PLANET Day of Service 2014 spurs 90 project completions

Inside Out Design of Frankfort, Ky., collaborated with Good Shepherd Catholic School for its Day of Service project.

Type #PLANETDOS into your Facebook or Twitter search bar and you’ll see evidence the Green Industry was busy on Earth Day, April 22.

Off screen, the evidence was in the form of around 90 projects completed in 24 states at an estimated value of $400,000 as part of the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) Day of Service 2014.

An initiative that encourages landscape professionals to plan, organize and do volunteer projects that benefit their communities on Earth Day, Day of Service 2014 drew approximately 2,200 volunteers in its fifth year.

Highlights include the following projects.

For the children 

GrowinGreen, based in Kernersville, N.C., provided landscape maintenance support to Victory Junction Gang Camp, a free camp for children with serious illnesses. 

HighGrove Partners of Austell, Ga., completed a landscaping project at the Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett.

LawnAmerica, based in Tulsa, Okla., along with G&G Lawn & Landscape installed new landscaping at Will Rogers High School, of which LawnAmerica Owner Brad Johnson is an alumnus.

“As many inner-city schools, it’s had some real challenges over the years,” Johnson wrote in a blog post on the project. “However, the old school recently enjoyed some renovations both in the building and in the programs for the students. So we wanted to do our part in renovating a somewhat bare landscape with new landscaping in front of the building.”

YardApes had a four-legged helper during Day of Service.

A helping hand to nonprofits 

New Milford, Conn.-based YardApes tackled multiple projects, including repairing walkways and a patio for H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut, a nonprofit facility for abused and neglected horses.  It also did spring cleanups for three homeowners and touched up the grounds at Northville Baptist Church and the New Milford Bulls football and cheerleading field. 

Landscape Management got its hands dirty, too, pairing up with Schill Grounds Management and other volunteers to work on McGregor, a nonprofit assisted living and retirement facility in Cleveland. 

The National Hispanic Landscape Alliance (NHLA)—along with Alexandria Landscaping Services, Denison Landscaping, Epling Landscaping and Lawn Services, RulyScapes, Ruppert Landscape and JK Enterprise Landscape Supply—provided a landscaping makeover to Good Shepherd Housing Foundation, a nonprofit housing facility for those who struggle with mental illness.

“The NHLA is proud that our members, even during this very busy time of the year, are taking this opportunity to help an organization that cares for the often marginalized and underserved of our society by donating the manpower, equipment and plant material necessary for this much needed project,” said Raul Berrios, NHLA president and RulyScapes owner. “This effort will help to contribute to the health, safety and well-being of Good Shepherd residents and provide usable outdoor space.”

Giving back to those who gave

Sposato Landscape Co. of Milton, Del., did landscaping for the Home of the Brave, a vacation facility for families of combat veterans. Additionally, it worked in the garden at Jusst Sooup Ministry.

Environmental Enhancements of Sterling, Va., landscaped at Loudoun County Homeless Emergency Shelter on Day of Service.

Also helping the armed forces was Professional Grounds, located in Lorton, Va. The company spruced up the property of a wounded veteran who served in Afghanistan in 2011 and was diagnosed with cancer.

Turf Appeal Lawn Management, based in Oklahoma City, joined forced with Balfour Beatty Communities, Full Circle Tree Service and John Deere Landscapes to work on Fort Sill National Memorial Cemetery. The group relandscaped the visitor’s center and repaired ice storm damages to trees and plants.

“We appreciate this opportunity to give back for those who have fallen for our freedom and those who come to visit their fallen loved ones,” Matt Doerr, president of Turf Appeal, wrote in the project description to PLANET and added it’s the company’s fourth year to revamp the cemetery as part of Day of Service. “After year six we will have completely refurbished one of our most sacred ground in Oklahoma.”

For a full listing of Day of Service projects, visit www.PLANETDayofService.org

Photos: PLANET/flickr.com