Winter is far from over, but the Oxford Gives Back (OGB) committee is already planning for spring.

Homeowners in need of free yardwork are being sought for OGB’s fourth annual work weekend on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28.

OGB has about 25 confirmed registrations so far and the list keeps growing.

“We have a lot of people returning from last year,” said Emily McClear, the Oxford High School junior leading the OGB committee.

OGB is open to homeowners in Oxford, Addison and Orion townships. Anyone who is unable to do yardwork and cannot afford to hire someone to do it for them is eligible. The program assists senior citizens (age 60 and older), disabled individuals, people suffering from major illnesses or undergoing physically-taxing treatments such as chemotherapy, low-income folks and single parents.

Services include raking, mulching, weeding, trimming, clearing debris, bagging and burning yard waste, preparing gardens, planting flowers and performing other outdoor chores.

Last year, 70 homes received free yardwork thanks to the efforts of approximately 600 OGB volunteers.

“The homeowners were so glad to have people helping them,”  McClear said. “A lot of them brought out cookies and pizza (for the volunteers).”

Anyone interested in signing up for the program or nominating someone else to receive services is encouraged to either send an email to oxfordgivesback@gmail.com or call McClear at (248) 605-0658.

McClear thinks “it’s great to help those in need,” but she believes the “more meaningful” part of OGB is “the relationships that are built” between volunteers and homeowners.

She recalled how one of the senior ladies last year “had fields and fields of leaves to be raked,” but she was more interested in socializing with the volunteers than seeing her property cleared. “She kept coming out and chatting with everybody and sharing stories about her horses and talking about her husband,” McClear said. “She had so many stories to share with us.”

In addition to homeowners, OGB is seeking volunteers to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. In the past, volunteers have included Oxford students (ranging from elementary to high school age), school district employees, young athletes, parents, coaches, scouts, church groups, families and other community members.

Sponsorships are also welcome.

McClear said OGB will take “anything that anybody has to offer.”