Teammates from across more than 50 offices within Northwest Exterminating’s Family of Brands donated more than 5,000 toys to the 2025 Toys for Tots campaign. After over a decade of partnering with the Marine Corps on this initiative, teammates look forward to the opportunity to spread joy and holiday cheer to as many children as possible in support of the yearly campaign.
Throughout November and December, local offices opened their doors to the community, inviting customers, partners, and neighbors to join them in bringing smiles by donating gifts for local families. Acting as local drop sites for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign, teams were able to donate new toys and bikes.
As donations poured in, teams worked together to organize and coordinate multiple deliveries to nearby Toys for Tots distribution warehouses ensuring that the toys collected locally would stay within the communities.
“The holidays can be incredibly difficult for some families, and knowing that our teammates, customers and community partners helped bring joy to children who may have otherwise gone without is truly moving,” said Randy Wilhite, vice president of business development at Northwest Exterminating. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who opened their hearts to help make the holidays a little brighter for children across our communities.”
Over the past ten years, the Toys for Tots campaign has become a cherished tradition across the Northwest Family of Brands. It’s an opportunity that teammates look forward to each year, not just to give, but to serve together and make a lasting difference.
Living the Northwest Way means serving others and stepping up when there’s a need. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue to partner with such an incredible organization, and we look forward to working together with the Toys for Tots campaign in 2026.
Nearly a dozen Northwest teammates helped families served by Atlanta Inner-City Ministry (AIM) celebrate the holidays during its annual Holiday Party.
Teammates rolled up their sleeves and put their culinary skills to the test by cooking and serving “Breakfast for Dinner” to approximately 50 children and their families. The menu featured scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, fresh fruit, and a variety of drinks. In addition to cooking and serving, teammates also took on another important role: manning the cookie-decorating station, where fun and creativity were in full supply.
The fun didn’t stop there. Families enjoyed singing Christmas carols and capturing special moments with Santa. At the end of the evening, each child went home with a winter coat helping ensure they stayed warm throughout the season.
While the night was memorable for the families being served, it was just as meaningful for the teammates who volunteered their time.
“It is a genuine joy for our team to come together each year to prepare and serve breakfast for the children and families. There are always moments of laughter, especially when cooking what feels like endless amounts of bacon, but the real reward is seeing the smiles and warmth shared throughout the evening,” said Kristen Milligan, Good Deed Team Co-Director.
The Good Deed Team has proudly partnered with AIM for the past ten years, supporting children and families in the Lakewood Community. AIM is dedicated to uplifting the community by providing resources, encouragement, and opportunities that help families thrive.
Events like AIM’s Holiday Party reflect the Northwest Way in action: working together, giving back, and showing genuine care for the people and communities, we serve. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue to support such an incredible organization.
Northwest Exterminating’s Good Deed Team joined the Georgia Pest Control Association
(GPCA) on December 4 for GPCA Gives at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, and their
impact was felt far beyond the walls of the warehouse.
Nearly a dozen Northwest teammates came together to pack more than 8,000 pounds of
food, ultimately helping feed over 7,000 families across metro Atlanta. Teammates were
assigned to the Community Food Center station, where they filled hundreds of boxes with
meat, fresh produce, dairy products, and snacks—essentials that bring comfort and
stability to families facing food insecurity.
What made the day even more meaningful was the spirit teammates brought to the task.
There was plenty of laughter as teammates shared how much fun it was to take part in this
kind of community outreach. Many said it felt good to directly contribute to work that
makes such an immediate difference.
The Atlanta Food Bank staff issued a fun challenge: pack every box needed to fulfill the
day’s Amazon delivery orders. Northwest teammates didn’t hesitate; they embraced the
challenge with energy and teamwork and beat the deadline. Once all boxes were packed,
the group braved cold, rainy weather to meet drivers outside and help load vehicles. Their
willingness to go the extra mile showcased the heart of Northwest’s culture.
The Atlanta Community Food Bank partners with more than 700 community-based
nonprofit food distribution organizations across Metro Atlanta. Families may visit
Community Food Centers to pick up food, and upon arrival, they are asked a few questions
to determine whether they qualify for additional food assistance programs. The support
these centers provide is essential, helping families access nutritious food during difficult
times.
At Northwest Exterminating, serving the community is part of our DNA. Taking part in GPCA
Gives was not just an act of service; it was an honor. Our teammates were proud to support
the mission of the Atlanta Community Food Bank to end hunger, uplift communities, and
bring hope to families in need.
