Man traveling cross-country to mow lawns stops in Phoenix

For Rodney Smith Jr., it all started with a good deed.

"Back in 2015, I came across this elderly man outside mowing his lawn and it looked like he was struggled, so I pulled over and helped him out," he said.

From there, Rodney challenged himself to mow 40 lawns for the elderly, disabled, single mothers, and veterans, while working toward a degree in computer science, but after surpassing that goal much earlier than planned, something amazing happened.

"And that's when I came up with the idea for Raising Men Lawn Care Service, where we still mow free lawns for the elderly, disabled, single moms, and veterans, but we also include kids ages 7 to 17 and show them the importance of giving back to their community with a lawn mower," Smith Jr. said.

A seed was planted and the idea behind Raising Men Lawn Care Service was born. Rodney says it not only helps their clients, but the young men as well.

That's why he's traveling around the country on a mission, "50 states, 50 lawns," to spread his message that a simple act of kindness can have a huge impact.

"You have the power to change the world, I'm going around the whole United States with a lawn mower encouraging other kids to get out there and they too can do the same," Smith Jr. said. "They can pick up a lawn mower and help someone in need."