EcoShield Pest Solutions has officially launched its annual food drive, Exterminate Hunger, for 2024, rallying communities and customers across the nation to tackle hunger head-on. From November 5th to December 16th, EcoShield will be collecting nonperishable food items to stock the shelves of local food banks in its operating areas. This marks over 15 years of Exterminate Hunger, a grassroots initiative created to provide much-needed relief for families facing food insecurity, especially during the holiday season—a time when need is at its peak.
EcoShield’s food drive takes a unique, hands-on approach: Technicians collect food donations from customers during regularly scheduled pest control visits, offering a simple, seamless way for customers to contribute. After collection, EcoShield employees organize, package, and deliver the donations to nearby food banks, ensuring the goods directly benefit local communities. With over 40 locations nationwide participating this year, EcoShield aims to collect 75,000 nonperishable food items—each donation helping to combat the quiet but significant crisis of hunger in America.
Understanding the Need: Food Insecurity in America
Exterminate Hunger was born from a profound understanding of the hunger crisis in America. It’s a reality that one in six Americans face food insecurity—a challenge that is often hidden but affects people from all walks of life. Hunger doesn’t discriminate; it impacts friends, neighbors, coworkers, and even family members. EcoShield’s leadership recognized this widespread issue and saw an opportunity to make a meaningful difference.
"Exterminate Hunger is an incredible opportunity to work together with our employees and customers to exterminate one of the most devastating pests… hunger," says Nygren, one of EcoShield’s key leaders. "Our mission at EcoShield is to spread happiness. We do more than pest control, and we've got the best team in the industry committed to doing that."
EcoShield’s work in pest control aligns with the Exterminate Hunger initiative in a significant way. Just as the company works to create safe, pest-free homes, it also strives to support families who struggle with an even more basic need: having enough food. This dual commitment to both home safety and hunger relief has made EcoShield a valued community partner in every location it serves.
How Exterminate Hunger Works: Simple, Local, and Impactful
One of the most remarkable features of Exterminate Hunger is its simplicity. Customers who wish to contribute can simply set aside nonperishable food items for their EcoShield technician to pick up during a scheduled visit. By integrating donation collection into regular service calls, EcoShield has made it easy and convenient for customers to participate, even amidst busy holiday schedules.
EcoShield’s service technicians play a vital role in this initiative, often going above and beyond to encourage donations and support their communities. Their dedication exemplifies EcoShield’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and fosters a deep sense of connection between EcoShield employees and the communities they serve.
Once donations are collected, EcoShield’s team organizes and packages them for delivery to local food banks. This direct handoff ensures that donations reach those in need swiftly and efficiently, maximizing the impact within each local community. By working with established food banks and pantries, EcoShield can help alleviate hunger for countless families who rely on these resources to get by.
The Goal: Making a Meaningful Impact in Local Communities
EcoShield’s overarching goal with Exterminate Hunger is to make food donations simple, effective, and impactful. "We recognize that our employees, our customers, and our friends all want to help but often don’t know how to do so," says Nygren. "With Exterminate Hunger, we provide an easy way for people to give back."
Every year, EcoShield aims to collect more donations, reaching even more families with much-needed food support. With a goal of 100,000 donations this year, the company is working to make an even larger impact than in years past, helping to ensure that food banks across the country are well-stocked as winter sets in.
How You Can Get Involved
If you’re an EcoShield customer, participating in Exterminate Hunger is as simple as setting aside a few extra canned goods before your next scheduled service. Even small donations can make a big difference. Nonperishable food items, such as canned vegetables, soups, pasta, rice, and dried goods, are all welcome.
For those who may not have an upcoming service but still wish to contribute, consider reaching out to your local EcoShield office to find out more about how you can donate. You can also encourage friends, family, and neighbors to participate. The more people who join in, the greater the collective impact on local food banks and the families they support.
The Bigger Picture: Community Support and Beyond
EcoShield’s Exterminate Hunger initiative is a reminder of the power of community and the importance of lending a hand to neighbors in need. Hunger remains a persistent problem across the United States, but community-driven initiatives like Exterminate Hunger show that we can make a difference—one meal, one donation at a time. By choosing to give back, EcoShield customers become part of a larger mission that goes beyond pest control, focusing on spreading hope and support.
This holiday season, let’s work together to exterminate hunger. With every can donated, every bag filled, and every family fed, we’re moving closer to a world where no one has to go hungry.