We thoroughly enjoyed celebrating Mother's Day this month with our May Community Cups partner, Shelter Movers NS. They get Courage in Motion by supporting women and children fleeing abuse in our community.
We had the pleasure of chatting with Erica on their team, and learning all about their organization and how we can help them more!
Tell us about your organization!
Shelter Movers is a national, volunteer-powered organization that provides moving and storage services at no cost to people who are fleeing abuse. As the only service of its kind in Canada, we are powered by over 2,000 volunteers across the country and operate chapters in Greater Toronto, Ottawa, Waterloo, Montreal, Nova Scotia and Vancouver.
The Nova Scotia chapter launched in 2019 and to date has completed over 400 moves in the Halifax Regional Municipality, South Shore and Annapolis Valley.
What does Shelter Movers do and how do you manage to do it?
Shelter Movers helps eliminate the financial and logistical burdens associated with moving by creating a safe space to collect, transport and store survivors’ belongings. We collaborate with local businesses and community services (shelters, police, social services, etc.) who refer clients that have decided to leave an abuser, and have a safer place to go. Shelter Movers makes all the arrangements to move and store survivors’ belongings, including vehicle rentals, a team of volunteer movers/drivers, private security or police escort, storage space, pet fostering and language interpreters.
Our small staff team is supported by over 270 trauma-informed volunteers who volunteer through both in-person roles (mover/driver) and virtual ones (fund development, marketing and communications, volunteer recruitment, administrative positions, etc.). With the support of volunteers and our community partners who donate moving supplies, vehicles, storage space and security services, Shelter Movers Nova Scotia is able to move an average of 14 families per month.
Is there anything that you wish more people knew about Shelter Movers or the issues you are trying to solve?
Survivors face the prospect of losing everything they own when they decide to leave an abusive situation. Moving and storing one’s belongings is expensive, logistically complicated and often dangerous. That’s where Shelter Movers fits in. We remove the financial, logistical and safety burdens a survivor would otherwise be faced with when fleeing violence.
How do you keep your supporters up to date about your work?
Shelter Movers Nova Scotia is active on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
How can someone interested get more involved in Shelter Movers?
Shelter Movers brings together a community of individuals dedicated to ending gender-based violence. If somebody is interested in learning more about our organization or how they can get involved, they can visit our website www.sheltermovers.com. From there you can read blog posts written from our chapters across the country, contact us to become a volunteer or make a donation online.
What would make the greatest difference in helping Shelter Movers get better at what it does?
We believe that everyone has a role to play in ending gender-based violence. Whether you are interested in offering your time or resources - there’s a place for you at Shelter Movers!
If I wanted to get to know Shelter Movers better, what are the best ways to learn more?
The best way to get to know Shelter Movers better is to get involved! We have a fantastic community of volunteers, donors and business partners in the HRM, South Shore and Annapolis Valley who are passionate about supporting survivors of abuse.
To find out the most suited way for you to get involved, visit our website or email our team at volunteerns@sheltermovers.com.