Blog

$24,000 Raised at the Inaugural Detroit Truck Pull!

May 21, 2018

On May 6 we held the First Annual Detroit Truck Pull, presented by Kroger, at the Eastern Market Brewing Co. If you aren't familiar with what a Truck Pull is, here's the gist: we tied a big rope to a moving truck and teams of 10 competed to see who could pull it 100-feet across the finish line in the fastest time. Sounds like a lot of fun, right?

DetroitTruckPull2018_UniversityVanLines (29).JPGIt was! Sometimes charity events can feel a little stuffy, but this was different. We were outside on a beautiful spring day, listening to music, enjoying local libations, and raising awareness about an important cause while we were at it.

The Detroit community really came out in full force. We were so excited that we were able to bring so many different stakeholders together to support Move For Hunger. And it wasn't just the relocation industry! We had teams representing gyms, insurance companies, and the local radio stations. Even the people who were just there to hang out and watch the competition were having a blast. There were roughly 400 people in attendance, many of whom were just learning about Move For Hunger for the first time.

When all was said and done we had raised $24,000, which will help us raise awareness about hunger and food waste & provide individuals across the country with the resources they need to take action.

None of this would have been possible without our sponsors. We are so grateful to Kroger who, in addition to supporting the Truck Pull, also held food drives at 8 of their stores in Michigan last month. A special thank you also goes out to Channel 955, 97.9 WJLB, Kapnick Insurance Group, Preferred Corporate Housing, Quicken Loans, V-Suites, The Suburban Collection, and Relocation America International.

DetroitTruckPull2018_UniversityVanLines (37).JPGPlanning a truck pull is a lot like competing in one. You can't move that 7-ton beast by yourself - you're going to need a few friends to help you do it. Everyone on your team needs to be pulling in the same direction. Once you get the wheels turning and start building momentum it gets a whole lot easier, but you still need a strong anchor to get you across the finish line.

Our anchor throughout the planning process was Ben Cross from University Moving & Storage. He handled so much of the on-the-ground logistics, headed our committees, and really helped build excitement in the community. This event was his vision and he, more than anyone, deserves credit for helping to bring it to life.

We are fortunate to have partners in Detroit and across the nation who are able to help make events like this a reality. If you're interested in holding a fundraiser for Move For Hunger in your city, please let us know!