Editor’s Note: “Time for Some Good News” is a feature that spotlights the good deeds, great people and positive stories in the landscaping industry. If you have your own good news to share, reach out to Seth Jones at sjones@northcoastmedia.net or Scott Hollister at shollister@northcoastmedia.net.
One of the largest franchisors in the landscape and lawn care industry, Weed Man has more than 900 locations spread out across North America. While all are built on the same foundation created by the company at its beginning in 1970 and reinforced when it started franchising in 1976, these locations come in different shapes and sizes, serving different markets and customers.
One thing most of those franchises share, however, is a dedication to service and to giving back to the communities they call home. This came through loud and clear last year, as Weed Man celebrated a high-water mark for community giving and the creation of the Grassroots Giving Food Drive, now preparing for its second year.
“Our franchisees are passionate about the communities they serve, and their generosity shines through across our system,” says Jen Lemcke, CEO of Weed Man. “We were thrilled to see the overwhelming success of our inaugural Grassroots Giving Food Drive and the many other impactful initiatives our franchisees have spearheaded.”
The goal of the Grassroots Giving Food Drive is to encourage both franchisees and customers to donate shelf-stable, non-perishable food and household items to benefit local food banks. Across the Weed Man system, the campaign collected more than 76,000 pounds of food — equivalent to roughly 64,000 meals.
The campaign didn’t stop with food collections, though. In related efforts, franchisees dedicated their time to meaningful causes, including volunteering with other lawn and landscape companies to maintain the grounds at Arlington National Cemetery as a part of the National Association of Landscape Professionals’ annual Renewal and Remembrance event.
There were plenty of similar successes to celebrate at individual franchises across North America, Lemcke says. For example, Epic3, a Weed Man multi-territory franchise group, donated $60,000 to the Ronald McDonald House in Austin, Texas, during the 2024 holiday season and sponsored the refinishing of Saint Francis Xavier Catholic School’s gymnasium floor in Madison, Wis.
Another multi-territory group, LND, kicked off this year with a $10,000 donation to Make-A-Wish Illinois and partnered with Epic3 to host the third annual Baskets for Charity basketball game, which raised $5,000 for Special Olympics.
Two franchises in the Carolinas — the Hillenmeyer Group and Weed Man Greenville — stepped up to provide help following the recent hurricanes that impacted that part of the country. The Hillenmeyer Group raised $11,000 for Hearts with Hands in Asheville, N.C., while staff from Weed Man Greenville volunteered in the wake of Hurricane Helene, collecting two trailers full of food, water and baby supplies.
Meanwhile, several Canadian Weed Man franchises stepped up to support their communities. Weed Man Muskoka in Ontario, for example, contributed to the Silver Slicers Golf Tournament, which raised $20,000 for various youth programs, including the Muskoka YMCA Girlz Unplugged summer day camps. Turf Ops Canada raised awareness for mental health by completing 2,000 push-ups daily for 23 days to benefit the Canadian Mental Health Association. Weed Man Huntsville in Ontario pledged $1 per lawn care service performed in 2025 to Hospice Huntsville, which provides care to locals facing end-of-life situations.
“We are incredibly proud of how our franchisees step up year after year to make a difference in their local communities,” Lemcke says. “While we are excited to launch the second annual Grassroots Giving Food Drive, we are just as eager to see the many unique and impactful ways our franchisees will give back throughout the year.”
