Jan 6, 2021 | Community News, Company News, Good Deed Team, Teammate Celebration
Piedmont Pest Control, soon to transition to the Northwest Exterminating name, continues to create ways for teammates to be involved in the Laurens’ community, something every teammate enjoys.
A connection the Laurens team created early on was with the local first responders and law enforcement, especially to say thank you for all they do daily for our community. Though 2020 has changed the way our teammates are able to serve locally, they have found ways to so safely and with the same service-oriented heart.
Supporting a Customer
Some of our teammates took a Saturday morning to help an elderly customer with yardwork they were unable to do. The lawn was mowed, tree limbs were cleared, the yard was picked up, and our team was able to honor and support our customer in this small way they were thankful to be a part of.
First Responder Cookout
Our Piedmont teams’ partnership with the Laurens first responders continued this month with another First Responder Lunch, but this time drive-by style! This was a fun day of celebration, involvement, and connecting with our first responders with a Chick-Fil-A lunch. We enjoyed having our police officers and firefighters come by to pick up lunch and for our team to express our appreciation for their service and commitment to our extraordinary community.
First Responder, K9 Partnership
The Laurens team is thankful for the overall involvement with our first responders and the incredible people met throughout the years. There have been some special times our Laurens’ team has been able to help one team, the K9s. Our Laurens office was able to host the Laurens Police Department K9 training dogs and use our office as training grounds for them. This might be the coolest thing our teammates have been able to participate in – it was incredible! One K9 stole the team’s hearts altogether, Kai. She is beautiful, energetic, and an honoree Laurens teammate. At 2019’s First Responder Cookout, our team sponsored a bullet proof vest for her to have. Thank you, Laurens PD, for allowing us to be of service to not only your team of first responders but also the K9s.
Being involved in the communities our teams live and work in daily is an honor and something our teammates enjoy, not only because of the small acts of kindness created, but also because of the opportunity to create even a small impact in the communities we love. Thank you to all our teammates for looking for ways to continue to be involved throughout a year that looks difficult for all.
Jan 6, 2021 | Community News, Good Deed Team, Teammate Celebration
This holiday season presented Northwest Exterminating with an unexpected Christmas miracle opportunity. Our teammates were asked to help a family that had recently lost everything in a house fire. With the holidays near, Christmas was far from the minds of the family with so much going on and with few ways to make it special for their children.
The Northwest Family was given ways to help and came together to collect items on the children’s wish list and to make a small difference to this family’s Christmas. The Northwest team loves to find ways to support the opportunities given to serve, but the true difference maker in this story is a teammate’s daughter. She heard of what Northwest was doing, saw the family we were supporting had a 15-year-old daughter her age, and granted each clothing item wish on her list.
Northwest Exterminating’s Co-Director of the Good Deed Team, Kristen Milligan, speaks value to this story, “This gives hope that the next generation has the compassion and willingness to help others that reflects our commitment to bringing the heart of Northwest into the communities that we live and work in. This kind of compassion is only taught by the actions and behavior they see around them, which is a true testament to our Northwest teammates and family.”
This family was able to have a Christmas miracle this year with gifts for everyone! We are so thankful WSB reached out to us on this opportunity to be difference makers for a family in the holiday season.
Jan 4, 2021 | Company News, Good Deed Team, Teammate Celebration
The Northwest Family Literacy Program is something the Northwest Good Deed Team’s Co-Leaders, Kristen and Greg, worked hand in hand to create with local schools and teachers. It’s grown to be a program available to multiple schools around the area and is something the pair thoroughly enjoys being involved with each month.
Birney Elementary teamed up with the Northwest GDT to create the Literatura Bilingual Family Literacy Program for their elementary students to participate and be involved in. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and safety top of mind, the families and students have not been meeting in person. The two teams created a drive-thru format to still be able to provide the resources, books, fun, and sense of community while practicing social distancing guidelines!
Birney has continued to see a large turnout amongst their students, and December was another huge success. The GDT served over 100 families participating in the program a meal while they picked up their resource and activities packet. With the help of other GDT members, they were also able to film the book that each family was receiving in the December program in both Spanish and English for the families to enjoy!
