Furniture Drive for the MA Homeless a Success

Olympia Moving and Storage was proud to once again take part in the Furnish the Future drive to benefit the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.  Over three days in November, Olympia picked up donated furniture all over western Massachusetts.  By the end of the drive, Olympia had filled 9 trucks up with donations from 85 furniture pick ups!

All the donated furniture goes to the coalition’s furniture bank in Lynn, MA.   This program gives furniture to formerly homeless families transitioning to permanent housing.  These donations fulfill basic needs and make a big difference in turning local families’ new houses into homes.   The MA Coalition for the Homeless has been running one of the largest furniture bank programs in the country for over 25 years.

Big thanks to our friends at the Greater Boston Association of Realtors who were our partners in this event.   Our VP of National Accounts, Mark McEwen, did a great job working with them to coordinate the drive.

Olympia is always interested in working with our business partners to help better our community.  Feel free to contact us if you’re looking for help with your next charitable event.

Moving in the Cold and Snow

Avoiding the snow is one of the reasons most choose to move in the summer.  As year round movers in Boston, MA and Washington, DC we’ve seen our share of Nor’easters and chilly days.  Our crews are tough and always persevere through whatever Mother Nature throws our way, but customers can take a few simple steps to make the movers more comfortable, expedite the move, and even save a little money while moving in the cold and snow.

Keep in touch with your movers.  If you know some brutal wintery conditions are coming your way, feel free to call your moving coordinator with your concerns.  If you have the flexibility, it might be possible to shift the dates of local moves and services to avoid the snow.  It is extremely rare for Olympia to close the office due to weather, and we will certainly contact you with as much notice as possible if this is the case.

Shovel before the crew arrives.  Our crew members are more than happy to do all the necessary shoveling for you, but adding the task of shoveling adds time and money to your move.  If you want to avoid those charges, it’s best to get rid of the snow before the truck arrives.  Be sure to clear a spot for the truck to park, either in the driveway or street, as well as pathways for the crew between the truck and the entrances.

Salt the pathways.  It is extremely important for the crew to keep their balance while they are carrying your precious furniture in slippery and icy conditions.  The crew will bring salt, but the sooner the pathways are salted, the sooner it is safe for the crew to start loading the truck.  Therefore, like shoveling, it’s helpful to put salt down prior to the movers’ arrival.

Turn down the heat.  As the crew comes in and out, the door will be open to the cold air for a good portion of the move.  Additionally, it’s uncomfortable for the bundled up movers to come into a toasty house from the cold.  By putting on a jacket and turning down the heat, you’ll save a little money on wasted heat and put the crew at ease.

Floor protection.  Snow, mud, slush, and salt can lead to a mess under movers’ boots.  Therefore, in the winter, we always put down extra floor protection to protect your home from a mess.  If you have extra mats, put them by the door to help the crew clean their boots before entering your home.

Go for a Dunkin’ Donuts run.  Chilly movers will never say no to warm coffee!

Olympia at Touch the Trucks

Here’s your dose of cute for the afternoon!  Crewmen Mircea Nutescu and Paul Sand and sales coordinator Erin King brought one of our best trucks to Watertown Family Network’s Touch the Trucks event on November 3rd in Watertown, MA.  This is a great family event where kids get the chance to see a variety of trucks in real life.  They had a great time; thanks to all the kids and parents who came out to see us!

A few of the most adorable pictures are below, but you can also check out the rest of the pictures at our Facebook album.  Don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook while you’re over there!

Furnish the Future Drive & Touch the Trucks Events

At Olympia Moving and Storage, we believe that it’s our responsibility to be involved with the communities in which we live and work.  In the coming weeks, we’ll be participating in two community events.

Furnish the Future Furniture Drive – November 13-15

The Greater Boston Association of Realtors (GBAR) is teaming up with Olympia Moving & Storage again this year to collect furniture for the Mass Coalition for the Homeless.    This event was put together by the GBAR’s service committee, chaired by Mary Crane, a friend to Olympia.  All the furniture collected will be going to the Coalition’s headquarters in Lynn, MA.  There, formerly homeless families can select furniture to make their new permanent residences feel like home.

If you want to donate furniture, e-mail mahomeless@olympiamoving.com to schedule a truck to pick up your furniture between November 13, 14, or 15, or contact Mark McEwen at 617-231-1204.

For more information, visit the GBAR website.

We’re excited to participate in this opportunity to give back!

Touch the Trucks, Watertown, MA – November 3

Chances are, your kids are obsessed with trucks, but toys and movies don’t compare to the real thing!  This weekend, Olympia Moving will be bringing real movers and our shiniest truck to the Watertown, MA Touch the Trucks event.

This FREE event is Saturday, November 3rd from 10:00-11:30 AM at 30 Common Street, Watertown, MA.

The event is hosted by Sullivan Tire and will feature all kinds of trucks, including fire trucks, oil trucks, and more.

You can check out the event details here.  Hope to see you there!