A Flag in the Yard, a Conversation That Changed Everything
Some things start small. A routine service stop. A flag displayed in a customer’s yard. A teammate who took a moment to ask what it meant.
That simple exchange is where Northwest’s partnership with CURE Childhood Cancer began, and two years later, it has grown into something teammates genuinely look forward to each year.
This past August and September, Northwest’s Good Deed Team donated 4,032 coloring books and more than 1,200 boxes of art materials to CURE Childhood Cancer in Atlanta. For children spending long days in hospital rooms, art supplies offer something that’s easy to overlook but hard to replace: a few moments of creativity, calm, and normalcy in the middle of an incredibly difficult season.
Teammates across Northwest’s service area came together to collect donations, pack supplies, and coordinate the delivery. It was a team effort, built on the same spirit that drives everything the Good Deed Team does: people first.
How It Started
The story behind this partnership is a quiet one, but it matters.
During a routine service visit, a Northwest teammate noticed a CURE Childhood Cancer flag in a customer’s yard. Instead of moving on, he stopped and asked about it. The conversation that followed revealed the customer’s personal connection to the organization and planted the seed for what would become a lasting relationship.
It’s a small moment that reflects something bigger about the way Northwest teammates show up. Paying attention. Asking questions. Genuinely connecting with the people they serve. That attentiveness, on an ordinary workday, led to a partnership that now supports children and families facing one of life’s hardest challenges.
Two Years In, Still Growing
Greg Green, Co-Founder of the Good Deed Team, shared what this partnership means:
“One of our teammates noticed a CURE Childhood Cancer flag while out on a routine stop, and instead of driving past it, he took a moment to ask. That one conversation became a relationship we now treasure. It’s a reminder that when we slow down and truly see the people we serve, something meaningful can grow from it. This drive has become a tradition our teammates look forward to every year, because it’s really about showing up for children and families when they need it most.”
The coloring drive is one part of a much larger effort. To date, the Good Deed Team has logged 16,326 Acts of Kindness, reaching 82% of its 2026 goal. From coloring books delivered to hospitals to meals prepared for first responders, each act reflects the same belief: that service is about more than the work itself.
Grateful for the Partnership
To every teammate who donated, packed a box, or helped coordinate the drive: thank you. And to the customer whose yard flag started it all, thank you too.
Northwest is proud to stand alongside CURE Childhood Cancer in supporting children and families who need it most. This partnership is one the Good Deed Team will continue to build on, one conversation and one act of kindness at a time.
Want to learn more about how Northwest teammates give back? Visit our Good Deed Team page or read more about Northwest Exterminating.