Nebraska Volunteer Pushes and Plows for Military Families
Already a big supporter of military service, he’s in awe of the sacrifice that military families make when a member is sent far away.
“I was trying to imagine being on an overseas deployment and having to leave my wife at home to figure everything out on her own. There would be absolutely nothing I could do about it.”
Nick Jensen
Jensen Gardens
Springfield, Nebraska
“That one really hit home for me.”
Volunteer Nick Jensen, one of three owners of Jensen Gardens in Springfield, Nebraska along with brother Nate and long-time employee Eric Gustafson, was recalling a past encounter with a family who registered for Project EverGreen’s SnowCare for Troops program. It was a mother at home with two children about the same age as his own.
Jensen Gardens has always been a big supporter of the military and he’s in awe of the sacrifice that military families make when a member is sent far away.
“I was trying to imagine being on an overseas deployment and having to leave my wife at home to figure everything out on her own,” he said. “There would be absolutely nothing I could do about it.”
The experience highlighted how meaningful his participation in the SnowCare for Troops program is for the clients.
A Big Supporter of Military Families
Already a big supporter of military service, he’s in awe of the sacrifice that families make when a member is sent far away.
“How do these families get everything done?” Jensen wondered. “Many families are sent here from other parts of the country and they have no family nearby, which makes it even more challenging.”
Nearby Offutt Air Force Base regularly brings in military families from across the country making a fresh start in unfamiliar territory.
For Jensen Gardens, a four-seasons landscape and grounds care company, snow care can be 20 to 30 percent of the business each year, keeping its nearly 60 employees busy through the winter months servicing about 100 commercial sites. Along with pitching in to help elderly neighbors in need of plowing, Jensen’s only other residential stops are to SnowCare for Troops clients.
“It’s so easy for us to give back to those who sacrifice so much – really, this is something that everybody should be doing,” Nick said.
Managing, Meeting and Exceeding Expectations
When he first started with the program, he recalls being concerned about getting overwhelmed with requests after a local TV station profiled his involvement. But Nick says the SnowCare for Troops program managers have done a great job of providing opportunities and setting everything up to make it simple.
“They do a nice job of managing expectations with families,” said Jensen. “They’ve been easy to work with, and the families are super happy to see us when we get there and clear the driveway.”
He wrapped up his thoughts on participating in the program with the same sense of respect and amazement he started.
“Whole families are affected by deployment,” said Jensen. “It’s such a small thing for us to do, it doesn’t really cost us anything, but it’s a really big help for those who literally sacrifice everything.”
Are you ready to step up for military families? 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. BOSS Snowplow is the lead sponsor of the SnowCare for Troops program. The Gold Partner is Arborjet/Ecologel and the Silver Partner is the Propane Education and Research Council.
Affiliate partners include the Connecticut Grounds Keepers Association and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.
