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 Brandon Moving & Storage, a Bekins agent, is our Mover of the Month for June 2017!
One word immediately comes to mind when we think of the crew at Brandon Moving & Storage: dedicated. Since November 2016, Brandon Moving & Storage has hosted an astonishing seven food drives and has volunteered their time and resources to help with two other events. Last month, they hosted two Fill-A-Truck food drives, one at a local Price Cutter, the other at a nearby Walmart, which brought in more than 10,500 lbs. of food combined.
The driving force behind Brandon Moving & Storage's commitment to their community is co-owner Don Henson, someone who knows the reality of hunger all too well. As a child, Henson, his five siblings, and their single mother went to food pantries but were often told that there wasn't enough to meet the family's needs. Being exposed to hunger at a young age motivated Henson to prioritize giving back whenever he can.
Henson says that everything about hosting food drives is gratifying, from the event itself to dropping off the donations at the pantry.
"It's humbling," he said. "The interaction with the people we meet and seeing the compassion for others is priceless. Cheerful givers and cheerful receivers, what could be better?"
Brandon Moving & Storage joined the Move For Hunger network back in October of 2013. They've always been active members of the program, but Henson called us late last fall and promised a renewed commitment in 2017.
“We just really hope and expect that we can participate in making a change, " he said earlier this year.
They certainly have followed through on their intention: Brandon Moving & Storage has delivered more than 11,200 lbs. of food to local food pantries this year - enough to provide more than 9,300 meals to their neighbors in need.
Most of those donations have been delivered to the Choctaw Food Bank, which serves approximately 400 households in Van Buren County every week. Henson has developed a close relationship with the Food Bank and told us that he once spent an hour and a half talking with the staff after making a delivery.
“I’m just amazed and I hope to learn more from them,” he said. “To see so many people you know that recognize and respect that pantry is amazing.”
Food drives, as Brandon Moving & Storage has demonstrated, are a wonderful way to bring a community together. There are only 17,000 people in Van Buren County, and 1 in 6 residents is struggling with food insecurity. Henson says that he expected to see an outpouring of support for the cause.
“The town always comes together and helps one another, and they do not forget when others help them.”
Henson also noted that “lots of the donations come from people that have been helped by the Choctaw Food Bank themselves.”
It's been quite a year for Brandon Moving & Storage, but they aren't finished yet. Henson and his team are currently planning their sixth food drive of 2017, another Fill-A-Truck event at the local Walmart in August. The fight to end hunger is far from over, but Brandon Moving & Storage is in it for the long haul.
“You can find negative everywhere you turn," Henson said. "Being a part of something positive has proven to be one of the most heart-touching events of my life.”
Along with the award, Brandon Moving & Storage will also be receiving a Move For Hunger hand truck, courtesy of Victory Packaging, lunch for their entire staff, compliments of Montway Auto Transport, and Move For Hunger truck decals for their entire fleet.
Congratulations to Brandon Moving & Storage on this much-deserved recognition. Thank you for commitment to reducing food waste and fighting hunger in Arkansas!
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!
