Shawn Salazar – Continuing a Legacy of Service from the Trenches to the Homefront

Shawn Salazar’s connection to military service runs deep. As the owner of Heritage Lawn and Landscape Management in Converse, Texas, near San Antonio, he has been an active participant in Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops program for several years, helping military families navigate deployments with complimentary mowing and landscape maintenance.

His father served in the Army and fought in both Korea and Vietnam, while his father-in-law served across multiple branches during a long military career.

For his father, service was never about recognition or rank.

“He was a Master Sergeant, but he never wanted to be an officer. He always wanted to be the guy in the trenches,” says Salazar. “He received Purple Hearts and distinguished service medals and lost an eye in battle. I know he had many stories to tell, but guys like him never talked about it.”

Salazar was just nine years old when his father passed away, but the impression he left was lasting. While he was too young at the time to fully understand, he now reflects with deep respect on the strength his mother showed while raising four children during his father’s extended deployments.

“I look back and have to wonder how in the world my mom raised four kids when my dad was gone for so much time,” says Salazar.

That understanding of what military families face is a driving force behind his involvement in GreenCare for Troops. He also values the program’s thoughtful vetting process, ensuring that the families receiving support are those who truly need it.

“You know, it’s generally the lower-paid, lower-ranked military personnel who are deployed most often, sometimes doing very difficult jobs in very difficult places,” says Salazar. “They’re also usually younger families with kids at home, so you know that deployment creates real financial and emotional strain.”

Over the years, Salazar has supported several families, and one of the families he is currently helping reflects exactly why he is so committed to the program.

“The wife has a seven-year-old child at home, and she tells me, ‘I just don’t know how I am going to do it,’” he says.

For Salazar, the service goes beyond simply mowing a lawn. He prefers to meet with families before starting service to better understand their needs and determine how he might do more.

“You can customize what you are able to provide depending on the situation,” he explains. “Maybe we can commit to trimming shrubs along with mowing if it makes sense.”

Through his work, Salazar continues a legacy of service rooted in his family – supporting those who serve by caring for the places they call home.

Join the Mission – Become a Volunteer Today!

Deployed families need support now. Step up with GreenCare for Troops and put your expertise to work.

The need is rising and every new volunteer means one less worry for a military family at home. GreenCare for Troops connects lawn and landscape professionals with families to provide essential services during deployment.
If you’ve ever thought about giving back, this is the moment.

✔ Put your skills to work
✔ Support a family in your community
✔ Make an immediate, meaningful impact

Join a nationwide network of professionals stepping up when it matters most. Volunteer today. Someone near you is waiting.

Sign up today

Thank You to Our Generous Supporters

The Title Sponsor of the GreenCare for Troops program is Nufarm, while BOSS Snowplow proudly sponsors SnowCare for Troops.

Our Platinum Partners include Toro, SiteOne Landscape Supply, and Heritage Landscape Supply.

The Silver Partner is Arborjet/Ecologel and our Affiliate Partners include the Connecticut Grounds Keepers Association and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.

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

Join us today and be part of something bigger.

Fort Drum SnowCare for Troops Volunteer Supports Military Families in Heavy Snow

Fort Drum, the U.S. Army base in upstate New York where winter storms are often measured in feet rather than inches, knows that snow removal is far more than a matter of convenience. It is an essential service that helps families safely navigate daily life during some of the harshest winter conditions in the country.

This winter alone, the Fort Drum region has already received well over six feet of snow, with lake-effect storms continuing to add to the seasonal total – a reminder that in northern New York snowfall is often measured in feet rather than inches.

“Snow removal service is expensive, like $50 or $60 a visit, and on a soldier’s salary – especially E4 and below – that’s a lot of money,” says John Russell, a retired soldier and SnowCare for Troops volunteer. “I own two track snow throwers and they run $1,500 to $2,000 per unit, so going out and buying that kind of equipment just isn’t feasible for many soldiers.”

