This year’s 4th of July Parade in Des Plaines, Ill. was filled with hundreds of excited children and their families. The parade was a wonderful opportunity for businesses and organization of Des Plaines to get together and celebrate their city, their country and finally the beautiful weather!

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Des Plaines/Chicago teamed up with the Self-Help Closet & Pantry of Des Plaines, Ill. to collect paper products during the parade to benefit the pantry. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK'S mascot "Truckie" even made the event!

If you missed the chance to donate during the parade, the Self-Help Closet & Pantry has an upcoming fundraiser.  “Putt for the Pantry” will take place Friday, August 2^nd from 5pm-7pm at Mini-Golf at Mountain View Mine in Des Plaines. We hope to see you there!

It’s one of America’s favorite times of year- the 4th of July! Along with celebrating our nation’s freedom and accomplishments, it’s also a wonderful time to catch up with friends, enjoy a refreshing dip in the pool, eat savory BBQ off the grill and take a desperately needed vacation with the family.

This Independence Day, the City of Des Plaines will host its annual July Forth Parade. The parade will begin on Thursday, July 4^th at 10am at the intersection of Oakton and Center Street in Des Plaines, Ill.

While enjoying the parade, you can also give back to your community from the comfort of your own lawn chair! The Self-Help Closet & Pantry of Des Plaines will be collecting paper products while walking in the parade. Items such as paper towels, napkins, toilet paper and facial tissue are always needed. Simply hand your donations to a Self-Help Closet and Pantry representative as they walk by with their red barrels. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® of Des Plaines/Chicago will be helping the Pantry collect, load and deliver collected paper products during the parade, therefore, no donation is too large.

Happy 4^th of July everyone!

Social media photo contest kicks off

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®’s busy move season

Lansing, Mich. 6/17/2013 – All you need is a camera and a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® truck – and maybe a couple movers – to win the company’s summer social media contest, Spot-A-Truck.

It’s simple. Spot a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® moving truck this summer and snap a photo. Submit the photo on TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® International, Inc.’s Facebook page between Monday, June 17, and Monday, July 15, to win a grand prize of $1,000. The second place winner receives $500.

Get creative! Involve movers, drivers, and even boxes to boost your photo mojo. Entrants can advance by promoting their photos to friends and family and encouraging them to vote. Voting will be open from Tuesday, July 16, until Wednesday, July 31. At the end of the contest, the two photos with the most likes will declare victory and take away the prizes. Winners will be announced Thursday, August 1.

For official rules, visit the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® International, Inc. Facebook page.

Click here for further details.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the largest franchised moving company in North America. It includes more than 230 locations and over 1,400 trucks on the road. Each location is independently owned and operated and sells boxes and packing supplies. Locations complete both home and business moves as well as packing and unpacking services. For more tips on packing call your local TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® office at (847) 544-5050 or visit www.twomenandatruckchicago.com

What a wonderful year! Mr. Bustos’ 8th grade class of Iroquois Community School of Des Plaines, Ill. is graduating in June and beginning high school this fall.  Two Men and a Truck® Des Plaines/Chicago wished the class good luck with a pizza party the week before school ended for summer break. Two Men and a Truck® appreciates Iroquois Community School’s support and participation throughout the year with programs such as Truckload of Warmth and Movers for Moms®.  Mr. Bustos is dedicated to teaching the students through example and shows them how to be leaders in their communities. Bustos and his 8^th grade students are key players in the success of Two Men and a Truck’s® charity drives.   

This year’s Movers for Moms® program was a success! The Des Plaines, Ill. Two Men and a Truck® franchise collected approximately 9,700 items for women in children in shelters over Mother’s Day. The Movers for Moms® program across the nation collected more than 205,000 items, exceeding the 2013 goal of 200,000 items.  In 2012, Two Men and a Truck® franchises nationwide collected 116,000 items.

The Des Plaines, Ill. Two Men and a Truck® office had 16 dedicated collection locations and partners that included:

• Iroquois Community School and the “Warrior Leaders”

• Maine West High School

• Village Bank & Trust locations

• Des Plaines Park District locations

• Des Plaines Public Library

• Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce

• Axiom Technology Group

• KinderCare of Des Plaines

• Chesterbrook Academy

 “Village Bank and Trust is committed to giving back to the communities where we do business to help and improve the quality of life in the communities we serve. Our commitment is evident in a variety of ways such as partnering up with local businesses to support and participate in charitable events like the Movers for Moms®. Giving back is ingrained in our culture and we are proud to support such great cause.” -Agnes Czerech, Village Bank and Trust Vice President Branch Manager

“Axiom was proud to contribute and participate in the Movers for Moms donation drive. This organization helps those in need who are conquering troubling pasts and looking for a better life ahead, and it was an honor to be a part of this organization and help the mothers and children along their journey. Furthermore, it was an honor to learn about the organization and Axiom will continue to spread the word to bring awareness to others about Movers for Moms®.” –Jessica Thomas, Axiom Account Executive

The goal of Movers for Mom® not only focuses on collecting items for women and children in need, but also to bring awareness to domestic violence in general. The latest statistics on domestic violence are shocking.  Knowledge of domestic violence and how you can help in your community is powerful. Please keep women and children of domestic violence situations in mind year-round when giving back to your community.

