Wichita, Kansas man Spencer (who prefers not to share his last name online) has been mowing lawns since he was 11 years old. This led him to start his business, SB Mowing, which offers traditional lawn and landscaping care services — but it also does a whole lot more.
After going viral on TikTok for his satisfying time-lapse videos, Spencer began offering free lawn care to neighbors in need, racking up a whopping 11.8 million followers on the app over the years.
His most recent endeavor was to help his neighbor, Beth, whose overgrown yard was so out of control that the city was going to charge her $240 to cut it — a fee she couldn’t afford.
“I got a call from a friend at the city, and she told me that there is an elderly lady that is in desperate need of help,” Spencer wrote on a GoFundMe page. “So I stopped by her house, and her lawn was getting CRAZY!”
Spencer took care of it, and shared a video of his work on January 9, which quickly became one of his most-viewed of all time, with over 94 million views to date. Beth was overcome with gratitude.
But as his TikTok comments filled up, with people encouraging him to raise funds for her property to be maintained regularly, the compassion people had for Beth blossomed into something even bigger.
“I shared the video… on my social media platforms, and a lot of people are wanting to donate to help her fix some of the accessibility issues around her home,” Spencer wrote on a GoFundMe page.
Beth, who is seen in the videos with a cane, mentioned that she had some broken windows and that it was hard for her to navigate her driveway and home.
Spencer hoped to fundraise enough to provide Beth a ramp, a new driveway, a chairlift to help her move through her home, a lawncare contractor — and if funds were available — some repaired windows and a new, more accessible bed. The original goal for the fundraiser was $100,000.
Within a few days, however, over 32,000 people pitched in to raise a whopping $810,000. And the number continues to rise, with small donations of $5, $10, or $25 coming through.
Spencer told Beth about the fundraiser and visited her again a few days later to tell her it had raised over $500,000 at that point.
“You know how I was setting up that GoFundMe for you? That was yesterday that I started that, and in about 24 hours, 21,000 people donated to it,” Spencer told Beth in another video, holding her hands in his.
She gasps and begins to cry, her small voice responding, “there’s no fire here.”
Beth is referencing the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, California, where thousands have been displaced and lost their homes.
“There’s no fire here,” Spencer laughs, “but there’s you.”
Before Spencer tells Beth how much has been raised, they take a deep breath together, and he reads some of the encouraging messages donors have left for her.
“You deserve every bit of this money. I hope our donations help to brighten your life,” one donor, Amanda, wrote. “You seem like an absolute sweetheart. I am grateful to have a chance to help you.”
On GoFundMe, Spencer wrote that, aside from fixing any of Beth’s accessibility issues, some leftover money will be given to her in cash, with the rest donated to local nonprofits that help other people in similar situations.
A report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University found that 6.8 million American households report difficulties navigating or using their homes. And as residents age, the likelihood of reporting a disability — and therefore, difficulties in their home — increases.
Beth represents those communities of people — and Spencer and his followers represent all of the people who want to help make her life easier.
When Spencer told Beth about the fundraiser, she responded, aghast: “Oh, my god. Why?”
“They kinda fell in love with you and your story,” Spencer told her, about his followers. “We just wanted to come together as a community and help you out and get you to a better spot.”
Beth replied, in awe: “Those are the things dreams are made of.”
Spencer encourages his followers to follow along on YouTube to keep up with Beth and the fundraiser.
“I really appreciate everyone that donates to help Beth out,” he wrote on the fundraiser. “I will make sure that the money goes towards fixing all of the items above or any other accessibility issues that Beth needs.”
Header image courtesy of SB Mowing/YouTube
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