Family stress is not limited to the 1.5 million active-duty military personnel. In addition to the stress caused by family separation, deployed troops’ spouses are left with the additional stress of managing the household on their own.

Volunteers can ease their burden by joining Project EverGreen. SnowCare for Troops(SCFT). www.projectevergreen.com/scftTo provide snow removal services free of charge to active-duty soldiers. THE BOSS Snowplow is funding the national program. SCFT is now in its third year and has 1,200 volunteers who have signed up to assist more than 1,500 military families. Many volunteers are professionals in snow removal and landscape contracting.

“It takes a very special person to give of their time and resources to back up our troops and their families. We want to thank BOSS and our many volunteers who go the extra mile to make sure they’re taken care of,” said Cindy Code, Project EverGreen executive director. “We know there are many opportunities to help our military families, and we’re pleased to see the positive impact that SCFT is having on those who already sacrifice so much.”

These are ways that volunteers can help SCFT:

* Assisting one or two military families locally with snow and ice removal in their communities;

* Enlisting others to join the cause and encouraging military families to register for the program;

* Donating money or gas cards to offset snow removal and maintenance costs; and

* Lending snow removal equipment to volunteers or groups.

According to a Blue Star Families’ Military Lifestyle Survey 2012, 95 percent felt that Americans were the best. “do not truly understand or appreciate the sacrifices made by service members and their families.”

SCFT and other service programs are crucial for community support. They help bridge the gap between civilians, military families, and civilians. SCFT is open to military families and their loved ones who are deployed. To register, please visit Project EverGreen. Project EverGreen will match families to local volunteers in the area.

Project EverGreen is an organization that promotes green spaces and the positive effects they have on our society. Project EverGreen is a national non-profit that promotes the positive effects of green spaces. www.projectevergreen.com. Or, become a volunteer at projectevergreen.com/scft/become-a-snowcare-volunteer