Help donate to a heartwarming cause this Mother's Day. Your donation helps women and children in need. What a beautiful thing!

Make your mother proud through the Movers for Moms® program in your local area.

Collecting Now - Tues. May, 7th 2013

Movers for Moms® 2013- Make your Mother Proud!

Collecting Now - Tues. May 7th

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Des Plaines/Chicago, and other franchise locations across the country, are collecting donations for local women and children in shelters this Mother’s Day. Donations are being collected for the Greenhouse Shelter in Chicago now until Tuesday, May 7th and will be delivered for Mother’s Day Sunday, May 12th.

Needed donation items can include:

• Pocket or monthly calendars and journals
• Family size toiletries (shampoo, toothpaste, tooth brushes, deodorant, lotions/perfume)
• Feminine hygiene products (sanitary napkins, tampons) 
• Family size laundry detergent and household cleaning supplies
• Diapers (especially large sizes 4, 5 and 6)
• Phone cards, transit cards (anything except a 30 day pass)
• New underwear for adult women and children (socks, underpants, etc.)
• Jewelry, inspirational books in English and Spanish, picture frames

2013’s collection partners include: Iroquois Community School, Maine West High School, Village Bank and Trust, any Des Plaines Park District location, the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce, the Des Plaines Library,  axiom Technology Group, and other organizations.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® believes in this drive because of the many women in key leadership roles across the country. Some of the most successful franchisees are mothers. Movers for Moms® is a way for TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® to appreciate the efforts of mothers everywhere, despite their current circumstances.

2012 Results

• 102 TWO MEN AND A TRUCK^® franchise locations in 27 states participated in Movers for Moms.

• Movers for Moms collected more than 116,000 essential items which were distributed to more than 100 shelters for Mother’s Day.

• More than 200 elementary school, preschool, daycare and community collection sites supported Movers for Moms.

For more information on how to get involved in Movers for Moms®, contact Kristin Ehlers at 847.544.5050 or [email protected]

Everyone has them – those rooms or closets that need to be cleaned out and organized. This task can be very overwhelming especially if it hasn’t been done in quite some time. Whether you’re moving this year or not, it’s best to pretend that you are moving when cleaning and organizing your home. 

Cindy Levitt, owner of peace by piece professional organizing and design in Chicago, suggests people clean out their homes as if they were moving in one week. Mentally this will help people weed through items quickly to keep only what is truly meaningful or useful. Removing or recycling items will maximize storage space immediately; however don’t forget to organize items that are staying put.

“Be realistic. Don't say, ‘I'm going to organize my entire house today’. Start one piece at a time, with one drawer or one shelf of a closet. Set a timer for 30 minutes and see how you feel when it rings. Can you keep going or have you done enough for one session,” said Levitt. “This helps people who feel that it's not worth starting, if you can't organize your whole project in one sitting! Avoid zigzag organizing. This means stay on task in one room and don't run all over the house putting stuff away in different rooms.”

Don’t hang on to anything that can be donated! Find local donation centers by visiting sites, such as zealousgood.com or freecycle.org.

For those who are moving this year, it’s helpful to take the extra time to sort through items prior to the movers’ arrival. This eliminates having to pay to move items that will only be donated or thrown out later. Plus, once items in the house are organized, it will be easier to pack and unpack these items into your new home.

For additional spring cleaning ideas, click here. Happy spring and happy cleaning!

Senior Moving in Chicagoland

Change in moving especially difficult for seniors

Moving can be extremely stressful considering one’s entire environment is going to change. Daily tasks that normally come easily are now stressful. Where is the closest gas station and grocery store? What church and gym should we join? Not to mention, are you going to like the neighbors?! Change even takes place within the home. Dishes, clothing and other everyday tools have a new “home”.  Now if you only knew where your spouse unpacked the…

Seniors generally have a more difficult time moving, especially if onset by a major life changing event. Events such as a loss of a spouse, loss of health, or a decline in finances alone are devastating. Add moving to the agenda and you’re bound to see changes in anyone’s behavior. Seniors may have been in their homes for decades and watched their children and families grow. After all, home is where the heart is. During the moving process, seniors may feel a loss of control and become very worried or stressed about their future. Too many changes at once can cause anxiety, a clouded memory due to information overload, sorrow and anger. It is important to remember when moving with seniors to be sensitive to their feelings and needs. More patience than normal could be required.

