Special Olympics Team USA Departs for World Games With Help From Olympia Moving & Storage

Victor & Nick of Olympia Moving & Storage welcome the Special Olympics World Games athletes at the airport

Over the weekend, athletes with intellectual disabilities from all over the country flew to Washington DC for final preparations for their most anticipated event of the year: World Winter Games Austria 2017. The athletes have been training all year to complete in one of the biggest sporting events in the world, featuring 2700 athletes from 107 countries.

Upon arrival in Washington DC, Special Olympics Team USA was greeted by the professional movers of Olympia Moving & Storage, a leading Washington DC moving company. The Olympia Movers welcomed the team as they arrived and loaded their sports equipment for transportation and storage while they were in DC.

On Monday, the Olympia Moving truck filled with the athletes’ equipment joined the police escort to transport to Dulles airport for their departure to Austria in style. Cheerleaders, fans with signs, law enforcement, and the Olympia Movers were all there to cheer for Special Olympics Team USA and wish them luck at the Games.

This logistics donation was just one part of Olympia Moving & Storage’s sponsorship of Special Olympics. This is the Washington DC moving company’s fifth year donating services to the Virginia and Massachusetts teams for fund-raising events, sports competitions, office moves, and more.

“Through our work with Special Olympics, our team has seen firsthand what focus and dedication can accomplish” says Michael Gilmartin, Founder & CEO of Olympia Moving & Storage. “Our crew loves the opportunities to meet these athletes, and we were excited to play a small role in sending these athletes to compete on the world stage.”

Ellen Head, Director of Development for Special Olympics Virginia, who helped coordinate athlete send off said “Thank you to our long time Dulles Plane Pull partner Olympia Moving & Storage for helping Special Olympics USA get ready to head to Austria for the Special Olympics World Games 2017. You are just plain awesome!”

To learn more about Olympia’s sponsorship of Special Olympics, visit http://www.olympiamoving.com/specialolympics

Olympia Moving Pulls 82 Ton Airplane to Fundraise for Special Olympics Virginia

The 2015 Dulles  Plane Pull on Saturday was the biggest Plane Pull yet in terms of fundraising, plane pull teams, and attendance. The event raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Special Olympics Virginia athletes and 71 teams participated. For the first time, the event featured two planes being pulled!

As the Official Logistics Sponsor, Olympia Moving & Storage worked closely with event organizers at Special Olympics Virginia to make Dulles Plane Pull a success. The Washington, DC moving company donated crews, trucks, and warehousing to manage the equipment, set up, and breakdown.

For the first time, Olympia Moving ran an “Are You As Strong As An Olympia Mover?” fundraising game. Hundreds of athletes, kids, moms, dads, and even monks tried to hit the bell on the high striker to prove their strength.

Of course, the Olympia Moving crew was also eager to prove their strength and fundraised to pull the 82 ton airplane.  The crew pulled the plane 10 feet in 6.194 seconds – our best time yet!

Thank you to the generous partners to Olympia Moving & Storage who donated to our plane pull team!  All the money we raised will provide free sports training and competitions for athletes with intellectual disabilities:

To see team Olympia Moving & Storage pull the plane and all the other plane pull excitement, be sure to check out this video.  We look forward to sponsoring Dulled Plane Pull again next year!

Visit olympiamoving.com/specialolympics to learn more about our ongoing work and charitable partnership with Special Olympics.

DC Moving Company Sponsors Dulles Day Plane Pull

Olympia and Plane PullOn Saturday, Olympia Moving & Storage, a premier Washington, DC moving company, will sponsor the Dulles Day Plane Pull. This is Olympia Moving’s third year as the official logistics sponsor for this event to benefit Special Olympics Virginia.

During the week leading up to the Plane Pull, Olympia Moving has been busy receiving event supplies, managing pick ups and deliveries of event equipment, and assisting with set up and break down. All these services are donated free of charge to Special Olympics Virginia. This year, the moving company will be running a fundraising game “Are You Stronger Than an Olympia Mover?” Event attendees and children will have the chance to hit the bell on a high striker and win a prize. All proceeds from the game will benefit Special Olympics Virginia.

The Olympia Moving crew will also be participating in the Plane Pull and will pull a 164,000+ pound Airbus 12 feet in support of athletes with intellectual disabilities. The crew will be looking to beat last year’s pull time of 7.01 seconds. Olympia Moving & Storage has been fundraising for the Plane Pull over the past month, and would like to thank their following partners for their generous donations to their campaign:

The Olympia Moving crew has even been pulling their trucks in their yard to practice for pulling the plane!

