Ruppert Landscape volunteers at recovery program in N.C.

Forty employees from Ruppert Landscape’s North Carolina branches came together Friday for a day of service to help improve the grounds of Ground 40, a recovery program in Monroe, North Carolina. The cleanup and installation were part of Ruppert’s ongoing effort to partner with community organizations that are providing support and services for vulnerable populations.

This day of service involved an investment of both time and materials, totaling approximately $20,000 and consisting of 320 labor hours. To bring this project to fruition, the site was cleaned and prepped, over 250 perennials and shrubs and 15 trees were installed, planting beds were mulched, and a volleyball court was installed. The company received generous donations of materials from several service partners including SavATree, SiteOne, Mulch Services, Scott Tree and Osprey Minerals.

Ground 40 is a program that helps men transition back into the community from homelessness, addiction, and incarceration. Through a tiered approach, participants are given the tools they need to focus on their sobriety and other life challenges and reintegrate back into the community and their families.

“We appreciate the goodwill of Ruppert Landscape, their employees, and several of their vendors that provided time and resources to help us improve our newest location,” says Wesley Keziah, Ground 40 executive director. “When we bought the space over a year ago, our biggest priority was getting the interior ready to welcome residents. We wanted to make the outside a more inviting space for residents and their families to enjoy and this donation has enabled us to do that.”

“When we look for community service projects, we are looking for a project where we can utilize our landscaping skills and company resources to better our community,” says Angela Howes, branch manager of Ruppert’s North Carolina Landscape construction branch. “This project came to us through one of our employees who knew about Ground 40 and suggested that we get involved. One of our company’s values is giving back to our community and we love to undertake projects that have meaning for our team members.”