The Des Plaines/Chicago Two Men and a Truck® franchise has moved many seniors throughout the year.

“When booking moves for seniors they recommend us because our movers are kind and professional, while handling their belongings carefully,” said Move Consultant Karen Mercado. “I make sure they understand the entire moving process, so they are at ease when scheduling their move.”

Mary Jane Keller, Owner of Move Me Move Managers located in Prospect Heights said many times, seniors have not moved in 30 or 40 years, and they have many treasures which have lots of memories for them.

Tips When Moving Seniors

“We work with the seniors to help make the packing, unpacking and organizing process of the move less stressful,” Keller said. “We communicate what it will take to move them from their house to their new home whether they are moving to a condo or a retirement home. We want to make sure there are no surprises.”

Once the hustle and bustle of the move has ended, the senior is now acclimating to their new home and environment. This can also be a stressful and perhaps lonely time. It is important that someone frequently checks-in with seniors after the move too. Reassurance that they made the right decision in their moving process is appreciated to help sooth any remaining anxiety about the future.

Moving can be a positive experience for seniors by listening to their wishes and helping them throughout the entire process, even while settling into their new home.

-Kristin Ehlers

Kristin and Karen of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Des Plaines/Chicago spent the day mingling with the seniors at the Frisbie Senior Center in Des Plaines, IL.  The Frisbie Senior Center is a not-for-profit corporation since 1976 that services seniors ages 55 and older. Some of the endless activities offered are billiards, game/card room, computer lab, library, Cumberland café, Once and Again boutique, bingo, ballroom dancing, exercise classes, social events, golfing, trade shows/expos and so much more! We always have a wonderful time networking with the members and staff at the Frisbie Center. Thank you!

Frisbie Senior Center

52 E. Northwest Highway

Des Plaines, IL 60016

847.768.5944

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Des Plaines/Chicago moved toys for the Salvation Army's Angel Tree program on Dec. 12th, 13th and 14th. Toys were collected from 30 local Chicagoland businesses that participated in the program.

On December 22, 2024 over $250,000 donations in toys were collected and distributed to over 600 families and 1,500 children at the Des Plaines Salvation Army. The Angel Tree project is overseen by Lt. Shannon Martinez.

(Pictured from left to right) Edwin Prieto, Danny Acevedo, Lt. Shannon Martinez (of Salvation Army) and Nicole Wiese

How Angel Tree works:

• Select an "Angel" from the Angel Tree display
• Shop for your special angel
• Gifts should be unwrapped
• Make sure each gift is labeled with your angel's name and code number
• If your Angel Tree display is at a business, return the gift(s) to the Angel Tree coordinator by the designated return date
• If your Angel Tree display is at an area mall, return the gift(s) to the mall Angel Tree by the designated return date

Loretto Hospital in Chicago put on their 22nd annual "Visit with Santa" event that services over 2,000 children and their families. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Des Plaines/Chicago moved the toys collected from the hospital to the event, where the children met Santa! Movers volunteered at the event on Saturday, December 8th and had a wonderful time!

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® movers, Ben and Sean, moved an estimated $6,000 worth of donated food from Aldi grocery store, to benefit the Maine Township pantry in Park Ridge, IL. Way to go guys! A second donation will be made and delivered in December of 2012.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2012 Truckload of Warmth program! With the help of the Chicagoland community and our collection partners, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® of Des Plaines/Chicago helped deliver over 1,200 items of warm weather clothing to the Self-Help Closet and Pantry of Des Plaines, IL. Just in time for welcoming the colder weather! 

Our 2012 Collection Partners included:

- Iroquois Community School and the "Warrior Leaders"

- Village Bank and Trust

- Des Plaines Library

- Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce

- Des Plaines Park District

- KinderCare of Des Plaines

- Algonquin Middle School

- Cumberland Elementary School

- Forest Elementary School

- Leon Smaage Administration Building

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® of Des Plaines/Chicago enjoyed spending the day at The Heritage Senior Living flipping mattresses for residents. It was a pleasure conversing with residents and having only a "light load" of lifting for the day.

