Project EverGreen was able to match 70 percent of military families requesting services in the month of December.
The need, however, for volunteers continues to grow as 40 new families registered for one of the programs in December. They join thousands of military families who have already registered and received services since the programs’ inceptions in 2006 and 2010, respectively.
As 2019 wrapped up and we celebrated the season of giving, green industry volunteers did their part for military families who registered for Project EverGreen’s GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops initiatives.
The month of December saw 14 new volunteers register to help families with a deployed service member with lawn care, basic landscaping or snow removal services. This increased the total number of new volunteers who’ve registered since August to 157.
The need, however, for volunteers continues to grow as 40 new families registered for one of the programs in December. They join thousands of military families who have already registered and received services since the programs’ inceptions in 2006 and 2010, respectively.
How do volunteers feel about the time they spend helping military families?
“I feel fortunate to be in a position where we can offer these military families our services at no charge – the truth is, I really love doing it, and more companies like us should be doing it,” says Dan Kindergan of Kindergan Landscaping in Bergenfield, New Jersey. “When I look at the root of this, at how much it must really help a family, it excites me and makes me want to be even more involved.”
Kindergan has several families of deployed military personnel that receive snow removal services and/or landscape care maintenance services, and he is always willing to help more.
The company’s most recent military family addition signed up for the SnowCare for Troops program right before winter began.
“They were placed in the regular routing plan with our paid maintenance customers and will enjoy a clean driveway and sidewalks for as long as their deployment lasts,” add Kindergan.
With volunteers like Kindergan leading the way, Project EverGreen was able to match 70 percent of military families requesting services in December.
”Matching 100 percent of families is always our goal and we are fortunate to have a loyal, dedicated volunteer base that is always willing to help,” says Nici Trem, program manager for GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops “If our volunteers would each consider adding just one more family we could get closer to matching all our families.”
GreenCare for Troops marks its 14th year and has seen more than 11,000 military families register to receive an estimated $8 million in donated lawn care and landscape services from more than 6,000 green industry professionals.
Celebrating its 10th year, the SnowCare for Troops program is more than clearing driveways and sidewalks of snow and ice. It’s a means to help military families maintain their independence and go about their daily routines taking care of family, work, school and more.
Registering is simple and easy, and can be done online on the project page of the Project EverGreen website
GreenCare for Troops is generously supported by lead sponsor Nufarm, platinum partners Toro and SiteOne Landscape Supply, and silver partner Arborjet/Ecologel. SnowCare for Troops is supported by platinum sponsor BOSS Snowplow.
