ROGERSVILLE, Mo. (AP) - A 13-year-old southern Missouri boy who's mowing lawns for free for single mothers, senior citizens and the disabled isn't letting typical teenager distractions cut into his charitable ambitions.
While other young kids may be hanging out with friends or playing video games, Christian Williams of Rogersville is doing the grass-grooming service project, the Springfield News-Leader (http://sgfnow.co/2cDjw0k) reported.
The effort - Raising Men Lawn Care Service - was launched last year in Alabama by Rodney Smith Jr. The Alabama A&M University student challenged himself to mow 40 yards for those in need and within two weeks had reached 100. Smith challenged young people to do the same, and Williams accepted.
He started mowing for free earlier this month and has done at least six lawns, all on weekends. For every 10 yards he mows, Smith will send him a different colored T-shirt. If the teenager cuts 50 lawns, Smith has pledged to come to Rogersville and mow a few yards with him - and give the boy a new mower.
Williams said people seem to appreciate his donated toil for them.
"They are saying I'm doing a great job," he said. "I feel pretty good about it."
Jennifer Campbell - William's mom, who also is single - said she understands what a blessing a free mowing can be to people who might not have the means to tend to a lawn themselves.
"I know it's just a yard and it's just mowing, but to someone that cannot do it themselves it's so much more, and we totally get that," she said.