What a successful food drive in September!  TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® , Des Plaines/Chicago partnered with Catholic Charities and Sam’s Club of Des Plaines to help collect and deliver over 1,300 pounds of food to the Catholic Charity’s pantry.  You too can be a “Hunger Hero” year-round by donating non-perishable food items.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Des Plaines/Chicago completed a total of three moves in July and August- delivering food, water and personal care items to the Self-Help Closet and Pantry of Des Plaines. The Feed the Children donations were paid for by Sam's Place Restaurant in Mount Prospect, Ill. The items were stored at no charge at DSC Logistics in Des Plaines then delivered to the Pantry by TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®.  Thanks to everyone who helped make this delivery possible! Approximately 1,000 boxes were donated and delivered.

Parade and Paper Products

Kristin Ehlers has recently been added to the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Chicagoland team as the new Business Sales and Marketing Manger. She graduated with a double major in Business Management and Marketing from Northwest Missouri State University. She is also bilingual in Spanish. Her diverse background in Retail Brand Management and Media Sales in Omaha, Neb. will help our team "think outside the box." Her experience will also complement the other Marketing Managers from different franchises, therefore building a stronger brand for the entire TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® franchise. Kristin will replace Alicia Sorber Gallegos as Alicia and her husband plan to open their own franchise in San Diego, Calif. this August. We welcome Kristin and look forward to finishing the year on a strong, positive note! Best of luck to Alicia as well on her new endeavors!

Our Chicagoland TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® stores proudly collected more than 7000 Mother's Day donations for the Greenhouse Shelter of Chicago this month as part of the Movers for Moms program. This was the third year we participated in the program and we were grateful to have generous community collection partners including Iroquois Community School, Maine West High School, ASSE and 8 local Village Bank and Trust locations.

The goal of the Movers for Moms campaign was to make Mother's Day a bit brighter for local women staying in shelters. The Greenhouse Shelter provides refuge for women and their children who are escaping domestic violence. During the month-long campaign, we collected Mother's Day gifts ranging from simple toiletries to special items like perfume, slippers and robes. We created one gift box for each woman at the Greenhouse Shelter and delivered those boxes with all of the additional donations to the shelter for Mother's Day.

Thanks to everyone in our community who helped us make this program a success!

A big thanks goes to Village Bank and Trust of Des Plaines for participating in the Movers for Moms drive! VB&T is acting as a public drop-off location for donations now through Mother's Day. 

This Saturday, Village Bank and Trust will host a free shredding event this from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.at 1545 Ellinwood Ave. in Des Plaines. They'll also be collecting Movers for Moms donations. Come out for this great event!

You're moving, and if you're like most of us, this is the first time you'll take out all the food in the kitchen cupboards and pantry since you moved in. It can be quite a surprise what's tucked back in the corner. Once you take inventory, there will likely be food you no longer want, or at least that you don't want to haul to your new place. So what do you do with the random can of water chestnuts or all those kidney beans you stocked up on this winter?

We have a solution to help you and our community. At Two Men and a Truck Chicago we participate in the Move for Hunger program. This means we will provide complimentary boxes for your non-perishable food donations on the day of your move and will take your donations back to our office. Each month, we will deliver all donations to the Self-Help Closet and Pantry of Des Plaines. Helping you and our community - it's a win all-around.

Contact our office with any questions about how to make a donation to the Move for Hunger program. 

Congratulations to Driver Alex Lizama of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Chicago for winning top honors as the safest driver out of more than 200 locations in North America. 

Alex Lizama was ranked No. 1 out of more than 3,000 drivers.

Lizama, 35, of Chicago, has worked for TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® for 16 months. Our international headquarters awarded him with top honors for his excellent safety record. The award is part of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®'s Safe Driver Program, which recognizes drivers who consistently demonstrate a top-of-the-mind awareness for the safety of the public, themselves and their truck.

Franchisees nominate drivers from their location who meet a strict criterion. This includes having a safe driving record, no driving complaints and no preventable accidents for at least one full year. Lizama was one of 209 of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® drivers who earned Safe Driver status during 2012. 

Congrats, Alex! We're proud to have you as part of our Chicago team.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Chicago is proud to launch the 2012 Movers for Moms campaign at the Des Plaines and Chicago offices! Movers for Moms is a community collection drive organized by TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®. We are collecting small gifts for women staying at the Greenhouse Shelter of Chicago and delivering the donations on Mother's Day. The purpose of Movers for Moms is to make Mother's Day a bit more special for local women in need.  

This is the third year TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Chicago will coordinate the drive. Last year we were able to deliver a Mother's Day care box to each women staying at the Greenhouse Shelter, plus an array of supplies the Shelter will use throughout the year, including personal care products, towels and slippers.