GreenCare for Troops

GreenCare for Troops (as reported in The Town Common - December 8 - December 14, 2010 - www.thetowncommon.com)
By Theresa DeFranzo, Reporter

REGIONAL - Have you ever heard of GreenCare for Troops?

If you haven't, you're not alone. A local Rowley woman (who wishes to remain unnamed in this story) only recently found out about this organization. But one thing is for certain: she won't soon forget it.

GreenCare for Troops is the signature program of Project EverGreen. It is a national program that provides free lawn and landscape service to military families where the major breadwinner is serving overseas. It is three years old, helping 8,000 military families through a national network of 2,200 volunteers.

The Rowley woman, who we will refer to as Joan, found out about this organization when she was volunteering on behalf of our troops overseas.

You see, Joan's husband is in the United States Air Force Reserve. He received orders to start Active Duty for the second time since 9/11 in April of 2009. Her husband is away from their Rowley home quite a bit.

"Since last April, keeping up the yard work has been a burden for us, physically and emotionally and financially," Joan said.

But then she heard about a solution.

A while back Joan was in Danvers helping out with a local troop support organization. In conversation she heard about GreenCare for Troops. Quite a bit of time went by and then she got a call.

The caller, Joan recalled, said, "I signed up as a volunteer for GreenCare for Troops. I would like to meet with you."

Joan remembered thinking that, "I thought he would be discouraged by the size of the property. We have a big house and a cleared acre. But he told me to relax and he would take care of everything."

He was Bruce Flynn, who runs the landscaping division of Nunan's in Georgetown.

"What he did was unbelievable," she said. "He treated me like a paying customer. Bruce and his crew have taken a huge burden off our shoulders. I can't thank him enough."

And there's more. Not only did Flynn help Joan out, but she said, "Our property has never looked so good. He is a wonderful man and landscaper. (He is) an angel sent to us from heaven and I want everyone to know."

Flynn is a member of the Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals. It was through the association's website that he heard about GreenCare for Troops.

"I saw an article that there were some military families that needed some help keeping up with their property. It thought this was a great opportunity," Flynn said. "To me, military families are making a sacrifice. Who am I not to make a sacrifice. I feel privileged to do this. You are always wishing there was something you can do to help."

After meeting with Joan and explaining to her what he would be doing she asked Flynn how much it would cost.

"When I told her it would cost nothing, there was dead silence on the phone for a few minutes," Flynn said.

Joan is the first person Flynn has worked with for GreenCare for Troops. He wants to volunteer again. He said he will be putting out information at Nunan's to get the word out to other military families so they can sign up for the service. He is also going to let other landscapers know about this program so they can offer their time.

Joan said the experience working with Flynn has been overwhelming.

"You have to understand how hard it is," she said, referring to having her husband away. "I did a lot of crying while he was away and now I've been crying a lot but it's been a different kind of crying."

Flynn told Joan this was just his way of saying thank you for the troops' service.

"It's hard for me to ask for help," Joan said. "It was easier for me to put my name on line and wait for the call. I can't express in words how overwhelming it is to have someone reach out to help you."

If you would like more information about GreenCare for Troops, please go to www.projectevergreen.com.