Landscape Management, November 2017

GreenCare for Troops Today Nufarm the presenting partner and The Toro Co the platinum partner provide funding for the program SnowCare for Troops was added to the project in 2011 and since its creation more than 5000 families and veterans have registered to receive snow and ice removal from 1500 contractor volunteers Boss Snowplow is a supporting partner of SnowCare for Troops The efforts of Project Ever Green and GreenCare for Troops have not gone unnoticed In 2012 through the Joining Forces Community Challenge the White House recognized Project Ever Green and the work of GCFT as one of the top 20 volunteer military programs in the U S GrowinG GreenCare Despite its nationwide reach GCFT is a small operation Until recently it was run by Program Manager Ki Matsko along with Code in her role as executive director The volunteers absorb everything the gas labor supplies so I think its critical to develop relationships says Matsko who has been with the organization for three years and has her own military connection Her oldest son is a cadet at West Point With 6000 volunteers it seems impossible but Matsko does her best to stay in contact with each volunteer It keeps them connected to Project EverGreen which keeps them wanting to take on more which is huge for us she says Start Somewhere For business owners and individuals alike part of the difficulty of beginning a volunteer activity might be getting over the initial intimidation Paul Fraynd co owner of Sun Valley Landscaping in Omaha Neb has some useful advice Just start he recommends Giving back is hard until you get there and then youre glad you did it The company started its relationship with GreenCare for Troops 10 years ago when Fraynd attended an industry event in Louisville Ky and signed up for the program Each season Sun Valley Landscaping serves up to 10 military families with either lawn care or snow care services The company employs approximately 50 people and this year projects to earn 46 million in revenue The business is split evenly between design build work for residential clients and maintenance for 85 percent residential and 15 percent commercial clients According to Fraynd the most rewarding part of the program is when families visit the shop The first time a family came in they brought us cookies and a card and the card was about the family being outside and enjoying it together instead of worrying about mowing the lawn he says Which is exactly our purpose for our work to allow others to enjoy the outdoors They just embodied what were trying to do Several veterans also have gifted the crew with U S flags theyve flown on their missions overseas Sun Valley Maintenance Sales Account Manager Matt Menard acknowledges there could be one issue with volunteering Since the company takes on a significant number of military families who are all situated near Offutt Air Force Base for conveniences sake one crew completes GCFT jobs on one day during the week Its not that difficult but it can be hard to make a profit on that one day for that crew he says Another issue is potentially taking on too many families because Sun Valley is one of a few GCFT volunteers in the Omaha area In 2015 the company sent out an email to its contractor list urging them to volunteer and a local news station helped promote Sun Valleys work with GCFT The coverage included information on where local landscaping companies could register for the program General Manager Ashly Neneman credits the success of Sun Valleys volunteering LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET November 2017 G6 to GCFTs assistance which includes communicating with military families about the specific services that volunteers can provide Theyve been so great to us with the guidance weve received over the years she says We probably wouldnt be able to take on so much if they werent there to help keep us organized We talk about raising the perception of the landscaping industry and being a good example for the community says Fraynd Were already out there mowing lawns and I think these guys respect the fact that were investing in the community and the people that give back to all of us with their service Paul Fraynd Sun Valley Landscaping serves up to 10 military families each season PHOTO SUN VALLEy LANdSCAPING Ki Matsko guide