Russell still works full time at the base as a behavioral health MFA, but giving back has always been part of his life. Raised in a family where community service was expected, he has been volunteering since he was 14 years old.

“My whole family does volunteer work,” says Russell. “It was just part of how we were raised.”

In addition to volunteering with SnowCare for Troops, Russell serves his community as a volunteer firefighter and paramedic and currently holds the role of safety chief in his department.

Russell also does some snow removal work on the side. When he heard about the SnowCare for Troops program three years ago from someone at the base, he did some research, signed up and began helping local military families. This winter he has provided snow removal for two families, bringing his total number of families served to four.

“One of the families I help has a husband who is deployed to Korea,” says Russell. “When it’s a minor snowfall she likes to handle it herself, but when it gets past what she can manage I’ll go out and take care of it. They’re definitely grateful – she’s even offered me hot chocolate a couple of times when I come by.”

The Value of SnowCare for Troops During Extreme Winters

Heavy lake-effect snow is a fact of life around Fort Drum, and major winter storms can quickly overwhelm military families already managing the demands of deployment, long work hours and tight household budgets.

That is where SnowCare for Troops volunteers like Russell make a meaningful difference. By clearing driveways and walkways during major snow events, volunteers help ensure families can safely leave their homes, get children to school and access essential services.

For Russell, who served more than two decades in the military and is raising four children with his wife, the motivation is simple.

“We’re a pretty close-knit community here and we try to take care of each other,” he says. “I know what it’s like to leave your family behind when a deployment happens. If I can step in and make life a little easier for a military family during the winter, I’m happy to do it.”

Join the Mission – Become a Volunteer Today!

Are you ready to give back to our military heroes through the power of landscaping? Sign up today and make a meaningful difference!

Thank You to Our Generous Supporters

The Title Sponsor of the GreenCare for Troops program is Nufarm, while BOSS Snowplow proudly sponsors SnowCare for Troops.

Our Platinum Partners include Toro, SiteOne Landscape Supply, and Heritage Landscape Supply.

The Silver Partner is Arborjet/Ecologel and our Affiliate Partners include the Connecticut Grounds Keepers Association and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.

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

Join us today and be part of something bigger.

Precision Lawn Care & Vigo Turf Supports Military Families in Terre Haute

Precision Lawn Care & Vigo Turf has supporting the military deep in its DNA as a four-season landscape maintenance and snow removal firm based in Terre Haute, Indiana.

“Hiring retired veterans was and is our MO dating back to when we started this business,” says Chad Feller, who founded the company in 1989. “We actively seek out military veterans to fill positions because they are reliable and dependable.”

Feller has also been a proud volunteer for Project EverGreen’s GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops programs.

“I think we’ve been involved in the program since its inception,” Feller recalls. “I was in Louisville at a major landscape trade show when they were talking about launching the program and looking for companies to sign up. My father-in-law, Earl McDowell, a retired Air Force veteran who was helping build the business at the time, said to me, ‘Chad, we are going to do this.’”

Roots in Lawn Care

Feller grew up around landscape equipment. In the late 1970s, he worked with his father doing small engine repair.

Precision Lawn Care & Vigo Turf team members (left to right) Scott Elkins, Chad Feller, Gilbert Archer, and Tim Stone proudly support military families in the Terre Haute community through GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops.

“I’d come home from school and tear the motors down. My dad would go through them and fix what was wrong, and the next night I’d put them back together and install them on the mowers,” says Feller.

He continued mowing lawns through high school and officially launched Precision Lawn Care in 1989. In 1992, he married his wife, Amy, and together they balanced corporate careers while building the company on the side. In 2017, they committed full time to growing the business.

“I Called Him Mac”

Feller’s father-in-law made a profound impact on both his personal life and the early growth of the company. McDowell served as a munitions specialist at the Terre Haute 181st Air National Guard Base until retiring in the mid-2000s.

“I called him Mac. He built bombs for F-16 fighters for years, but that work ended at the Terre Haute base when it transitioned to drones in 2008,” Feller explains.

