Every year, national moving franchise, Two Men & A Truck, runs Movers for Moms, a program that partners with a local shelter to provide supplies for women in crisis.
This year, Washtenaw County’s Movers for Moms is partnering with SafeHouse. “SafeHouse really aligned with our mission for ‘Movers for Moms’–it’s important for Two Men & A Truck’s community mission to ensure that no woman living in crisis is left behind or feels forgotten on Mother’s Day,” says Charlene Bush, the marketing director of 7 Two Men & A Truck franchises across MI and the East Coast. As a woman-founded company, they are especially focused on supporting women.
Movers for Moms is collecting donations through the first week of May.
If you haven’t heard of SafeHouse, the diversity in services they offer for those who are affected by domestic violence or sexual assault are incredible. Kim Montgomery, the current interim executive director of SH and the program and services director, says: “Most people feel like we’re a shelter–however, we provide a holistic approach to survivors. We understand a lot of times, survivors DO need shelter, but that’s not always the best remedy for their situation. Survivors can deal with a lot: legal issues, needing support and resources in terms of housing or financial needs, addressing trauma they’ve experienced, trying to move toward healing. The services we offer address all of these things, not just emergency shelter.”
Various services offered include support groups of several different types: domestic violence, sexual assault, and ones that focus on particular areas or types of people. Crisis support (previously referred to as counseling), a 24 hour crisis helpline, and legal advocacy: legal advocates sit in every court for domestic violence or sexual assault dockets and support survivors.
SafeHouse also has a response team available 24/7–if someone is assaulted, an advocate will go to the hospital and provide information or support. SafeHouse also partners with county housing providers and offers several housing programs.
SafeHouse is excited about the partnership with Two Men & A Truck: “From the start of the project to the delivery of the actual donations, it’s been so great for us: smooth and a great partnership,” says Kim.
Two Men & A Truck does local moving, long distance moving, storage, junk removal, packing, internal moving. Charlene says, “We have our own line of boxes and packing supplies, and part of the work we do is also community service. Our tagline is ‘movers who care.’ What does that look like for us? Being a part of our community, giving back, ensuring that the places where we work know that we are more than just a business, and we really want to invest in the community.” The community investment is a strong reason why she loves her career: “I really enjoy what I do. I work for an amazing company, and I love the people that I work with and the work I get to do.”
Charlene thinks the work SafeHouse does is “pretty incredible.” “They really aligned with our mission and our movers for moms program. We wanna be able to bear some of the burden that they have because they offer so much. When you’re in a crisis, you leave whenever you can. You might not have a toothbrush, or your favorite pair of slippers, or other needed supplies. That’s really where we want to come in and support SH, because they provide all those items and more to women who are in need of them. That’s the role we desire to fill.”
Two Men found local businesses who also see the value in SafeHouse and want to support by providing collection boxes where people can come and donate.
Interested in donating supplies, monetary support, or your time?
For supplies, go to SafeHouse’s website under “donate” and check out their wishlist: those are the supplies that SafeHouse immediately needs. You can also find this wishlist on Two Men’s Facebook post or on Amazon. Due to the sensitive nature of many of their needs, no used items are accepted.
Drop-off locations include: Chelsea State Bank in Dexter and Chelsea, Two Men and a Truck of Ann Arbor, Girls on the Run of SE Michigan, Dexter Builders/Mill Creek showroom, BRAG Ann Arbor, and A Design Line.
If you have items to donate that SafeHouse can’t accept, they suggest you contact the Ann Arbor Thrift Shop, a partner of SafeHouse. The thrift shop accepts used clothing and household items in good condition and they allow survivors to “shop” at no cost. They also make monthly financial donations to SafeHouse Center and other local nonprofits.
Interested in donating monetary support? Safehouse welcomes such donations to help keep the organization running.
Want to volunteer? Check out their needs here.
“We do need the help of the community in terms of donations to continue the work that we’re doing,” says Kim. “We have had very generous community responses throughout the time that we’ve been here and we look forward to continuing to work with everyone.”
Ultimately, Kim says, “We’re here for survivors. It’s really important for them to know about all the services we provide. We’re here for survivors, we’re here for the community, and we’ve been here, as a provider of these services for 40+ years.”
Two Men & A Truck. 125 Dino Dr, Ann Arbor. twomenandatruck.com. 734.418.0575
Safehouse Center. 4100 Clark Rd. Ann Arbor. Safehousecenter.org.
