Movers For Moms Program Gathers Donations For Moms at Greenhouse Center

A well-known national moving company is making a difference on Mother’s Day in every community they serve.

Locally, the Two Men and a Truck franchise in Evanston is spearheading a donation effort to help mothers housed at the Greenhouse Center feel special.

The “Movers for Moms” program began a couple years back through Two Men’s corporate office. But now all of the business’ franchises located across 32 states are taking part, according to Lauren Munson, marketing manager for Two Men and a Truck.

Each year, the business reaches out to community partners and other businesses interested in serving as drop-off locations for donations sometime in March. A couple days before Mother’s Day, someone from Two Men and a Truck will pick up the boxes, often filled with essential items like shampoo, soap and conditioner, and deliver them to the Greenhouse Center - a local shelter for battered women and children.

“On Mother’s Day, you want to make sure every Mom feels special no matter their circumstances,” Munson said. “We want to ensure every Mom at the shelter feels appreciated.”

And thanks to dropoff locations at the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, Childcare Center of Evanston, Creative Coworking, Pure Barre of Evanston, Hip Circle Studio and New Beginnings Church - they do.

“This time of year can be very difficult for women and families, but because of the Movers for Moms program they are able to experience a little bit of joy and cheer,” said Sandy T. Williams director of development at the Greenhouse Center. “Violence against women is not discussed often enough, so it is great to see people that want to make the women here feel special. It means a great deal.”

Williams points out many of the women sheltered at the Greenhouse Center come there with little to nothing, often having just left what little they had.

“We service the women with some of the most challenging situations,” she said. “Many are coming from families with no income or services available for them to escape situations of domestic violence.”

Businesses like Creative Coworking, a work meeting space and local art gallery in downtown Evanston, are happy to help by participating in the Movers for Moms initiative.

It’s the second year they have served as a collection site, according to Angela Valavanis, who says the more she hears about Two Men and a Truck, the more impressed she is.

“This is an easy cause to support,” Valavanis said. “Basic items can make a real difference for a Mom in a shelter.”

The Creative Coworking location is “an ideal spot as well with so many different people coming in here every day. Our big Facebook presence has also helped spread the word because we see people coming in just to drop off donations because they heard about it on Facebook,” Valavanis added.

Get involved next year

If your business is interested in becoming a dropoff location for Movers for Moms donations, contact Lauren Munson at lauren.munson@twomen.com

Photo: Students at Iroquois Community School help donate.

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