PROVIDING RELIEF TO FAMILIES IN NEED,
ONE TRUCK AT A TIME
If you’ve lived long enough, you know the chaos that is moving. Oftentimes, during the process of packing and transporting countless boxes to a new home or apartment, a lot of food is thrown away. Unfortunately, a great deal of that food is perfectly fine and could be donated to a family in need instead of being tossed in the trash.
With 49.1 million Americans not knowing where their next meal is coming from, that’s where Move for Hunger comes to the rescue. Based in New Jersey, and serving areas across the United States, including DC,the crew at Move for Hunger works closely with moving companies across the country to pick up “unwanted, non-perishable food items from those who are moving and deliver it to their local food banks,” according to its website.
Founder Adam Lowy (his family owns Lowy’s Moving Service) grew up seeing how much food gets thrown out when people move. That didn’t sit well with him, so in 2009, he decided to do something about it.
“One day, [Lowy] asked his father if it would be all right to offer to take the food to the food bank and his father responded ‘Why not?’” said Erika Oman, Move for Hunger’s communications and events manager. “Just by asking that simple question, he collected more than 300 pounds of food in only one month, and it just sort of grew from there. Our mission is to ensure that food is never thrown out.”
TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Here’s how Move for Hunger works: When you’re ready to move, you call the organization ahead of time, set aside any non-perishable food items you’d like to donate on your front porch, and a mover will pack the food and deliver it to your local food bank.
To date, Move for Hunger has donated – wait for it – 5.2 million pounds of food and delivered more than 4,178,962 meals to food banks located across North America. Pretty impressive, right? On top of that, the nonprofit has established partnerships with 601 relocation companies throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Move for Hunger was recognized for its outstanding service when Lowy was honored on VH1’s Do Something Awards as a finalist back in 2011.
Move for Hunger founder Adam Lowy with actor Terrence Howard
“This goes out to the 17 million American children who do not have enough to eat right now and all the movers already across the country who are working to make this a solution and really bring relief to those in need,” Lowy said during his acceptance speech. “I urge you if you are a mover, if you know a mover, join our efforts and help us fight hunger in America.”
Lowry walked away that night with a $10,000 grant to help take Move for Hunger to the next level.
Taking it to the next level isn’t a new concept for the folks at Move for Hunger. They’re always brainstorming new and cool ways to raise awareness and money for the organization. On September 13 for instance, Move for Hunger held its second annual Truck Pull competition. Each participant was asked to donate $10 and 100 percent of the proceeds go toward Move for Hunger.
MOVES LIKE ERICA
Graduate student Erica Dick is busy pursuing her MBA at Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey, but in between classes, she finds the time to volunteer at Move for Hunger. In the short amount of time that she’s volunteered at the organization, she said it’s already been a rewarding experience so far.
“I help set up food drives and write press releases,” Dick said. “It’s always been important for me to help out and give back to others and truthfully, I enjoy it. It’s great to see how many other people want to help out and do their part as well.”
Her advice for others who want to make a difference? “Any contribution helps, whether it’s donating time or food – it could be a little or it could be a lot,” Dick said.
Those interested in getting involved can organize a fundraiser, join a race team, or start a food drive. Move for Hunger recommends holding the food drives at grocery stores, libraries, sporting events and tournaments, churches, and golf outings, just to name a few.
“There are nearly 50 million Americans who are affected by food insecurity and when you think about how 40 percent of food in America ends up in a landfill, it’s upsetting,” Oman said. “What we want is for people is to donate their food when they move instead of throwing it away. You can do your part and help us fight hunger.”
Move for Hunger food drive
About the Author: Princess Gabbara is a Michigan-based journalist and freelance writer (Ebony, Essence, etc.). You can read more of her work on her blog. She also tweets @PrincessGabbara.