More than 500 Hofstra University student volunteers are cleaning up the yards of at least 50 local senior citizens and disabled residents as part of their Shake-A-Rake program Saturday.

The college students are spending their time raking leaves and cleaning up trash in the Hempstead and Uniondale communities.

 "We're part of the club softball team and, as a group, we like to get involved with events at Hofstra and give back, so that's why we're all out here today and we're all having a nice time and helping out in the community," Hofstra freshman Emily Mauro says.

There are more than 50 different student organizations participating from Hofstra.

They're also raking at a community center in Uniondale and cleaning up leaves and garbage in Hofstra's bird sanctuary on campus.

The students say they're just happy to lend a hand in their community.

Organizers of Shake-A-Rake say since the event was canceled last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this is most students they've had volunteer for the annual event.