The Literatura Family Literacy Program has grown in participation, with the Birney and Northwest teams hopeful to see this trend continue into the 2021 school year. The Program is hosted monthly, with new, unique activities created and handed out each time. The teams look forward to continuing the Literacy Program and growing it to serve more families in the future with Birney.
More information on the Literatura Family Literacy Program with Birney Elementary.
Jan 4, 2021 | Company News, Good Deed Team, Teammate Celebration
Our Northwest teammates in the Tennessee area were asked by the Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors to ring the donation bells for the Salvation Army this year. Teammates George and Susan came together, 6 feet apart, to ring the bells outside of a local grocery store in the Nashville area to bring some holiday cheer to the patrons and raise donations for the local Salvation Army locations.
The Salvation Army’s red buckets and bell ringers have become somewhat of a staple during the holidays in our local communities as the volunteer ringers help raise funds that serve nearly 25 million people every year.
George and Susan took the “early” shift and rang the bell while greeting shoppers for two hours. They enjoyed volunteering together in a year that has changed how our teammates are able to give back. You can tell from the photo how much fun the two had! We are grateful for teammates like George and Susan who are still finding ways to serve their communities under the unique circumstances of 2020.
Nov 2, 2020 | Company News, Good Deed Team, Teammate Celebration
In October, our Wildlife and Smyrna service centers joined each other to collect sneaker and book donations for a drive sponsored by Kids Care, Kindness in Doing Service Connecting and Respecting Everyone. Kids Care was started by a mother daughter duo who wanted the world to know that kids do care and can make impactful differences.
The sneakers and books our Wildlife and Smyrna teams graciously donated will be given to local nonprofits and charities including liveSAFE Resources in Marietta. Thank you to these two extraordinary teams; together they donated about 30 pairs of shoes and 40 books!
The Good Deed Team has continued to seek opportunities to serve safely, and this Sneaker and Book Drive–By and Drop Off aligned with COVID protocols perfectly. We are grateful for Wildlife and Smyrna’s willingness to serve our communities. For more information on Kids Care and how you can further volunteer, visit their website.
Oct 26, 2020 | Company News, Good Deed Team, Teammate Celebration
The Northwest team has formed a partnership with the Gaines Park Senior Living community to help support the incredible residents who call Gaines home. COVID-19 has been difficult on all, and with many unable to visit their family during this time, Northwest corporate, commercial, and training departments wanted to get together to bring a bit of joy to the day of some of the residents.
What started as a mission to create 12 baskets resulted in 24 baskets being created and dropped off to the residents! Below are three that were created by teammates intentionally for a chosen resident.
Resident: Evelyn | Teammate: Paige
Paige from the Northwest Accounting team chose Ms. Evelyn because of their similar interest. Evelyn mentioned a love for bird watching and peanut butter crackers, and as Paige puts it, “We’re kindred spirits I guess.” Paige took the time to handmake a beaded suncatcher for Evelyn to hang in her window and a blanket. She also included some of her favorites: M&M’s and Peanut Butter Crackers.
Evelyn never expected anyone to take the time to do something like this for her! Paige took joy in including everything she was able to within her basket. We are thankful for teammates like Paige who value others well.
Resident: Mr. McNeely | Teammates: Garry & Jim
Wanting to honor a Veteran due to their close military family ties, teammates Garry and Jim chose Gaines Resident Mr. McNeely. He was a Tail Gunner during WW2! Garry and Jim wanted to put together something special as a way to say thank you for his service to our country.
The pair included memorabilia items, candy, a blanket, and other items focused on comfort in their Air Force themed basket. The only goal for Garry and Jim was to honor this Veteran the best way they could and hopefully bring a smile to his face. We’re thankful for this pair serving others well!
Resident: Gail | Teammates: Carol & Linda
When Northwest teammates Carol and Linda paired up to create a basket, they immediately noticed Gaines Resident Gail because of her hobby with Bible studies and devotional books. The two set out to create a basket that fit Ms. Gail’s likes and hobbies to let her know we were thinking about her!