McDowell had been helping with the business before his retirement, but after leaving military service, he joined the company full time. As the business expanded, Mac supported both operations and fieldwork.

“He got us into sweeping parking lots and similar work,” says Feller. “Mac had the perfect personality for building munitions – extreme precision and a meticulous process. In retirement, doing parking lot work helped him relax and refocus.”

Continuing a Commitment to Serve

In 1996, McDowell was deployed to Turkey for 18 months. During that time, Precision Lawn Care provided complimentary lawn maintenance to military families.

“When he returned, we discovered GreenCare for Troops,” Feller says. “My father-in-law really wanted the company to officially join the effort and continue giving back. We’ve participated every year since.”

Through Project EverGreen’s programs, the company has provided lawn care, snow removal, storm cleanup, and other services as needed.

“This is a small service we can provide for those who serve and sacrifice so much,” Feller says. “Deployed service members know their families have one less thing to worry about at home.”

Following McDowell’s tragic passing in 2015, Feller’s ongoing commitment to GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops has become both a service to military families and a tribute to his father-in-law’s legacy.

Serving Military Families Today

Currently, Precision Lawn Care is assisting two local families with snow removal services.

“One family has three kids, so we’re making sure they can get in and out of the driveway safely,” Feller says. Another family is also receiving snow removal support, with their service member expected home soon.

Last year, when deployments from the Terre Haute base increased, Feller stepped up to support three families.

“We did a little bit of everything,” he recalls. “Trimming bushes, mowing, maintenance – whatever was needed. We try to go a little above and beyond.”

In one instance, a windstorm tore a door off a home, and his crew stepped in to make the repair.

The Terre Haute community has a strong military tradition, and Feller is proud that Precision Lawn Care can help ease the burden for families when loved ones are deployed.

Through consistent volunteer service with Project EverGreen’s GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops programs, Precision Lawn Care continues to demonstrate that supporting those who serve is more than a gesture – it is a long-standing commitment rooted in family, community, and gratitude.

Join the Mission – Become a Volunteer Today!

Are you ready to give back to our military heroes through the power of landscaping? Sign up today and make a meaningful difference!

Thank You to Our Generous Supporters

The Title Sponsor of the GreenCare for Troops program is Nufarm, while BOSS Snowplow proudly sponsors SnowCare for Troops.

Our Platinum Partners include Toro, SiteOne Landscape Supply, and Heritage Landscape Supply.

The Silver Partner is Arborjet/Ecologel and our Affiliate Partners include the Connecticut Grounds Keepers Association and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.

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

Join us today and be part of something bigger.

Exterior Solutions: From Snowplows to Service Through SnowCare for Troops

For most of his professional life, Dino Tudisca ran a robust snow care operation alongside his home renovation business, Exterior Solutions, in Norwich, Conn. At its peak, his company operated up to 10 snowplows across the region whenever the snow started falling.

But as the years went on, the “glamour” of the snow care business began to fade. This winter, Tudisca shifted his focus almost entirely to home remodeling keeping just a handful of longtime plow clients and continuing to serve four military families through Project EverGreen’s SnowCare for Troops program.

“In general, my enjoyment of plowing snow this year is a lot higher than it’s been for the last 10 years,” Tudisca says. “Basically, I’m doing five of my own driveways and then the four families I’m matched with through SnowCare for Troops. We got completely out of the commercial side, and it’s been very relaxing.”

Located near the New London Submarine Base in southeastern Connecticut, Tudisca has had a steady stream of military families to serve since joining the program in 2010. The base is home to approximately 15 submarines, and at any given time, several are deployed.

More recently, his connection to the military became deeply personal. About a year and a half ago, Tudisca’s daughter married a submarine service member.

“I’ve learned a lot about how it works,” he says. “Deployments can last anywhere from a week to six months, depending on the submarine and the mission.”

Some situations require sailors to deploy on short notice for a week or two, while planned missions last much longer. His son-in-law is currently nearing the end of a six-month deployment.

In an unexpected twist, three of the four SnowCare for Troops families Tudisca serves are connected to that same submarine.

