Outfitted with rakes, plastic bags, tarps and blue United Way T-shirts, Oak Manor sixth grade students were on a mission Tuesday to help out area seniors.

The nearly 80 sixth graders in the YMCA’s after school program Y-Club were involved in the kick-off to the United Way of Southwest Michigan’s annual Day of Action for Seniors — a time when volunteers rake yards and winter-proof homes for the area’s needy elderly population.

The Day of Action isn’t until Thursday, but the Y-Club students got a head start.

“It’s a very large group and that is great because all the support is appreciated,” said Ryan Cheevers, marketing director with the United Way.

The students cleaned up the yards of seven elderly residents in the Oak Manor area that were identified by the United Way of Southwest Michigan.

Nichole Weber, who helps facilitate the Y-Club program, said the Y-Club participated in the Day of Action last year.

“It worked out really well, so they reached out to us again,” she said.

Some school staff and staff from the YMCA also pitched in.

The event leads up to Thursday’s Day of Action, when a large group of volunteers are expected to perform fall clean up duties in Berrien and Cass counties.