By Sandy Quadros Bowles

Editor

With rakes and full hearts, volunteers helped clean leaves from the yards of Natick seniors in November.

The program, run through the Natick Community Services Department,  drew groups and individuals willing to lend a hand.

Volunteers included  representatives of the Achieve Program, Avitzur Family, Andres Chan, Richard Charles, Jayden Chow, Boy Scout Troop 1775, Cub Scout Pack 7, Cub Scouts Pack 40, Girl Scout Troop 70621, H & H Landscaping, Hnatyshyn Family, Mitsubishi Electric, Natick Travel Basketball-multiple teams, New Life Ministry-Hopkinton, Felipe Quintero and representatives of the Rivers School.

One of the Natick Travel basketball teams “went above and beyond’’ by raking leaves two weeks after the scheduled date, which was rained out, said Grace O’Donnell, program manager for volunteer services of the Natick Community Services Department.

And because the town trucks had completed leaf bag pick-ups by the time they could rescheduled, team members brought the leaves to the dump themselves. 

“The homeowner was so grateful that they honored their commitment to him,’’ O’Donnell said.

Gratitude was a common theme. “We’re grateful to all the volunteers who care about our seniors to help in this way,’’ she said.