No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

Military families receive lawn, snow care from guardsman during deployment   

Staff Sgt. Jay Quenneville works with Project Evergreen

Rebecca Alwine
by Rebecca Alwine
June 27, 2022
Lawn care

Courtesy photo

When Staff Sgt. Jay Quenneville recalled the time he left for pre-deployment training and three days later water was coming through the roof of his home, he expressed a level of frustration many service members have felt.

“No amount of phone calls helps to fix the problem,” he said of the helplessness he felt at the time. “Focusing on the mission at hand is hard when you’re distracted by the stuff back home.”

Quenneville, a member of the Vermont National Guard, is the owner of Jay’s Snow Plowing in Fairfax, Vermont, which officially opened for business in December 2020. His passion for helping fellow military families, however, started long before.

“In 2019, one of the units in our organization deployed and since I was back here, I did snow plowing for the unit member’s families that were left behind, for free,” he said.

His desire to help families who are facing obstacles stems from the feeling he had – and they aren’t limited to plowing snow in the winter months. That’s why when Ki Matsko, program director of Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops/SnowCare For Troops, reached out to Quenneville, he was eager to get involved.

RELATED: Project Evergreen offers lawn, snow care services for deployed National Guard members, reservists

The GreenCare for Troops/SnowCare for Troops programs fall under Project Evergreen, a greenspace organization with a goal to bring families and communities together to make a greener, healthier, cooler earth, Matsko said. In 2006, board members decided to give back to military families by helping with lawn care during deployments. In 2010, snow and ice removal were added to the services offered.

Most of the services provided to military families are performed by professionals in the lawn and landscape industry, many of whom transition to snow removal in the winter months.

Both programs are available to deployed service members E-6 and below. The services are available during deployment at the service member’s residence and the lot must be smaller than 1 acre. Deployment orders are required, and service members can use this program every time they deploy.

Matsko said the process of connecting families and volunteers is focused on keeping the family safe and comfortable, while also providing the help they need.

“We don’t give the family’s information to the volunteer match, we give the family the information of the volunteer,” she said. “The family then reaches out to the volunteer and the volunteer can contact GreenCare to verify. Safety is a priority.”

Matsko also said the military family does need to be proactive when setting up the services, but doing so makes it easier all around. That way they can explain to the volunteer about gates on the yard, pets or other specifics of their yard.

GreenCare is available in all 50 states and is always looking for volunteers to help families. Some of the volunteers are service members, like Quenneville, and others just want to help.

“It may be snow for one family and the heat going out for another, I just want to help as many families as a I can,” Quenneville said. “Snow plowing is something I can help with.”

For additional details on eligibility requirements, visit the Project Evergreen website.

Read comments
Tags: deploymentlawn careProject Evergreensnow removal
Rebecca Alwine

Rebecca Alwine

Rebecca Alwine is a freelance writer, Army wife, and mother of three. Over the past 15 years, she's discovered she enjoys of coffee, lifting weights, and most of the menial tasks of motherhood. When she's not writing, she can usually be found hiding behind the sewing machine or with her nose in a book. Her motto: work smarter, not harder.

Related Posts

Our Military Kids shines light on ‘hidden helpers’ with annual contest

by Kari Williams
4 days ago
0
Our Military Kids

When reviewing nominations for the Our Military Kids Courageous Kids contest in 2022, one child’s story spurred the creation of...

Read more

Wisconsin brigade marks first Africa deployment by preparing for crises, supporting partners 

by Ben Greene
3 weeks ago
0
Wisconsin brigade

Two days after the first Wisconsin brigade to deploy to Africa arrived, Maj. James Schmitz departed for a crisis-management exercise.

Read more

50 years later, Operation Homecoming a ‘symbol of the last warriors’ returning from Vietnam

by Ben Greene
1 month ago
0
Operation Homecoming

Operation Homecoming freed now-retired Col. Tom McNish and more than 600 prisoners of war from Vietnam 50 years ago this...

Read more

‘Power & precision’: The history and purpose of Super Bowl flyovers

by Christopher Adams
1 month ago
0
Super Bowl

The NFL regular season will be ending soon, meaning that its apogee – the Super Bowl – is just on...

Read more

Operation Deep Freeze serves as bucket-list item for Wyoming flight nurse

by Allison Churchill
2 months ago
0
Operation Deep Freeze

Last fall Capt. Daniel Porter, Wyoming Air National Guardsman, finally got the call that he would be part of Operation...

Read more

Southwest border mission spurs ‘mixed feelings’ among guardsmen

by Will Martin
2 months ago
0
Border mission

The Southwest border mission is a prolonged federal effort and, more recently, a highly politicized mission at the state level.

Read more

Ads

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL
  • GET THE NEWSLETTER

GET RESOURCES

  • VETERANS TOOLKIT

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • PITCH US
  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2021 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • SPORTS
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • RESOURCES
    • VETERANS TOOLKIT
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2022 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW

Skip to toolbar
  • About WordPress
    • WordPress.org
    • Documentation
    • Support
    • Feedback
  • AMP
    • View AMP version