Free Yard Work: Atlanta Couple Cuts Grass for Homeowners in Distress

Residents in south Atlanta who face the threat of losing their homes due to overgrown lawns can now request free professional landscaping from a local couple. Jarvis Drake and Diamond Owens operate Drake Lawn Care, a service established a few years ago to assist neighbors who lack the physical ability or financial resources to maintain their property.

The couple targets properties that are currently in violation of city code or are close to reaching that status. Their clients are typically elderly, disabled, or otherwise unable to handle routine lawn maintenance. Drake noted that his wife, Diamond, encouraged the creation of the business as a method for giving back to their community.

Owens clarified that the service is provided at no cost to the homeowner, though the couple incurs their own expenses to perform the work. "We do it 100% free of charge, and actually I don't say free because it costs us money to do it," Owens said.

Recently, the duo completed a project on a property owned by Renee Davis. The home has remained empty for several years following a fire that occurred five years ago. Davis explained that her mother lived in the house prior to the fire, which started when a caregiver accidentally placed a lamp on the bed. The family could not rebuild the home because the insurance had not been paid, despite what Davis' mother believed.

Since the fire, Davis' mother has passed away, and Davis was diagnosed with cancer. She recently beat the disease but remains on a fixed income, which she uses to pay for an apartment and the property taxes on the family home. "All last year I was getting chemo and radiation," Davis said. "Now I ain't got no more cancer, but I have tired days."

Drake connected with Davis on a personal level after learning about her cancer diagnosis. He recalled losing his own mother to sarcoma in 2014 after she survived chemotherapy. "So, when she reached out to me and let us know she beat cancer, that reminded me of my mom," Drake said. "That hit home for me, so I had to come help her."

The couple spent less than seven days transforming the overgrown yard into a maintained space. The work required just under $1,000 in out-of-pocket expenses for the couple. Owens stated that the effort requires only a small amount of time and kindness, which he believes returns ten-fold to the community.

Individuals who require extensive lawn maintenance and meet the service requirements can contact Drake Lawn Care at 404-218-9617.