Putting Heroes First: GreenCare for Troops Expands During Crisis

During these challenging times, the need is greater than ever to help our healthcare professionals across the country who are serving on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most of us know frontline emergency and/or medical professionals in our communities who are working tirelessly in ERs and ICU units or driving ambulances across the country – away from their families and homes –  to save lives and bring comfort to those stricken with Coronavirus.

Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops program wants to help.

Project EverGreen announces the formation of the GreenCare for Troops Cares for Our Health Care Heroes initiative to provide nurses, paramedics, and other frontline health care professionals with complimentary lawn care and basic landscape services.

“We realize we can’t help all front-line heroes, but we hope that with the support of our dedicated volunteers we can provide the gift of green space to our community heroes in their time of need,” says Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen.

Current GreenCare for Troops volunteers are asked to nominate frontline healthcare professionals in their community to receive services. Volunteers are encouraged to identify potential recipients through neighborhood groups, school or church groups or social media. The expanded program will run through October 1.

“It’s up to the volunteer to determine how many individuals or families they can help, and what services they can provide,” says Code. “We suggest that volunteers identify people directly related to the health care field such as nurses, paramedics, health care workers conducting Coronavirus testing and hospital support staff.”

Longtime GreenCare for Troops volunteer Phil Fogarty of Weed Man in Cleveland, Ohio says, “Any role we can play in keeping the home front maintained and safe for families during this challenging time is the least we can do. Our health care heroes deserve a well-maintained lawn and landscape for their kids and a place to gain a brief respite at the end of a long day.”

Once an individual or family has been identified and parameters of service established, GreenCare for Troops volunteers are asked to provide the name, address and list of services provided to Project EverGreen for its database to ensure they are properly matched in the database.

Since the program’s inception in 2006, more than 11,000 military families have registered to receive an estimated $8 million in donated lawn care and landscape services from more than 6,000 registered lawn care and landscape contractor professionals.

Volunteers who have the capacity to help can visit the GCFT Cares for Our Health Care Heroes page for more information.