Newtown Youth Services sponsors this activity every year to give kids and families the chance to work together, help someone else, and make a small difference in the community. This year, because the expected Nor’easter veered off toward the Atlantic Ocean, the 25 seniors who had requested help with yard work, window washing, flower planting, and other spring chores were not disappointed.

Every one of the 75 volunteers who had signed up to work arrived at the Newtown Meeting House to receive their assignments, even though it was 48 degrees and they expected to be soaked with driving rain. Morning workers were served breakfast, courtesy of Bagel Delight, Starbucks, and Dunkin’ Donuts. Some of the lunch menu items and beverages were donated by South Main Street Deli, Subway on South Main Street, and the Big Y. After each meal, everyone headed out to the job sites.

“One of the dads brought his enclosed pickup truck to the job,” said Peter Anderau, who had signed up to participate with his wife Cindy, their two sons, another adult and six more kids in grades four through seven. “It’s lucky that truck was there, because we raked up three full truckloads of leaves.” Charlie Petrasanta, who transported five ninth and tenth grade girls to a job site, said, “The woman was very grateful. She was amazed that we that we didn’t have any boys with us, but our group got everything done — and fast.”

Volunteers ranged in age from 4 to 50, but most were middle school or high school youth, many of them with one or both parents. One father and daughter team reported, “We’ve never done volunteer work together before. It was fun!”

Flowers for some of the homes were donated by Stop & Shop of Newtown and Hollandia Nurseries. “Planting flowers was a new experience for me,” one of the fathers who worked with his son reported. “But we got them into the ground, and I think they’ll do well.”

Lauren Reed, graduating senior and veteran of many Independent Living Day work sessions, reported to both a morning and afternoon job with co-workers Emily Koh, Jay Schunter, and David Freeston.

“After we finished the raking, window washing, and planting, we discovered a patio in the back yard that was completely covered with old leaves and dirt — so we uncovered it and cleaned it off. The owner was quite surprised,” Lauren said.

By 3 that afternoon, the sun was peeking through the cloud blanket, the jobs were done, and everyone headed home. And, as one senior who called to say thank-you exclaimed, “My place looks a whole lot better now than it did when they arrived!”