Operation Leaf Relief leaves students feeling fulfilled

Joe Gamm/News Tribune
Madi Trachsel (from left) Landrey VanOverscheldt, both Helias High School students, and Mackenzie Davis from Blair Oaks High School rake leaves away from a veteran's home early Friday afternoon as part of Operation Leaf Relief.
Joe Gamm/News Tribune Madi Trachsel (from left) Landrey VanOverscheldt, both Helias High School students, and Mackenzie Davis from Blair Oaks High School rake leaves away from a veteran's home early Friday afternoon as part of Operation Leaf Relief.

Operation Leaf Relief is in the midst of its annual push to clear area yards of their autumn collection of leaves.

The Operation Bugle Boy project taps into the energy of youthful volunteers who approach the work with an attitude of wanting to give back to veterans who have sacrificed for the United States.

Operation Bugle Boy is a nonprofit that honors veterans and first responders. Leaf Relief helps pay for services the nonprofit offers, and has been the organization's biggest fundraiser, according to Chris Jarboe. The operation makes money for the nonprofit through supporters, who pay for leaf removal (either at their own homes or at those of area veterans).

"We started after Sept. 11," Jarboe said. "Coach (Pete) Adkins teamed up with us. He used to have his football team do yard work. I called him up a couple of days after the attacks and asked if we could use his idea -- and call it Operation Leaf Relief."

Not only did Adkins agree, he helped organize the early efforts. With his support, the effort "took off," Jarboe said.

Students this year began removing leaves from homes Thursday. They continued Friday and will work in yards today and Sunday, and again on Dec. 3-4.

Students representing Nichols Career Center and Blair Oaks, Calvary Lutheran, Helias and Russellville high schools, along with Lighthouse Preparatory Academy, participated in relief Friday.

Kenley Mitchell, a Blair Oaks senior, said she has volunteered for Operation Leaf Relief for the past three years.

"I just think it's a really good way to get involved in the community," Kenley said. "And I like helping out the local veterans."

She said she's worked on a lot of different houses for the nonprofit. But she added the house the students worked on Friday probably has one of the biggest and steepest yards among them.

Blair Oaks junior Mackenzie Davis said she is in her second year raking leaves through the operation. She feels rewarded when doing the work.

"After we completed it (in 2021), Mr. Jarboe told us about what these people had done for us," Mackenzie said. "This is such a small task we can do -- compared to what (veterans) did."

Madi Trachsel and Landrey VanOverscheldt, seniors from Helias who attend the Nichols Career Center, stood shoulder-to-shoulder raking leaves Friday afternoon. They said they liked it so far.

"You can volunteer -- really for anything -- (to perform community service)," VanOverscheldt said.

The schools provide lists of dates and activities students may participate in, Trachsel said. She said she also participated in Wave 'Em if You Have 'Em, a local effort to salute veterans. The annual Operation Bugle Boy event features a veteran appreciation night in early November. During the celebration, honored veterans are driven along a planned route and recognized by the public, who line the route and wave American flags.

VanOverscheldt said she's spent some time volunteering at the food pantry at Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri.

Trachsel said she also performed community service when she went on mission and bagged up food and delivered it to homeless people in Kansas City.

photo Joe Gamm/News Tribune Kenley Mitchell builds up a large pile of leaves Friday during Operation Leaf Relief, a project from Operation Bugle Boy.