In the uncertain times that accompany a deployment, the need to help military families with snow and ice removal services so they can continue with daily activities such as getting the kids to school, being on time for work, or making that doctor’s appointment is greater than ever.
Helping meet that need is Project EverGreen’s SnowCare for Troops program which provides complimentary snow and ice removal services and peace of mind for the families of deployed military personnel.
Together with program sponsor BOSS Snowplow, Project EverGreen presents National SnowCare for Troops Awareness Week - January 21-27, 2024 – to spotlight and recognize the valuable work being performed by dedicated volunteers across the country.
“The need to assist military families, who have a deployed family member, with snow removal services continues to grow and SnowCare for Troops will be there,” says Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen. “With the ongoing and generous support of our thousands of volunteers and our program sponsor BOSS Snowplow, it’s our mission to continue to grow the program and provide the support that many families need during a deployment.”
Now in its 14th year, SnowCare for Troops has evolved into more than just a service to clear driveways and sidewalks of snow and ice. It is a lifeline for military families in need to help maintain their independence and go about their daily routines taking care of family, work, and school. Professional contractors, groups, and individuals volunteer their time and provide their own equipment and materials to clear the snow for military families in need.
What impact does the program have on the military families it serves? Military spouse Lisa Schmidt, who lives with her husband and two children in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, said receiving services from the SnowCare for Troops program was a complete burden off her shoulders.
“I could focus on spending time with my two kids, prioritize them, and know it is taken care of,” says Schmidt. “Knowing that I will have to get my car out of the driveway to get to daycare and to work, and I will come back home, and it will be all cleaned off. All I can say is it was a complete relief, and I was so incredibly thankful.”
Volunteer Bill Barthen has been involved in Project EverGreen’s GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops for a decade now and says his purpose is to “create peace by providing service to others, and this is one small way of me reaching out and offering support to a family that has a deployed service member. I would like to see a lot more businesses and individuals donate a little bit of time to help these people – it is really a small token of appreciation for the immense sacrifices they make.”
When combined with its sister program, GreenCare for Troops, it has delivered an estimated $15 million in donated lawn, landscape, and snow removal services and peace of mind to thousands of military families in need across the country.
“BOSS Snowplow continues its support of the SnowCare for Troops program because we have seen firsthand the significant impact it has on military families and volunteers,” says Mark Klossner, director of marketing, BOSS Snowplow. “We are grateful for the sacrifices that service members and their families make, and this is one way we can show our support and appreciation.”
Registering to be a volunteer or receive services is easy when you visit the Project EverGreen website.
