Volunteers deliver ‘snow care’ – Project Evergreen offers support to military families on the home front

IRON MOUNTAIN -Project EverGreen’s SnowCare for Troops (SCFT) program is entering its third season.

The non-profit organization supports military families year-round by matching up volunteers offering free services to families who have a spouse or family member deployed in the armed forces.

“We’re proud to support the SnowCare for Troops program and to lend a hand to help our nation’s military families who already carry so much on their shoulders,” said Mark Klossner, marketing director for THE BOSS Snowplow.

“This program is our way of showing our military how much we appreciate their sacrifices and we want to thank everyone who continues to support the campaign as we kick off our third year.”

Snow Care for Troops is a national program underwritten by THE BOSS Snowplow, but this is the first time in three years there has been a local family in need of the service. Cassy Hendricks of Iron Mountain signed up this year after her husband, Patrick Hendricks, left for Afghanistan in June. “It’s very nice to have somebody come over and plow right away,” she said.

Kurt Rosenthal of Iron Mountain is currently handling the Hendricks snow removal. He signed up to volunteer three years ago but this is the first year he was matched up with a family in need.

Rosenthal has plowed for Hendricks on four occasions already this year.

“I’m fortunate to have a plow and it’s a way of giving back to the soldiers that are overseas and doing something for the families. I just want to get the word out so more families can take advantage of the service,” he said. “This is a great example of small town people taking care of each other and a worldwide company – BOSS – staying true to their principles and Yooper ways.”

The Hendricks’ have three sons, Braeden, 3, Gavin, 2, and Carson, 1, who love to watch out the back window as Rosenthal plows the driveway. “I see their little heads popping up back there,” he said.

Hendricks is very grateful for the snow care service and other community programs this season.

“The whole community has been very generous. Lot of support,” she said.

Project EverGreen is a national nonprofit organization committed to informing the public about the positive effects of well-maintained green spaces, including lawns and landscapes, sports turf, golf courses, trees and parks. Its SnowCare for Troops program is modeled after its wildly successful sister program, GreenCare for Troops. In operation since 2006, GreenCare for Troops, underwritten by Cub Cadet, provides free lawn and landscape services to military families.

“It takes a very special person to give of their time and resources to back up our troops and their families and we want to thank our many landscape contractors and snow removal professionals who go the extra mile to make sure they’re taken care of throughout the year,” said Cindy Code, Project EverGreen executive director.

In addition to volunteer participation, donations of money or gas cards as well as loans of snow removal equipment to volunteers and community groups are also needed.

SnowCare for Troops Featured in “Deployment Diatribe” Blog

SnowCare for Troops Featured in “Deployment Diatribe” Blog

Project EverGreen’s SnowCare for Troops was recently featured in the Deployment Diatribe blog.

We sincerely appreciate their assistance in our ongoing volunteer drive. The national program is underwritten by THE BOSS Snowplow. Now in its third year, SCFT has 1,200 volunteers signed up to help more than 1,500 military families. Many volunteers are snow removal and landscape contracting professionals.

Click here to read more…

SnowCare for Troops Recognized in Southeastern Minnesota

Winter weather will be here before we know it and that means snow. One group is working to make sure military families have help with snow removal.

“I was the one who always took care of it,” says Dustin King. King knows what it’s like to be away from family. He served 4 years in the Marines including a tour in Japan.

“You’re always worried about your family back home and this here, it helps give you a little reassurance that they’re being taken care of so you can do your mission,” says King.

It’s called Snowcare For Troops and Dustin volunteers, clearing snow for families with loved ones in the military away from home.

Letter From a Military Family

Dear Ms. Westenberg-
I’m just writing because I happened to call one of your volunteers for snow plowing and he informed me that he would be doing my driveway for free because of Snowcare for Troops. You have no idea what that means to me. No idea. My husband is in Afghanistan and I am home in MN with our three kids six and under and our fourth is due in March. How I would get my long driveway plowed (which is also on a hill) was a concern to say the least. I am just writing because there was a place to sign up for Snowcare on your site, but nowhere to just say that I had been blessed by chance to call someone who had signed up to volunteer under this program. I want to give Tim Cayer the thanks and recognition he deserves. His company is Cayering Lawn Services llc and he told me that he is registered with you. Thank you for this program and for people like Tim who volunteer to make the program possible. Thank you thank you thank you!

