Rodney Smith Jr. is mowing lawns this summer — not only at his home in Huntsville, Alabama, but in all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. And he's doing it for free.

Smith (@iamrodneysmith) says his goal is to help the elderly, people who are disabled, veterans and single mothers, and his nonprofit organization Raising Men Lawn Care Service has gotten young kids involved in the effort.

He tells Here & Now's Lisa Mullins that many of the people whose grass he cuts are "shocked" at first, but then appreciative that someone is there to help.

"I remember just a few days ago, this lady, she was a widow for a few years, and she just let the lawn go, because her husband used to take care of the lawn," Smith says. "But I came and mowed it for her. And it hadn't been cut in probably three to four years."

Interview Highlights

On how he finds out about lawns in need of mowing

"Before I started the tour, I made a request to my followers, if they knew anyone in the cities and states I'll be going to. So I selected a city in each state where I'd be going to, and I put it out, and people just start submitting lawns of those who are elderly, disabled, single moms and veterans, and that's how it all happened.

"I mow an average of three to four lawns per city. Sometimes it's more. Like yesterday in Casper, Wyoming, I had about five or six lawns. So it was a pretty busy day."

Tennessee was the 26th state where Rodney Smith Jr. has mowed a lawn so far. (Courtesy 50 States 50 Lawns)

On how many young people he's recruited so far

"We have a total of about 180 kids taking part in our 50 Yard Challenge, including one in Canada and seven in Bermuda and England that are taking part in this challenge. So let's say you had a kid in New York that accepted the challenge, all they would need to do is make a sign saying, 'I accept the 50 Yard Challenge,' and in return, we send them a white Raising Men Lawn Care Service T-shirt, along with shades and ear protection. Once they mow 10 lawns, they get an orange shirt, 20 a green, 30 a blue, 40 a red and 50 a black.

"And once they reach 50, we fly to them, we do lawns with them and we also give them brand new lawnmowers. To date, 12 kids nationwide have completed this."