The United Way of Southwest Michigan is making an urgent call for volunteers to rake leaves for seniors next month as part of its Rake a Difference event.

United Way Volunteer Engagement Director Debbie Ramirez tells us they’re short of the number of volunteers needed.

“We’ve got more than a thousand who have signed up, which is awesome, but we have had a record number of seniors register this year and request help, so we need a record number of volunteers to offset that,” Ramirez said. “We’re probably between three and five hundred volunteers short right now.”

Ramirez says hundreds of seniors have signed up for Rake a Difference, and some might not be served on Rake a Difference day November 14 if some more volunteers don’t come through.

Those who do help out report a positive experience.

“Volunteers are kind of enamored with the seniors. Like some of these seniors really go all out. There are seniors who give them snacks and make brownies and give them water There are seniors who give them snacks and make brownies and give them water and they just really enjoy talking.

Ramirez says they especially need volunteer teams in Niles-Buchanan, Watervliet-Coloma, New Buffalo, South Haven, Cassopolis, and Dowagiac. And time is running out to sign up with the deadline being this Friday.

Ramirez invites anyone interested to register online. You can learn more right here.