After noting her favorite color as teal, the pair included a teal devotional book, a bookmark, and matching pens! They also included her favorite candy: Sour Patch Kids! Carol mentioned it was fun to go shopping safely for these and a few other fun items specific for Gail! “I can only imagine how the residents are feeling not being able to go out at all right now. We really enjoyed shopping for her,” said Carol.
We are so thankful for this team that when asked to help, they go above the call. With 24 baskets delivered to the Gaines Residents, the team is hoping to remain involved the best we can while staying safe and listening to the regulations necessary to keep the residents healthy!
The baskets were dropped off with a member of the staff who also wrote a kind letter back to the Northwest team about how much the residents appreciated the gifts. Thank you, Gaines Park, for allowing us to bring some smiles during 2020.
Sep 8, 2020 | Company News, Good Deed Team, Teammate Celebration
The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult on most and brought changes for all. The Northwest Family loves to be involved with our community partners as much as possible, and we’ve had to get creative with the changes this year.
With an inspired idea from Jenna on the Northwest Accounting team, some Northwest Good Deed teammates got together to create customized baskets for the Gaines Park Senior Living residents. Teammates chose residents from a list and were provided details about some of their favorite things: color, flowers, snacks, etc. That way, each resident could receive a fun, unique baskets full of their preferred things!
The baskets were meant to show that we’re thinking about these seniors! Though we cannot visit the residents at this time as we usually like to, creating baskets for the seniors was a fun opportunity to be involved, and a small way we could support them.
Only a small number of baskets have been delivered so far! The others will be delivered at the end of the month. We can’t thank the staff at Gaines Park enough for allowing us the opportunity to celebrate these seniors and bring a bit a joy into their day. Also, a big thank you to our Northwest team for joining in on the opportunity and wanting to help any way they could!
Sep 4, 2020 | Company News, Good Deed Team, Teammate Celebration
The Northwest Newnan Family has always worked to support many local community organizations. One organization the team works with closely and normally volunteers with is the Coweta Pregnancy Center.
The Coweta Pregnancy Service (CPC) provides services to women and families that are in need. They provide pregnancy test, ultrasounds, and counseling for new moms. They are funded through a local church and donationsand are supported primarily by local community volunteers.
The Newnan team came together during the month of August to donate kids clothing to the CPC before the start of the new school year. They were able to collect 4 bags of clothes in total, for boys and girls, ranging from infant to pre-teen size!
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the team is not able to volunteer their time with the organization as much as they would like to, but they still wanted to find a way to support the organization and the people they help every day. The Coweta Pregnancy Center was grateful for the donation, and our team was grateful to be able to find a small way to still serve our Coweta County community.
Thank you, Newnan Team, for your servant’s heart and honoring your community every chance you get!
Sep 1, 2020 | Company News, Good Deed Team, Teammate Celebration
Northwest’s Newnan team has continued to look for ways to support our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though our ways of serving others look different during these times, the Newnan Family has found creative ways to help community organizations they work closely with throughout the year.
In August, the Newnan team put together a small package for each girl in the Angel House. The gift included a personal journal, letter from the team, coloring pages of their favorite animal or sports team, poems with writing prompts, and one dinner conversation starter! Along with each personal gift, the team gifted the Freedom Writers movie and a gift card to get ice cream party supplies to enjoy while watching the movie!
This creative idea was put together by the team to support and honor the young women of Angels House. Angels House provides a safe, nurturing home for teen girls in crisis. Though the team was not able to hand deliver the gift, they were able to leave it on the doorstep to respect the COVID-19 boundaries.
The team has enjoyed creating a relationship with the Angel House and are always looking for new things they can do with the organization. The girls were so grateful for the small gift and to everyone who takes time to be part of their lives! The Newnan team plans to continue to volunteer and donate to the Angel House. We are thankful for our Newnan’s team desire to help those around them!
For more information on the Angel House and how you can help to support their mission, please visit their website.
