Atlas Local Movers are taking their trucks and charitable acts to a higher level – of education, that is.
 
Move For Hunger Director, Adam Lowy, and team, coordinated the first ever Move Out for Hunger food drive, in partnership with Doorsteps and Food Recovery Network and the help of Atlas Local Movers – University Van Lines (2075), Paxton Van Lines (1610), Alexander’s Mobility Services (0214), Certified Van Services (0599), and Wm. Duggan Co., Inc. (2189).
 
From April 21 to May 5, 2017, students from five participating universities - Brandeis University, George Washington University, Goucher College, Monmouth University, and Southern Connecticut State University - donated 5,059 pounds of non-perishable foods during move-out dates. That equates to 4,215 meals for people in need.

“At the end of each school year, millions of students leave their dorms and student housing for the summer. As with any move, students tend to throw away a lot of ‘stuff,’" Adam says. “This seemed like the perfect opportunity to rescue non-perishable food items while educating young people about the importance of tackling food waste and hunger.”
 
Jim Quigley with University Van Lines, and his girlfriend, Abby, assisted at Monmouth University. In total, 562 pounds of non-perishable food (468 meals) was collected.
 
“It was a fun and rewarding day for me, especially to see the students helping us out. They were terrific,” says Jim, “There are many people in this country who go to bed hungry. Most of us never think about that because we have never gone hungry for more than a day. It is said, ‘give and you shall receive.’ Giving time to any cause is worth more than just giving money. Please support Move For Hunger. You will not regret it.”
 
Wm. Duggan showed their support for the cause as well. Bob Balser, Linda Balser, Joan Murphy, and drivers, Joe Lima and Gordon Milroy, all assisted at Brandeis University. Students donated 240 pounds of non-perishables (over 200 meals).
 
“We believe no one in this great country should go hungry,” Bob says.
 
Four staff from the Alexander’s team contributed at Goucher College: Marketing Specialists, Lindsey Rapp and Hillary Houtz, and drivers, Jim Vaughn and Erb Locklear. The total amount collected was 177 pounds, averaging 147 meals.
 
“Alexander’s has a long history of community activism and we believe it is important to support our neighbors however we can,” says Pam Deem-Hergan at Alexander’s.
 
The Certified Van Services team helped transport over 3,500 pounds of non-perishable food from Southern Connecticut State University to local food banks. The Paxton team assisted with the 540 pounds donated by students at George Washington University.  
 
With the help of their partners, Adam’s team hopes to expand Move Out for Hunger across more college campuses in 2018.
 
“We couldn't have done this without our amazing Atlas Local Movers volunteering their time and resources,” says Adam. “Many of them not only donated a truck, but were also out there encouraging students to donate their food. It's always great to see companies getting involved in the community in this way, and our Atlas Local Movers went above and beyond to make this event a success.”