GreenCare for Troops is celebrating 20 years!

By Emma Peterson. 

This program has been organizing and mobilizing outdoor professionals across the country in support of military families. 

2026 marks two decades of Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops program! This program connects military families, whose loved ones are away from home serving our country, with outdoor professionals who volunteer their services free of charge to help care for their properties. To learn more about the program, we hosted Ki Matsko, the GreenCare for Troops program director, for an interview.  

Ki became involved in the program back in 2014 and has gotten to see it grow over the years. She explained, “When I first started with the organization, I would try to reach out to military bases and notify the National Guard about the program and they were  hesitant about it because they hadn't heard about it... Similarly, when I tried to get volunteers, they were excited to help, but hadn’t heard of the program.”  

So, Ki and the team at GreenCare for Troops got to work spreading the word of what they were doing. From attending trade shows looking for volunteers to reaching out to military family assistants for connections to families looking for support, they were on the ground doing everything they could to share their mission and goal. And it worked. Today, after 20 years of operations, GreenCare for Troops has had “over 15,000 professional volunteers and served over 20,000 military families.” 

Reflecting on those accomplishments, Ki couldn’t say enough about how much the outdoor industry stepped up to make it all possible. She explained “Celebrating 20 years, it really reflects on the dedication of the industry professionals who have made it possible for this program to exist... For the landscape and lawn care professionals who have volunteered their time and expertise, this anniversary is a testament to their generosity, their commitment, their sense of purpose. It highlights the strength of the green industry as a community and really demonstrates how small acts of care can make a significant difference in people's lives.” 

Learn more about GreenCare for Troops at www.projectevergreen.org/greencare-for-troops.