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The Dulles Day Plane Pull is a popular event for Northern Virginia families and continues to grow.  Last year over 30,000 people attend the Plane Pull, and for the first time the 2015 Plane Pull will feature 2 planes for teams to attempt pulling!

It’s not too late to donate to team Olympia Moving! Click here to donate and fund competitions, sports training, and health programs for athletes with intellectual disabilities. 

Olympia Moving & Storage has been a charitable partner to Special Olympics Virginia and Massachusetts since 2013. Last year the Washington, DC moving company’s in-kind and monetary donations to Special Olympics organizations totaled almost $50,000. Earlier this year, Olympia Moving & Storage also sponsored Special Olympics athlete Amanda Church’s trip to World Games in Los Angeles. There she competed and won silver and bronze medals in aquatics. Visit olympiamoving.com/specialolympics to learn more about our sponsorship.

Decluttering for your Washington DC Move: Furniture Donation Pickup in Washington DC

Furniture Donation PickupIf you are trying to declutter your home prior to a Washington, DC move, consider donating your old furniture instead of selling or trashing it. Not only is it better for the environment, but it is a chance to do some good. Donating furniture is easy with our list of organizations that offer furniture donation pickup in Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland.

There are plenty of good reasons to donate furniture prior to your move, including:

  • Saving money: the less items you have to move, the more inexpensive your move will be
  • Streamline the move: some of your furniture may not fit through the doorways or stairways of your new home, get rid of those items before move day to reduce stress
  • Redecorating: a new home is the perfect opportunity to get rid of the old to make way for a new home decor aesthetic
  • Simplifying: some studies show that less stuff equals greater happiness

These Washington DC area organizations make it easy with furniture donation pickup. If you live in the greater Boston area, don’t miss our list of organizations that will pickup furniture donations in Boston.

Charity-Net in support of Special Olympics Virginia

As proud supporters of Special Olympics Virginia, we recommend using Charity-Net to schedule a pickup of your gently used clothes, housewares, media, and furniture. Your items will go to Savers and Value Village Thrift Stores, and a portion of their sales will support the athletic programs and competitions for athletes with intellectual disabilities. You can book your pickup online. Just enter your zip code, and you’ll be presented with a list of possible pickup dates.

A Wider Circle

This non-profit provides basic need items, education, and long-term support for those in need. They accept furniture, linens, baby items, and professional attire. All your donations will be used by someone in need within days! Fill out this form to schedule a pick up or you can drop off at their office in Silver Spring.

Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia

Habitat for Humanity builds homes for people in need. Your donations got to their ReStores which raise money for the organization. They are in need of furniture, housewares, appliances, building supplies, and more. Fill out this online form to schedule a weekday pickup from your curb, driveway, or garage. You can also drop items at their Alexandria or Chantilly store Monday – Saturday.

Alive! (ALexandrians InVolved Ecumenically)

This non-profit is a collaboration of religious congregations in Alexandria, VA to provide a safety net for the needy in Alexandria. If you live in Alexandria, they will send a volunteer to pick up your furniture on Saturday mornings. Call 703-837-9300 x3 to schedule the pickup. Alive! also accepts housewares.

Support Our Veterans

This organization sells your donations and uses the funds for programs for veterans. Use their online form to schedule a pickup of your furniture, housewares, clothes, and more. Then just leave your items on your porch by 8 AM on your schedule pickup day.

Still have leftover furniture? You can also check out this furniture disposal directory from Wayfair.

For more packing tips, be sure to check out:
9 Essential Items You Shouldn’t Bring on Your Move
How to Pack Video Series
Selling Unwanted Items Before Moving

The Olympia Crew is In It to Win for Special Olympics – Plane Pull 2014!

Plane Pull 2014They carry sofas and pianos all day long, but on September 20th the Olympia Moving & Storage crew will prove that they’re the strongest around – and raise money for a terrific cause.

The Olympia Moving Crew will pull a 164K pound airplane to raise money for Special Olympics Virginia!

Olympia placed 9th out of 66 teams last year. This year, we are in it to win it! Check out the video of our 2013 Plane Pull

We would greatly appreciate your help raising money to provide programs for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS VIRGINIA

  • Olympia Moving has already kicked off the fundraising by donating $500.
  • We will publicly thank each contributor on both Olympia’s website and Facebook page.
  • If the Olympia crew pulls the plane the fastest and places 1st, Olympia will 1-to-1 match all other contributions made on the Olympia plane pull donation page.

