Two Men and a Truck Kicks Off
Movers for Moms®Drive to Collect Items for Peace River Center
Community-Supported Program Aids Moms in Crisis on Mother’s Day
Lakeland, FL—Though Mother’s Day is intended to be a joyous occasion for women across the country, thousands of moms will be overlooked because they are forced to live in shelters as a result of domestic abuse or homelessness.
Statistics from the Domestic Violence Resource Center state one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime and an estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year.According to a national study from the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, approximately 25 percent of homeless women are homeless because of violence in the home.
To ensure moms in crisis receive the appreciation they deserve this Mother’s Day, Two Men and a TruckPolk County is hosting its Movers for Moms® collection drive to provide personal items to women in transition at Peace River Center Women’s Shelter.
“Movers for Moms has been an amazing contribution every year when they bring the donations they have collected. Participants in our programs, more often than not, come to us with only the clothes on their backs or a garbage bag full of the belongings of themselves and their children. Through these generous donations they are able to begin rebuilding the things that will help them move forward successfully into the future, free from violence,” said Sherrie Schwab, Director of Victim Services, Peace River Center.
This year’s drop off locations include: Two Men and a Truck Polk County, North Lakeland Elementary School of Choice, South Eastern University, St. Joseph’s Academy, Black and Brew and Mitchell’s Coffee Shop.
“We love to support local charities,” said Jonathan Crain, Franchisee. “It is great to be able to partner with Peace River Center, which already does so much for our community. This drive makes it possible to give these women something nice that they wouldn’t normally receive on Mother’s Day.”
The drive starts April 1 and collections continue through May 2.
2013 WISH LIST FOR PEACE RIVER CENTER
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER
Children’s jackets (boys and girls- all sizes)
Blankets
Towels
Twin size sheet and standard pillowcases
Diapers size 4/5/6
Baby Wipes
Umbrella strollers
Washcloths
Women and children underwear
Women and children socks
Gas cards
Daily Planners 2013
Mesh bag to carry stuff
Reusable water bottles
Shampoo and conditioner
Body Wash
Journal
Make-up
Sippy cups
Baby bottles
Cooking utensils pots and pans
Toaster- heavy duty
Blender
Bowls (that not break)
Silverware
Night gown/pajamas (all sizes)
Umbrella
Outside toys
Basketball hoop
Hair brush
Tampons
Pads
House slippers
Hairspray
Curling irons
Blow dryer
Pantyhose
Ethnic hair supply shampoo, conditioner, (hair gel, grease, pink moisture, oil sheen, wide tooth combs, and silk/head scarf or bonnets)
Think of all items that you use every day to get ready for each day.
Program Participants need the same things to help them each day.
Be sure to join our event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1395985417342028/
Facts About Movers for Moms:
MOVERS FOR MOMS
Program Overview
What is it?
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® locationsacross the country and internationally are collecting donations for local women’s and family shelters for delivery on Mother’s Day. Our office is collecting for Peace River Women’s Shelter, here in Lakeland.
- The purpose of the program is to recognize those moms living in shelters this Mother’s Day by arranging delivery of small gifts for women who are victims of domestic abuse or homelessness.
- 2014 will mark the seventh year for the Movers for Moms®program.
- The donations we encourage include any/all personal comfort items: nice soaps, hair styling products, shampoos and conditioners, pillows, blankets, slippers, robes, etc. In most cases, shelters will provide a list of specific needs.
When does it happen?
- Partnering organizations can begin collecting at any time, but the collection typically runs from late March through the Friday before Mother’s Day.
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® will pick up and deliver the collected items to partnering women’s shelters on or before Mother’s Day —- Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 11, 2014.
Why a collection for Moms?
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® has women in key leadership across the company, and some of our most successful franchisees are women, so the idea for Movers for Moms® came to us naturally.
2013 Results
- 120 TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® franchise locations in 30 states participated in Movers for Moms®.
- Movers for Moms® collected more than 210,000 essential items which were distributed to more than 150 shelters for Mother’s Day.
- More than 420 elementary school, preschool, daycare and community collection sites supported Movers for Moms®.
Feedback from Movers for Moms Partners
“Protecting and supporting domestic violence victims is a community-wide responsibility. We were deeply touched and heartened by the generous outpouring that the Movers for Moms campaign brought forth.”
Carla Blinkhorn, CEO, YWCA West Central Michigan, Grand Rapids, MI
“This past Mother’s Day, the YWCA Dayton Domestic Violence Shelter was truly blessed by the Movers for Moms donation drive and by the helping hands of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK who delivered over 15 boxes of donations to the women in shelter. This event has created a partnership between local schools, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, and the YWCA Dayton that exemplifies the true spirit of giving.”
Sarah Wiseman, Volunteer & In-Kind Donations Coordinator, YWCA Dayton, Dayton, OH
“Our teen parenting program was the recipient of this year’s Movers for Moms donation drive. The young mothers and the program coordinator were moved to tears when they saw the quantity and quality of donations. The diapers and baby formula were especially welcomed.”
Valerie Kirn-Duensing, director of development at Women’s Resource Center, Traverse City
“This was our third Movers for Moms event and the response was overwhelming. We appreciate our partnership with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK. They are wonderful community advocates for our young mothers.”
Mary Ciminelli, Florence Crittenton Services, Charlotte, NC
“Movers for Moms was extremely instrumental in providing a wonderful and meaningful Mother’s Day for the Shelter’s participants. Without community support like this, the Shelter would not be able to provide our life changing programs and services, and we certainly would not be able to create such a special day for all of our survivors.”
Rebecca Grabau, Volunteer & Resource Coordinator, The Shelter for Abused Women & Children, Naples, FL
“With the help of our dedicated community partners like TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and its Movers for Moms program, our agency was able to continue our tradition of giving our clients a basket filled with personal care and cleaning supplies. Receiving a basket full of products we think of as staples, is like receiving luxuries to those on a limited budget. Each May Basket gives a sense of renewed hope…a feeling that their community cares for them.”
Sherry Martens, Volunteer Coordinator, Center for Women in Transition, Holland, MI
“Thank you to Movers for Moms for their generous coordination of donation items to the TESSA Safehouse this year. Thanks to their efforts we received many much needed in kind items such as toiletries and cookware. We were also able to procure many gift cards, which are invaluable to our organization and our clients, and cash donations, which non-profit could function without. More than the tangible contributions, Movers for Moms helped to raise awareness in our community of TESSA services. Every opportunity we are afforded to have the TESSA name in the public conscience is the potential for another survivor to seek help. We could not provide the services that we offer without the partnership of community members like you!”
Amber Besse, Community Outreach Liaison, TESSA Safehouse, Colorado Springs, CO
Want More Information?
- Check us out on Facebook – www.facebook.com/moversformoms
- Follow us on Twitter @MoversForMoms
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