Here at MiniMoves®, we not only care about helping you move across the state or country safely and efficiently, but we also care about the communities we serve. As a partner with the organization, Move for Hunger, we regularly coordinate teams to deliver food to local food pantries. Move for Hunger is a 501©3 non-profit organization that works with relocation companies, such as MiniMoves, to collect non-perishable food items, and deliver it to food banks across North America. On Sunday, July 21st, Jennifer coordinated with the Move for Hunger team to have our movers, Chava and Ivan, pick up leftover non-perishable food items from the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon and delivered to Glen Ellyn food pantry. Check out our photos!
What Does Move For Hunger Do?
As you know, when people move, they tend to throw out a lot of “stuff.” Unfortunately, some of this stuff is food – food that is edible, safe to eat, and could be delivered to a family in need instead of thrown away. About 40% of food grown, processed and transported in the United States will end up in a landfill or rot in a field – and 43% of food waste will occur right at home. That’s where Move For Hunger comes in.
By teaming up with relocation companies across the United States, Move For Hunger is creating one of the largest year-round service programs in the country! Their movers offer to pick up the unwanted, non-perishable food items from those that are moving and deliver it to their local food banks.
Why Serve Hunger?
“Hunger” is a suggestive word. Everyone understands what it feels like to be hungry – our stomachs rumble and we might get irritable. So, we eat something, fill our bellies – and we are content.
Did you know that 41 million Americans face hunger every day? While food banks, shelters and soup kitchens may seem like the answer to hunger in our country – they are short-term and inadequate. Hunger is, in fact, a symptom of larger issues such as poverty and inequality.
In 2016, 12.3% of households were food insecure – meaning they do not have reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. According to Feeding America, 72% of the households served by its affiliated food banks live at or below 100% of the federal poverty line, with a median annual household income of $9,175.
How Can You Get Involved With Move For Hunger?
If you’re planning to move soon, start setting aside your unopened, non-perishable food items. If you are still in the process of finding a moving company, consider a Move For Hunger partner, such as MiniMoves, who will pick up and deliver your non-perishable food donations to the local food bank. Move For Hunger has delivered over 14 million pounds of food to food banks since 2009 – enough to provide over 12 million meals to those in need. MiniMoves alone has fed over 5,000 people through this program!
If you are a business or organization that would like to support Move For Hunger, check out some of their food drive campaigns! Consider starting your own food drive, and they’ll help support you with marketing materials and fundraising tools.
If you are an athlete, consider Team Move For Hunger, a national network of runners and walkers who make a commitment to turn their miles into meals. Members of Team Move For Hunger dedicate their races to the 41 million Americans who struggle to find their next meal. These individuals’ support provides Move For Hunger with the resources they need to continue rescuing food during the moving process and will allow them to help hundreds of people hold food drives in communities across the country each year.
When planning your next move, think about how you can reduce your waste by feeding the hungry and supporting those in need. Call MiniMoves today for a free moving quote and support the hungry in your community!
