Project EverGreen kicks off National GreenCare for Troops Awareness Month

Project EverGreen has again declared June as National GreenCare for Troops Awareness Month.

Now in its 19th year, GreenCare for Troops has delivered an estimated $20 million in donated services to nearly 20,000 military families nationwide. These efforts foster environmental health, community pride and vibrant outdoor spaces where families can relax, reconnect and recharge.

“GreenCare for Troops is more than a service, it’s a lifeline,” says Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen. “Our volunteers relieve stress by taking yard work off the to-do list. But more importantly, they create spaces where families can feel grounded and supported. It’s a deeply personal and transformative experience for both the families and the volunteers who serve them.”

As part of this year’s observance of GreenCare for Troops Awareness Month, which is recognized by Chase’s Calendar of Events, Project EverGreen is bringing back the You Move, We Mow Challenge, a nationwide movement encouraging people to walk, run, bike, or hike in honor of deployed military families.

The goal: log 19,000 steps between June 22-28, symbolizing GreenCare for Troops’ 19 years of service.

“The You Move, We Mow Challenge is a great way to support military families and enjoy the green spaces we work to protect,” says Blaine Pinkerton, vice president of turf & ornamental sales for Nufarm, title sponsor of GreenCare for Troops. “Whether you walk, run, or ride, you’re raising awareness and celebrating the lawn care pros who give back every day.”

The impact of GreenCare for Troops resonates with military families, volunteers, and communities alike.

“Taking one worry off the minds of deployed spouses is a tremendous service,” says volunteer and Air Force veteran Richard Hansen of Hanen’s Lawn Care in Woodbury, Minnesota. “If we can maintain their property so it looks just as nice as when they left, that’s one less thing they have to stress about and that makes a difference.”