“The husbands are all on my son-in-law’s boat,” he explains. “They’re all fellow crew members, which has given me even more appreciation for the SnowCare for Troops program. Before, it was about doing a good thing to support servicemen and women who are deployed. As someone who never served, this was my way to show appreciation. Now, having it hit so close to home really drives it home.”

Tudisca sees firsthand how different support systems or the lack of them can shape a family’s experience during deployment.

“My daughter lives a mile from the house she grew up in,” he says. “She has her entire family right there – grandparents, aunts, uncles, mom, dad, sister. It’s a huge support system. The other families don’t have that. They’re kind of on an island.”

Snow removal, he notes, is often an unexpected expense for those families one they don’t know how to manage or who to trust.

“They don’t know who to call or who’s reliable,” he says. “Whatever little bit I can do to help is really important to me, and I get a lot of joy from it.”

That joy was especially evident during a recent visit to one of the families he serves a National Guard household with a parent deployed to the Middle East for a year.

“They have a tricky driveway where I have to get out and use a snow blower for part of it,” Tudisca recalls. “The mom told me that the last time I cleared it, it happened to be her daughter’s birthday. She said it felt like an extra birthday present for her daughter to watch from the window. That was so cool.”

For Tudisca, SnowCare for Troops offers a meaningful way to give back one that fits naturally into his life and work.

“Ultimately, it’s a pretty light lift for those of us who already have the equipment and are out there doing this anyway,” he says. “But the impact it has on these families is huge.”

Join the Mission – Become a Volunteer Today!

Are you ready to give back to our military heroes through the power of landscaping? Sign up today and make a meaningful difference!

Thank You to Our Generous Supporters

The Title Sponsor of the GreenCare for Troops program is Nufarm, while BOSS Snowplow proudly sponsors SnowCare for Troops.

Our Platinum Partners include Toro, SiteOne Landscape Supply, and Heritage Landscape Supply.

The Silver Partner is Arborjet/Ecologel and our Affiliate Partners include the Connecticut Grounds Keepers Association and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.

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

Join us today and be part of something bigger.

Banding Together: How the Gardner Brothers Turn Music into Support for Military Families

Banding together around a worthy cause, successful grassroots fundraising events are built on passionate leadership, strong community involvement, and the financial and in-kind support that turns a good idea into something fun and exciting.

The Gardner brothers – twins Den and Dan – check all these boxes with their annual Band Blitz fundraiser supporting Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops program.

The Band Blitz, which will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2026, rotates to different locations around their home base of New Prague, Minnesota, on the outskirts of the Twin Cities.

Den and Dan are no strangers to the green industry or to community service. Den, a long-time trade media professional serving the green industry, founded the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) before becoming the executive director and a founding member of Project EverGreen. Inspired by a suggestion from industry colleague Phil Fogarty of Weed Man in suburban Cleveland, Ohio, Project EverGreen launched the GreenCare for Troops program around 2006.

Dan brought his own community experience to the table, having served on multiple park boards in Minnesota, including participating in a Project EverGreen park improvement project in Belle Plaine. For years, he also attended TOCA meetings and assisted Den with various initiatives.

When Den eventually retired from Project EverGreen, his desire to support the program he helped create never faded.

“We got together and thought it might be fun to do a Minnesota-based fundraiser for the program,” Den recalls.

It didn’t take long to realize they could combine that idea with their other shared passion – music.

“In the beginning, we talked about bringing a handful of bands together, charging admission, and making some money for GreenCare for Troops,” says Den. Both lifelong musicians, Den and Dan play in a local group called Little Chicago, known for its horn-based rock and pop music from the 1960s and 1970s.

What started as a simple concept evolved into a community-based event that raises funds, promotes the GreenCare for Troops mission, and unites residents around a meaningful cause.

“We’ve kind of written the book on how to make Band Blitz a successful program that ensures we can write a meaningful check to GreenCare for Troops when it’s all finished,” says Den.

