A Lawn Lad crew member mows a lawn fro free as part of Project Green Care.

On a humid Tuesday afternoon in July, Doug Freer, owner of Lawn Lad, and his crew are mowing a client’s lawn, fertilizing, and cleaning up some of the landscaping. It’s a typical day on the job except this University Heights client won’t be paying for her lawn care services.

Freer and his company are enrolled in a program called “Green Care,” an initiative of Project Evergreen, a nonprofit organization whose mission is “to preserve and enhance green space in our communities for today and future generations.” 

Green Care goes beyond creating tidy lawns. It connects  families of servicemen and women with lawn contractors, like Freer, who agree to provide free lawn care while their spouses are deployed.

Project Evergreen also donations to support this service.

Even in this economy, Freer feels he is doing the right thing. “We’re in business to be in business; to make a profit. But giving back to the community that supports us feels good. Some of my crew live in the Heights and they feel good about helping their neighbors. And I feel strongly about supporting our troops.”

Today’s client, who requested that her identify remain anonymous, is married to a National Guardsman on his second tour of duty in Iraq. Freer believes donating his company’s services is the least he can do.

“We put her husband’s mind at ease; he knows that a burden has been lifted from her shoulders while he’s gone so he can do his job more effectively. It’s a minor way to give back for his service.”

Although the Cleveland Heights-University Heights area does not, according to Freer, have a large military population, any support can reach families outside of our area.

If you are interested in becoming involved with Green Care you can contact Doug Freer at www.lawnlad.com/  or visit www.projectevergreen.com/gcft/. 

Christine McBurneyis the theatre arts deptartment chair at Shaker Heights High School, a performer, writer, and proud Heights High soccer mom.