Approximately 500 Hofstra student volunteers were in the community today, Saturday, November 18, to participate in the University’s annual Shake-A-Rake program to clear fallen leaves from yards of neighboring senior citizens and disabled residents.
In addition to working on approximately 60 homes that have pre-registered for the event, the students raked leaves at the John J. Byrne Community Center at 806 Jerusalem Avenue in Uniondale. Many of this year’s homeowners are repeat “customers” of the Shake-A-Rake service.
There were two yardwork sessions of 250 students each. The first ran from 9-11:30 a.m. and the second was Noon-2:30 p.m. Before heading out into the neighborhood, students met at HofUSA on the North Campus to pick up rakes, gardening tools and house assignments.
Shake-A-Rake, started by Hofstra in 2009, is sponsored by Hofstra University’s Office of Commuting Student Services and Community Outreach, directed by Anita Ellis. It has become Hofstra’s largest community outreach event.