(ARA) - Sometimes an offer sounds too good to be true -- like this one, for example: "Free lawn and landscape care for families of armed forces personnel who have a major breadwinner serving in the Middle East."

Sounds good -- but there has to be a catch -- right?

"There's no catch," says Den Gardner, whose organization -- Project EverGreen -- is gearing up for its second year of sponsoring a national public service effort called GreenCare for Troops. "Last year we had 2,500 families of service personnel sign up for the program. It didn't cost them a penny. This year, thanks to the generosity of lawn and landscape contractors and volunteers nationwide, we hope to enlist even more families to sign up."

If you're still skeptical, then check out this Web address: www.projectevergreen.com. Click on the GreenCare for Troops logo and you'll find how qualified families can apply for free lawn and landscape care this summer. Or, you can make a toll-free phone call to (877) 758-4835 to have an application mailed.

Gardner, who is executive director of Project EverGreen, says the roots of this generous offer go back to the basic mission of Project EverGreen. "Quite simply," he says, "we are working to dramatize the benefits of green spaces to our environment, our economy and our lifestyles. At the same time we realized that, for many service families, lawn and landscape care can become a burden when there are concerns for the safety of a loved one overseas."

This led to Project EverGreen's formation of GreenCare for Troops and a call for help to lawn and landscape contractors and volunteers nationwide. "Last year we enlisted 670 firms to donate their services on a volunteer basis," Gardner says, "and in 2007 we're hoping to enlist even more."

Support for GreenCare for Troops is coming from many green industry firms. Cub Cadet is providing significant and important underwriting for administrative support and Lawn Boy is accepting nominations at www.lawn-boy.com for a program to place new Lawn-Boy mowers into the yards of military families with loved ones serving in the Middle East.

"There is no cost or obligation to families who apply to participate in GreenCare for Troops," Gardner says. "Project EverGreen will make every effort to link those who apply with local land and landscape firms who have indicated a desire to help. However, since this is strictly a volunteer program, we cannot guarantee assistance to everyone who applies."

According to Gardner, the appreciation of this effort by service personnel and their families has been most gratifying. "We even had one soldier serving in Iraq ask us to send him a Project EverGreen banner to display -- and we were happy to oblige."

Project EverGreen is a national non-profit organization representing service providers, associations, suppliers/distributors, media companies, other organizations and individuals affiliated with the green industry. Project EverGreen's mission is to raise the awareness of the environmental, economic and lifestyle benefits of landscapes and promote the significance of those who preserve and enhance green spaces at home, work and play.

Courtesy of ARAcontent