Success translates into annual contributions averaging $12,000 to $15,000 along with invaluable awareness of the program and the needs of military families.

Inside the Blitz

While Band Blitz evolves each year, several core elements keep it successful. A long-standing supporter is Toro, which donates equipment including mowers and snow throwers for use in the silent auction.

The Gardners also secure donations from local businesses.

The 2025 Band Blitz for the military brought friends, partners, and music lovers together for a powerful night of support raising $16,000 for GreenCare for Troops.

“When you tell people this program supports military families with landscape and lawn care services, they’re almost automatic in their support,” says Dan. “They’ll ask what we need maybe a gift certificate or a few free oil changes, and they’re happy to help.”

Although they have used indoor venues, the event thrives with an outdoor, street-festival feel. In 2025, CorTrust Bank served as the sole sponsor and hosted the event in the parking lot of its Delano location.

“We took advantage of people being out on Thursday nights after work and scheduled it from 5 to 8 p.m.,” says Den. “We had food trucks, the silent auction, and three hours of live music everyone had a blast.”

Throughout the evening, the program remains center stage.

“We always include a local landscaper who volunteers with GreenCare for Troops and, when possible, a military family who has been helped,” says Den. “Localizing it makes a big impact in a small town.”

Another cherished tradition began unexpectedly.

“We met Gary and Peg Janisch the first year by accident,” Den explains. “They played in one of the bands, and we struck up a conversation. Since then, they’ve been great supporters and join us onstage every year.”

Memorable moments also come from the community. Dan recalls an older woman who approached the silent auction table last year.

“Her husband had recently passed. She said she didn’t want to bid on anything she just wanted to donate. Then she handed us a $500 check. It was really moving.”

Planning hasn’t officially begun for the 10th Band Blitz, but Den and Dan remain committed to keeping the event focused on military families and rooted in community.

“We all understand the importance of healthy green spaces,” says Den. “GreenCare for Troops ensures that military families managing the home front still have a well-maintained yard so they can focus on everything else going on in their lives. That’s a real benefit.”

He adds, “We all have friends and family who have served, so we understand the sacrifice involved. Band Blitz is our way of giving back helping our community appreciate the role volunteer landscapers play, supporting GreenCare for Troops financially, and having a great time doing it.”

Why Green Spaces Matter for Military Families

For military families, green spaces are far more than just grass and trees. They represent comfort, stability, and a vital sense of home during times of uncertainty. With frequent moves, long deployments, and ever-changing routines, these families often face challenges that few others experience. A well-maintained yard, a local park, or a vibrant community landscape can offer a much-needed place to relax, recharge, and reconnect.

Green spaces provide emotional and physical relief, especially for children and spouses navigating life while a loved one serves. They become safe, welcoming environments where families can gather, play, and simply enjoy a moment of peace.

But the benefits of green spaces extend beyond emotional wellness. These areas help cool urban environments, reduce energy consumption, improve air quality, and promote community resilience. In short, healthy landscapes help build healthier neighborhoods.

Through GreenCare for Troops and GreenCare for Communities, Project EverGreen, along with our dedicated nationwide network of professional volunteers, ensures that military families have access to these essential outdoor spaces. By providing free lawn and landscape care, we not only enhance the environment, but we also offer families a tangible reminder that their service and sacrifice are recognized and supported.

Because when we invest in green spaces, we invest in stronger families, healthier communities, and a better quality of life for those who protect our country.

Join the Mission – Become a Volunteer Today!

Are you ready to give back to our military heroes through the power of landscaping? Sign up today and make a meaningful difference!

Thank You to Our Generous Supporters

The Title Sponsor of the GreenCare for Troops program is Nufarm, while BOSS Snowplow proudly sponsors SnowCare for Troops.

Our Platinum Partners include Toro, SiteOne Landscape Supply, and Heritage Landscape Supply.

The Silver Partner is Arborjet/Ecologel and our Affiliate Partners include the Connecticut Grounds Keepers Association and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.

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

Join us today and be part of something bigger.