A New Fort Wayne Snow Removal Business Serving Residents, Military Families

FORT WAYNE, IN – A Fort Wayne snow removal company is offering free snow removal for military families this winter. It’s part of a nationwide program, called SnowCare for Troops.

Letter from a Military Family

To whom it may concern,
I want to thank everyone who is involved with this snow removal project. My husband is currently in Iraq and I have 2 small children (5yrs and 1yr). I was contacted to let me know about the services provided after we had the big snow fall. Volunteer Mike Sogge (Milltown, WI) came out to plow and shovel for me right away. I appreciate what all you are doing and my husband would be happy to know we are being taken care of while he is away. Thank you so much for your generosity of helping out!!

NH Landscape Association Joins SnowCare for Troops Movement to Support Local Military Families this Snow Season

The New Hampshire Landscape Association (NHLA) has joined ranks with Project EverGreen’s SnowCare for Troops program or SCFT. SCFT is a new community-based program to provide free snow removal services for military families with a spouse or family member currently deployed in the Armed Forces. The NHLA will participate with snowplow and landscape professionals from across the country that donate their services and time to ease the burden on military families seeking help on the home front. SnowCare for Troops is a national program underwritten by BOSS Snowplow.

“We’re proud to support the SnowCare for Troops program and lend a hand to help our local military families who already carry so much on their shoulders, the last thing they should be worrying about is digging out after the next snowstorm,” said Dale Squires of Belknap Landscape Company, a NHLA Member and participating SCFT service provider. “This is just one small way that we can say thank you for their dedication to country and military service.”

NHLA Member companies will be provided everything they need to easily and quickly sign-up sign up for this new community-based program.

Letter From a Military Family

Good Deeds – Project EverGreen helps military families

WORCESTER, MA – Craig B. Coppola is awaiting snow – and his match.

Operations manager at the Millbury landscaping company CLS Inc., Mr. Coppola said CLS agreed to donate labor and resources to remove snow for an area military household with a service member who is deployed. CLS and other volunteers are offering their help through SnowCare for Troops, a nonprofit program managed by Minnesota-based Project EverGreen and underwritten by BOSS Snowplows of Iron Mountain, Mich.

“My son, Brian, the company president, felt it was the moral thing to do – to care for family members of troops who can’t take care of their lawn care or snow removal needs,” said Mr. Coppola. CLS also volunteered for GreenCare for Troops, a lawn care program under Project EverGreen’s wing.

CLS signed up last year and is waiting to be matched with an area military family, said Mr. Coppola.

Providing free snow removal and lawn care means those deployed “have one less thing to worry about,” said Joy Westenberg, who manages the programs for Project EverGreen. GreenCare for Troops, launched in 2006, has registered more than 12,000 military families and 3,500 volunteers. SnowCare for Troops is in its second year, with more than 1,000 families and 900 volunteers, said Ms. Westenberg.

Families register with Project EverGreen at projectevergreen.com, and Ms. Westenberg matches them to nearby volunteers. The information is sent to families and they contact the volunteer with whom they have been matched. The process is confidential, she said.

BOSS Snowplows Marketing Director Mark A. Klossner said BOSS was “looking for a good cause to get into, and when you are a snowplow company those things are few and far between.” Founded in 1985, family-owned BOSS employs about 250 people making snowplows in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

BOSS jumped at the sponsorship opportunity, said Mr. Klossner.

“We love being part of something that helps military families. The type of people who buy our products are patriotic, hard-working blue-collar Americans who are ready to stand up and stand by for their country,” he said.

BOSS pays a fee to underwrite the cost of administering SnowCare for Troops. “We are proud to be part of it,” said Mr. Klossner.

The program looks for not only volunteers but also loaned snow removal equipment for volunteers or groups, and donations of money, transportation and gas cards to offset snow removal and maintenance costs.

SnowCare for Troops Recognized in Central New York

Here’s some information I received recently about helping military families keep their walks and driveways clear of snow. Never heard of the program, but certainly interesting…

A new national volunteer program supporting military families, Project EverGreen’s SnowCare for Troops, provides community members with a meaningful way to give back to those serving our country. The national program is underwritten by THE BOSS Snowplow and brings together snowplow volunteers to provide free snow removal services for military families with a spouse or family member serving overseas in the armed forces.