With just weeks until Mother’s Day, a Barrie donation drive is urging residents to step up and support women and children facing some of their toughest moments.
The "Movers for Moms" initiative, led by the Barrie franchise of Two Men and a Truck, aims to collect essential items for residents at the Women & Children's Shelter of Barrie ahead of the all-important holiday.
Dan Arlow, a sales and marketing specialist with the company helping to lead the campaign locally, says it's important “to be able to give them a little something extra for them on Mother’s Day.”
Listen below to our conversation with Dan. It begins 38 minutes in.
The campaign saw a strong response in its first year, with more than 600 items collected, a level of community support taht exceeded expectations.
“It was overwhelming. It was quite surprising to me,” Arlow said. “When the campaign was over, I still had people reaching out to me to see if they can donate and what they can do to help the community.”
This is the second year of the effort, and organizers say there is a particular need for small but meaningful items, especially Tim Hortons gift cards.
As a moving company, Two Men and a Truck are in a unique position to help out with this cause, but Arlow says more men need to show their support for the shelter.
"They need a lot more men to be able to step up and bring their voices to the table to show the community that these women are being cared for and looked after," he explained.
"For these women that are in this tough time, it’s difficult. They have to start their life over with zero money, zero items.”
Donation boxes have been placed at several local businesses across Barrie, with 14 community partners already involved, including salons, hardware stores and retail locations. Residents can drop off items directly at those locations, similar to a traditional donation bin setup.
Businesses interested in becoming a donation partner can contact organizers directly to arrange a drop-off box.
Once the campaign wraps up on May 1, all collected items will be delivered to the shelter and distributed to families currently staying there, as well as those arriving in the future.
Beyond the donations themselves, Arlow said the campaign is also about sending a message of support.
“It just strengthens our community as a whole… just to know that there’s people out in our community willing to step up and help out,” he said.
Arlow added that part of the motivation behind the initiative is personal, noting he lost his mother several years ago and wanted to give back in a meaningful way.
Organizers say even those who are unable to donate can still play a role by helping spread awareness, especially on social media.
“If you’re unable to donate, just spread the word,” Arlow added. “Talk to your neighbours, talk to your friends. Let the community know that we’re here and we’re ready to help.”
