Edison Jr. High Students rake leaves for over 50 homeowners

PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD) — A community project 18 years in the making in Pekin.

Edison Jr. High Builders Club members set out Tuesday afternoon to rake leaves for 50 homeowners.

It's a been a fall tradition for the school's club for 18 years. The Edison Builders Club is a school program for students looking to improve their community.

What happens if I don't rake my leaves?

Music teacher and Builders Club sponsor, Jaclyn Hatterman, said it is the kids that come up with projects that the club does over the school year, like raking leaves.

"I think people noticed maybe some of the elderly in our community who can't get out and noticed, you know, leaves in their yard," she said. "That was just one of the ideas I'm sure a student had, because it's student-led. And the students come up with all of our ideas throughout the school year."

Over 300 students were outside raking leaves in the neighborhood near Edison Jr. High School. Both 7th and 8th graders were part of the Builders Club project to rake leaves in Pekin on Tuesday.

Serafina Jilson, an 8th grader at Edison and Builders Club member, says she thought raking leaves was the perfect opportunity to help her neighbors.

"I wanted to be in and as involved as I could in the school," Jilson said. "I wanted to be able to take part in my community and help it out."