Utah Air Force National Guard Soldier Monica DeLeon hopes that her success story will inspire others to join the program.

Utah GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops volunteer Jerry Johnson served 20 years of active duty in the Air Force including numerous deployments, he has seen, heard, and experienced the challenges that families of deployed soldiers face.

“I know how hard it is, especially for the younger troops,” says Johnson. “When you’re starting out, the pay is not that good, and it just helps not having to spend that extra dollar on a service when it can be used elsewhere to help the family.”

Johnson has been a proud volunteer, tending to lawns and removing snow for up to three families a year every year since 2012.

“I don’t recall where I saw it first, but I remember feeling that it would be a perfect way for me to help out those families,” he says.

Air Force National Guard soldier Monica DeLeon was one of the families Johnson recently took care of. She has been in active service for a decade, and until last year had passed on deployment opportunities.

“The deployment was a great experience, but it was rough leaving my two kids for six months,” recalls Johnson. “The oldest was starting kindergarten and I was away for both birthdays. But I had my mom and sister, and they were able help a bunch.”

While preparing for her deployment, DeLeon was thrilled to find out about GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops from her civilian employer, BAE Systems.

“When I told the Air Force people about it, a lot of them had never heard of it and some were even questioning whether it was legitimate,” she says. “But I made the call and was able to get connected with Jerry, and it worked perfectly.”

“It was so cool,” she continues, “my mom was already charged with taking care of both the kids and was stressed about the yard care in my absence, so it was a huge help to have that taken care of.”

“During the summer I met the mom,” says Johnson, “and every Thursday I would mow the grass. She would leave the garage door unlocked for me and I would use their mower, weed eater, and leave a note when I finished that it was good to go.”

DeLeon was so pleased with the program that she passed on the GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops number to the readiness group at nearby Hill Air Force Base to alert them to the program. Several families were able to get assistance from a volunteer, but not everyone got matched, pointing out the need for additional volunteers in the region. DeLeon hopes that her success story will inspire others to join the program.

“It may seem like a small thing and people don’t really think about it, but it helps a lot and takes a huge stress off of military families,” she says.

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The Title Sponsor of the GreenCare for Troops program Title Sponsor is Nufarm. SnowCare for Troops program in BOSS Snowplow. Platinum Partners include Toro, SiteOne Landscape Supply, AMGUARD Environmental Sciences  and Heritage Landscape Supply. The Silver Partner is Arborjet/Ecologel.

Affiliate Partners include the Connecticut Grounds Keepers Association and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.

GreenCare for Troops is endorsed by the National Association of Landscape Professionals