

``She's pretty spry, but she can't push a lawn mower,'' Jenkins said.

The grass girls have a waiting list, and more volunteers are needed, Jenkins said.

Yardwork generally is scheduled on weekends. Volunteers work in pairs and as often as possible mow lawns closest to their homes, Jenkins said.

For now, everyone supplies her own equipment, but the grass girls have applied for status as a charitable organization.

Jenkins said the group will apply for state grants to help buy sturdier equipment. There is also the possibility that grants could be used to contract some work to professional lawn services, Jenkins said.

``It wasn't designed to undercut lawn services,''

Jenkins said. ``It's not a money-making business. It's designed to give people respect they deserve but give them a product they're looking for.''

Money collected in excess of expenses is donated quarterly to different charities, including the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute. This quarter's recipient will be the American Heart Association.

Melody Brown sees her work as a grass girl as almost selfish.

``You want neighbors' yards to look good, so you give up a bit of your time to help out,'' she said.

``You get to know your neighbors. Some of these people are so isolated.''

Yardwork and socializing come together, Jenkins said.

``They always come out and talk to you and always want to give you something to drink,'' she said.

Dessart said she enjoys her home more now that she no longer worries about lawn chores.

``I putter with flowers, but there are a ton of things I can't do,'' she said. ``I don't even think about it anymore.''

For information or to volunteer, call Jenkins at (813) 237-0287.

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 259-7146.

This story can be found at: http://tampatrib.com/News/MGB74C8338E.html "

Good work Diane and Melody!! Someone nominate them for a Neighborhood of the Year award from NUSA.