The NG Turf family strongly believes in giving back to the community whenever possible. Recently NG Turf Outside Sales Representative H.W. Keaton helped facilitate a large sod donation to a worthy cause—Promise Haven.
About the Project
Promise Haven is the first shelter in Lawrenceville, Georgia for families with children to transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency. Operated by Family Promise of Gwinnett, the program previously welcomed families to stay in host churches until doors were forced shut by the pandemic. To ensure shelter for the displaced families, a property was provided by St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, but the large home was in disrepair.
As part of the renovation process, Teddy Russell of Russell Landscape Group provided a team of volunteers, headed by Brandon Thomas, to install landscaping, including 59 pallets of farm fresh sod donated by NG Turf.
“Everyone came together as a landscape community and provided this beautiful property,” said Carol Love, executive director of Family Promise. “When you drive up now, you wouldn’t realize it’s a shelter. This is where people from the community who are experiencing homelessness are going to come, and they are going to feel welcome and at peace. It really is a haven.”
The landscaping represents the largest in-kind donation the organization has ever received, totaling more than $71,000 from five companies, including NG Turf. “This was a great project, and we were proud to be part of it,” Keaton said.
About the Grass
Russell Landscape Group’s team, including office volunteers, laid 59 pallets of premium Tifway 419 Bermuda over two days. “This is one of the bigger projects we’ve participated in,” said Thomas. “Getting out and working with our team members to be a good partner with our community lines up with our mission statement and our core values.”
Asked about the benefits of Tifway 419, Thomas said, “It’s bulletproof,” which is important with a steady stream of volunteers visiting and multiple families living at the home. “Bermuda will do well in these conditions, since it’s a non-irrigated site. NG Turf has a great product, so we knew it was going to be of the best material.”
Tifway 419 has been used for more than 50 years and performs well in a variety of applications. Its density and quick recovery from injury make it durable, so the lawn will stand up to years of use by the families of Promise Haven. The Bermuda also has low maintenance requirements and strong disease resistance, which will be helpful for the staff.
Why NG Turf
“Russell Landscape Group has had a long standing relationship with NG Turf,” Thomas explained. “They have always been great, very personable, very accommodating. And their product is second to none.”
Love says Promise Haven is thrilled with the results. “Never think of sod as just grass,” she said. “It’s transforming the life of a child. We serve parents with children, grandparents with children. Now the kids will be able to run and play on this grass. When you put your hands and feet to this, it is going to change lives.”
