Army Veteran Embraces GreenCare for Troops’ Mission

When Project EverGreen caught up with dual GreenCare for Troops volunteer Kevin Kirkwood earlier this year, another snowstorm loomed over metro Des Moines. Kirkwood was out early on a Saturday morning with his pickup truck, tooling around the two apartment buildings he maintains downtown for Knapp Properties.

“It’s another great day spreading salt out here!” he said with the enthusiasm of someone who genuinely loves to be of service to people.

Kirkwood has spent a lifetime working with his hands. After a four-year stint in the Army, he went to work in construction, then switched to building maintenance. He also loves giving back to the community through volunteering his time and skills.

“I’m always looking for opportunities and being good at manual labor I like to stick with that kind of work,” he explained.

Kevin Kirkwood GreenCare for Troops volunteer - Project EverGreen

Army veteran Kevin Kirkwood has been GreenCare for Troops volunteer since 2012.

That said, he appreciates organizations that not only have exceptional missions, but that are well organized and make it easy to participate. He says that he gets the best of both worlds by volunteering with Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops, something he’s been involved in since 2012.

“I ran into the programs on the internet,” he recalls. “Being a veteran, and with my interest in helping with manual labor – I mowed a lot of lawns when I was a kid – I thought it would be a perfect fit.”

When Kirkwood registered to be a GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops volunteer, he was immediately impressed with how organized and effective the effort was.

“They were really on top of things, they contacted me to let me know what’s going on and took care of everything,’ said Kirkwood. “Whenever I have a question or problem, I shoot them an email and it’s taken care of. It’s a great organization.”

Kirkwood says that he’s helped at least a dozen families over the years, with a goal of providing lawn and landscape care to two families every year. Beyond the initial meeting with the family, he tries to stay out of the way and provide the service without disturbing their daily routine.

“I tell them that I just want to be the ghost that comes in and does your lawn, and that I’m not looking to bother them,” he said.

That said, he will go the extra mile if asked. Kirkwood recalled that once on a lawn care service call, the wife came outside to talk to him with tears in her eyes. “She told me that the dryer vent was clogged… of course, I was happy to help her out,” he added.

While the work is personally rewarding, the bottom line is helping those who are sacrificing so much for our country.

“It is an honor and a privilege to help the families of the troops that are deployed. I think that it is every American’s responsibility to help in any way they see fit,” said Kirkwood.

Are you ready to step up for a military family? Register today at  https://projectevergreen.org/about-the-program-volunteers/

The Title Sponsor of the GreenCare for Troops program is Nufarm. Platinum Partners include Toro and SiteOne Landscape Supply. The Gold Partner is Arborjet/Ecologel and the Silver Partner is the Propane Education and Research Council

 

 

 

Going the Extra Mile for Military Families

Kevin Houle, owner of KH Industries in Tolland, Connecticut, takes pride not only in the day-to-day work his crews perform, but in the company’s support of the community, especially military families. Giving back to the people that support his business is something about which Houle is very passionate.

Kevin Houle leaning on truck

Kevin Houle (right), owner of KH Industries in Tolland, Connecticut, and hos brother Ken take pride not only in the day-to-day work his crews perform, but in the company’s support of the community, especially military families.

KH Industries is a community-centric landscape care and construction company an hour north of Hartford and 20 minutes from the Massachusetts state line. KH does it all, from spring and fall cleanup to mowing to hardscapes, cranking through 150 maintenance accounts – about three-fourths of them residential – per week.

Joining the GreenCare for Troops Movement

An important element of giving back over the past two years has been his participation in the GreenCare for Troops program. Houle learned about the program last year and completed a full season of lawn and landscape maintenance for a military family. When he checked with Project EverGreen, he learned that there were an additional five families in his area on a waitlist.

“When I found out, I took them all on,” said Houle. “I said that as long as they are within a reasonable distance, I will take care of all of them. Military families with a need like this shouldn’t have to be waiting for help given the sacrifices they are making.”

Houle admits that a couple of the families them are in the outer reaches of his service area, but he can’t imagine saying no to a military family he’s capable of helping.

A Personal Connection

His brother Ken, who works in the business, is an Iraq veteran, so Kevin well knows the impact of deployment on family life, and how people feel.

“They are doing the hard job, our work is easy,” said Houle. “It takes 20-40 minutes of our time to take care of a lawn; it’s an easy decision. These families shouldn’t have to be worried about landscape maintenance while members of their families are working for all of us overseas.”

Are you ready to step up for a military family? Register today at  https://projectevergreen.org/about-the-program-volunteers/

The Title Sponsor of the GreenCare for Troops program is Nufarm. Platinum Partners include Toro and SiteOne Landscape Supply. The Gold Partner is Arborjet/Ecologel and the Silver Partner is the Propane Education and Research Council