Each month, we highlight one of the moving companies in our network for their extraordinary commitment to fighting hunger in their community. We are excited to announce that Carolina Moving & Storage, a Wheaton agent, is our Mover of the Month for February 2018!
Although Carolina Moving & Storage has been a member of the Move For Hunger Network since 2009, it wasn't until last year that they really started to feel like they were making an impact in their community. In June, we received an email from the Lowcountry Food Bank in Charleston. They needed assistance with their BackPack Buddies program and wanted to know if one of our partners in the area might be able to help.
We knew that Carolina Moving & Storage was looking for additional ways to fight hunger in their community, so, naturally, they were the first company we contacted when we were presented with the opportunity. It turned out that a former customer had also approached Carolina Moving & Storage about the BackPack Buddies program. Needless to say, they were ready to help.
Since August, Carolina Moving & Storage has delivered 46,000 lbs. of food to children in their community - 5,560 lbs. in February alone. Which means that, in just 8 months, they have delivered more than 38,000 meals. According to Susan Neal, Vice President of Carolina Moving & Storage, her entire staff is thrilled with the initiative.
"The guys love it," she said. "They really look forward to making the deliveries every month. Sometimes they know when they're going to the schools even before I do!"
Neal noted that, for two members of her crew, there was a personal connection to the program -- they used to attend schools that are now receiving the donations. The movers understand just how important those backpacks are to the kids who are receiving them each week.
It takes a village to make this program possible. Schools that participate coordinate with the Lowcountry Food Bank to enroll food insecure students in the program. Once a month, the Food Bank delivers pallets full of non-perishable food to a local church, where volunteers sort the donations, fill the backpacks, and store them inside plastic bins. That's where Carolina Moving & Storage comes in.
"We've got it down to a system," Neal said. "We pick up the bins and deliver them to seven different schools."
In December, Carolina Moving & Storage even offered their storage facility as a staging area to help sort and fill the backpacks.
"We have a lot of space, which made it so much easier," Neal said. "It only took about an hour and a half to finish, whereas at the church it normally takes about four hours."
More than 190,000 people, including 1 in 5 children, in the greater Charleston area face hunger every day. The BackPack Buddies program is so important because it removes some of the uncertainty that accompanies food insecurity. These children know that they'll have something to take home with them every weekend. It's a big effort, but the stability it provides to the kids enrolled in the program is invaluable. Neal believes it's a wonderful way for members of the relocation industry to become more involved with Move For Hunger.
"It's a quick, organized way to give back to your community." And the results speak for themselves.
In addition to the award, Carolina Moving & Storage will also be receiving a Move For Hunger hand truck, courtesy of Victory Packaging and Move For Hunger truck decals for their entire fleet. Congratulations to Carolina Moving & Storage on this much-deserved recognition. Thank you for commitment to reducing food waste and fighting hunger in the Palmetto State!
Are you in the relocation industry? You can join the Move For Hunger network today. Doing good is good for business!
There are a number of ways to fight hunger in your community. Get started today!