Northwest Exterminating’s Good Deed Team hosted a special cookout for the staff and volunteers at Lifeline Animal Project on Presidential Parkway in Atlanta on October 22. Putting a fun twist on their traditional first responder cookouts, this event honored the heroes who make a difference for Atlanta’s pets every day.
Katie Burchfield, Commercial Office Manager in Tucker, GA and a regular volunteer at Lifeline’s Community Animal Center, wanted to bring more awareness to the need for dogs and cats to find their perfect forever homes. After suggesting that Northwest get involved, Good Deed Team Co-Directors Greg Green and Kristen Milligan jumped at the opportunity to help.
In addition to serving lunch, teammates spent the afternoon walking dogs, meeting adoptable pets, and learning more about Lifeline’s mission. After plenty of belly rubs, treats, and tail wags, it was hard to tell who enjoyed the day more – the volunteers or the four-legged friends soaking up the extra attention.
Across the country, animal shelters are facing an overcrowding crisis and Georgia is no exception. Lifeline’s Community Animal Center helps relieve this pressure by taking in dogs from Fulton and DeKalb counties, typically housing around 100 dogs at any given time.
Lifeline staff explained that human interaction plays a huge role in helping pets feel loved and ready for adoption, something our teammates were more than happy to provide.
Potential adoptive families are even encouraged to “check out” a pet for a few hours or an entire weekend to get to know them better. Katie has brought several dogs to the local Northwest Exterminating Tucker office as part of this initiative. Teammates help by posting pictures on social media to attract potential adopters or fosters, but the benefits go both ways. “This really does help,” said Katie. “And the bonus is that our team enjoy the stress relief a dog brings to the office.”
By opening their hearts and their offices, Northwest teammates help give these animals a second chance and a better opportunity to find a forever home.
The day was a reminder that giving back comes in many forms. Whether it’s serving lunch, walking dogs, or helping a furry friend find a home, Northwest teammates showed that helping the community sometimes means lending a paw.
Teammates across Northwest Exterminating’s Family of Brands donated nearly 4,000 coloring books and hundreds of boxes of crayons to CURE Childhood Cancer. This idea began after a normal conversation with a customer and Buford Service Professional, Devon Cazee.
Devon has always found behind the scenes ways to quietly serve. He has worked with Northwest Exterminating’s local Buford, Ga. Service Center for nearly 9 years and is celebrated by his customers for the type of experience he delivers and the relationships he builds. Last year, he collected knit hats to donate to cancer patients, and he is always an active participant in Northwest’s small acts of kindness initiatives. Devon is especially fond of creating ripple effects of kindness throughout one of the communities he serves in Hoschton, Ga.
Devon learned about the organization CURE Childhood Cancer and their incredible mission after speaking with one of his long-term customers, whose daughter, Kristin Conor, is the CEO.
After checking in with one of his regular customers, he learned about CURE Childhood Cancer, an organization led by the customer’s daughter, Kristin Connor. Reaching out to Kristin to learn more, Devon was quick to ask, “What can we do?” As Devon shares, we have to do something, even if it’s small. He suggested collecting coloring books, and Kristin immediately loved the idea. When asked, she explained that coloring books could give patients a simple yet powerful escape, even if only for a moment, from the weight of their illness.
With Kristin’s backing, Devon went to work! He enlisted the full support of the Northwest Family of Brands Good Deed Team, which includes every teammate from all 6 states we serve. Devon started with a goal of collecting at least 2,400 coloring books, but teammates surpassed that goal. After only one month, teammates from across the Southeast and the local Deaton Creek community collected and donated 3,968 coloring books. The donation will be divided amongst local hospitals in Augusta, Atlanta, and Savannah, Ga.
CURE Childhood Cancer is an invaluable resource for families facing cancer. Their mission is to provide vital support services like the Open Arms Meal Program, mental health resources, bereavement care, and provide funding for groundbreaking research to find a cure.
Devon’s coloring book donation drive is just one example of the way teammates are seeking opportunities to give back and support community partners, non-profits, and local initiatives. We are so thankful for teammates like Devon for keeping their eyes open to serve and for all the incredible work CURE does to support the children and families facing these unimaginable challenges. The team plans to continue to partner with CURE in the future. For more information on CURE and their mission, please visit curechildhoodcancer.org.
