Lawn and landscape maintenance becomes a definite hardship when a family's major breadwinner is on active duty away from home. GreenCare for Troops is a nationwide outreach program that connects local landscape professionals with men and women serving our country in the armed forces away from home. To date, GreenCare for Troops has helped more than 2,400 volunteers provide free lawn and landscape services to thousands of military families nationwide.
This program was presented to the Maine Nurserymen's Association at their winter meeting by our own Garden Club Federation of Maine president Becky Linney. It is the Federation's hope that Maine Nurserymen will come on board with this program and reach out to volunteers in our communities to help these service families. The Garden Club Federation is asking local club members throughout the state to volunteer their services to help with gardens, landscape maintenance, pruning, whatever these families need for assistance.
To get started, log onto the website www.projectevergreen.com then click at the top how can I help, this will take you to GreenCare for Troops. Under Volunteers click Individuals. There fill out an application. On the side is a Volunteer FAQ (frequently asked questions) to help if you have any questions.
Each club and it's members can decide how they will volunteer: as individuals, in teams, perhaps you have grandchildren old enough to make up a family team. What the Garden Club Federation wants is for YOU to let US know what you are doing so we can get the word out to everyone about what we are doing to help our kids and their families who are serving our country and protecting us everyday. Let us know who the families are that you are helping. Where the family member is serving, and a little history about the family.
Thank you to Club Members who reach out to these service members and their families. For additional question of the GCFM Civic Development Chairman email civic@mainegardenclubs.org