Plane Pull is also a great family event; and includes car shows, aircraft displays and a kids zone. Come see Team Olympia pull the plane: Saturday, September 20th, 11 AM – 4 PM, Dulles Airport. In addition to our fundraising, we are also donating logistics support for the event and exhibiting one of our trucks.

In 2013, Olympia Moving contributed over $45,000 in monetary and in-kind donations for Special Olympics. Through our work with this organization, we’re inspired by athletes with intellectual disabilities, and see how competing in sports give these athletes confidence, determination, power, and joy. You can learn more about Olympia’s sponsorship of Special Olympics at www.olympiamoving.com/specialolympics

Every donation helps! Thank you for your support of Special Olympics Virginia!

Sponsor of Annadale Bed Race to Benefit Special Olympics VA

Special Olympics Bed Race
Our crew with the cardboard truck they created for the race!

Annadale, VA residents on John Marr Drive Saturday morning were treated to a strange sight: teams of people decorating hospital beds to look like vehicles and racing them down the street! It was all part of the Annadale Bed Race, a kooky fundraiser to benefit Special Olympics VA.

Team Olympia got into the spirit by re-creating a cardboard version of our famous black trucks. Competitive as always, our crew won their first heat and won second place overall in the race! Check out this video of the Olympia crew racing to the finish line!

Our "racing truck" being built in our warehouse
Our “racing truck” being built in our warehouse

As the logistics sponsor for the event, Olympia Moving & Storage transported thehospital beds needed for the event free of charge. The event raised thousands of dollars to provide year-round sports training and competitions for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Did you know that Olympia Moving & Storage is providing free logistics support for 10+ Special Olympics events this year? We’re currently busy planning the logistics for the upcoming Special Olympics MA Summer Games at Harvard & Boston University. Learn more about our sponsortship of Special Olympics at olympiamoving.com/specialolympics

Olympia Place 9th in Plane Pull to Benefit Special Olympics VA!

Olympia and Plane PullAs part of our ongoing support and sponsorship, our Virginia moving crew pitched in over the weekend for the Dulles Plane Pull to benefit Special Olympics Virginia!

Olympia was proud to be the official logistics sponsor of the event. During the prior week, Olympia managed pickups and deliveries for the Plane Pull’s supplies. Our crew also helped the SOVA team with set up, and provided day-of logistics support.

Ellen Head, director of development with Special Olympics Virginia, had the following to say about the crew: “THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! Your team was so helpful in so many ways and made such a positive impact on the event. All of your staff that were sent to assist or deliver throughout the week were always punctual, professional and so helpful. If I could throw you all in one big group hug, I would! THANK YOU!”

At our event sponsor booth, kids had fun exploring the inside of one of our moving trucks.

Olympia at Truck Pull

Team Olympia also participated in the Plane Pull. Our crew was able to pull a 164K lbs airplane in 6.791 seconds, earning them 9th place out of the 66 participating teams! If our crew can move a plane that fast, imagine how fast they can move a home!

Best of all, the event raised more than $226K for the Special Olympics athletes! The money will be used to provide year-round sports training and athletic competitions for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Olympia is proud to donate money and our services to such a worthy cause.

You can learn more about Olympia’s ongoing sponsorship of Special Olympics at olympiamoving.com/specialolympics

Can an Olympia Crew Pull an Airplane?

Olympia and Plane PullThey carry your bookshelves and pianos all day long, but we want to give our crew a new opportunity to prove their strength!

If team Olympia Moving & Storage raises $1250 for Special Olympics Virginia, our Alexandria, VA crew will attempt to pull a 164K pound airplane on September 14th as part of the Dulles Plane Pull!

CLICK HERE to visit our fundraising page & donate to Special Olympics Virginia

Dulles Plane Pull is a fantastic annual fundraising event at Dulles International Airport.  Dozens of plane pulling teams will raise money to benefit sports training and competition programs for athletes with intellectual disabilities.  This year, the event also includes live music, a car show, military and civilian aircraft displays, business exhibits, and children’s games and entertainment.

In addition to Plane Pulling, Olympia will also be sponsoring the event by donating logistics support for the event to Special Olympics Virginia.

In the past year, Olympia has also supported Special Olympics Massachusetts at their Summer Games and Over the Edge events.  You can learn more about the partnership between Olympia Moving & Special Olympics at olympiamoving.com/specialolympics