RRHS seeking houses needing help with yard work

RIO RANCHO — Rio Rancho High School’s community service project “Big Event” is coming Nov. 16.

RRHS Big Event project is a day where students help senior citizens in need of yard work and small home improvement jobs.

“We wanted to give back to the community and do yard work for those who can’t do it. We got a ton of students and staff involved and want to get as many houses as we can,” RRHS senior Nathan Freund said.

RRHS’s Big Event is in its 16th year, and this year, the hope is to gather 700 students to help 100 households in the community.

“We are looking to help community members with yard work, and every fall the Rio Rancho Associated Students sponsors the event. We send close to, between 600-700 volunteers out to the community to begin working on helping ‘Winterize’ homes or rake leaves,” RRHS Activities Director Christopher Salas said. “Seniors are our primary target, but we will help anyone in need of help. We have plenty of willing and dedicated students who want to help.”

According to Salas, Big Event is one of the largest community service projects in Rio Rancho.

“If any community organizations want to sponsor, we give every volunteer a T-shirt and we put sponsors’ names on the back [of the T-shirt]. You can do that for as little as $50,” Salas said. “We are also looking for donations of food because we feed the volunteers before and after the work.”

If you would like your house to get some yard work, you can call 505-896-5600 extension 53488.

Homes calling for yard work are encouraged to leave a voicemail with your name, phone number, address and a brief description of what kind of work needs to be done.

“Now, our students can’t do anything involving animal feces or operate heavy equipment, but we can help with general ‘winterizing’ of the homes,” Salas said.

Homes needing yard work must register by Nov. 1; that way, transportation can be planned out. Students will come on Nov. 16 for services.

If you would like to sponsor the event, make a food donation for volunteers, volunteer or need any other information, call the same phone number above.

“Even if you aren’t a student here at Rio Rancho High School, participate. It’s good for our community,” RRHS senior class vice president Serenity Luna said.