Sioux Falls moving company holds annual clothing drive for EmBe's Dress for Success

For the eighth year in a row, the Two Men and a Truck moving company in Sioux Falls is holding its annual Movers for Moms clothing drive. This is the fourth year the donations go to benefit EmBe’s Dress for Success program, and it’s shaping up to be the biggest year yet.

Last year, Movers for Moms donated 26,000 items to the program, which was a record year, according to Two Men and a Truck owner Angela Drake. The Sioux Falls location came in second to Jacksonville, Florida, which collected 28,000 items.

“I have a big goal this year to be No. 1,” Drake said with a laugh. “I’m very competitive, but it’s a good, healthy competition for a good cause. I want to get at least 30,000 or more items this year to donate. Thankfully, Sioux Falls is such a generous community, I think we’ll come close.”

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How Movers for Moms works

Dress for Success helps supply women in need with professional attire for job interviews and for starting their career. Movers for Moms collects gently used professional women’s clothes and shoes that go to supply the closet.

Those using Two Men and a Truck's moving services can give their donations directly to the moving crews. There are also several collection sites around the community, which are listed online, and people can bring items directly to the Two Men and a Truck office at 222 North Marion Road.

The last day to donate this year is May 15, the day after Mother’s Day.

After, Drake sorts the clothes before the moving crews take them to EmBe downtown. There, staff members and volunteers with Dress for Success help women find the perfect interview outfit.

“It never ceases to amaze me the quantity and quality of the things that we get,” Drake said. “I'm also fortunate enough to be a volunteer for Dress for Success as well, so I get to see what we're doing firsthand when I go in to help clients find their work wardrobe. It’s exciting to see the clothes on somebody and help them move their career forward.”

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EmBe Chief of Staff Kelly Ballew said it’s all part of EmBe’s mission to “empower women to achieve economic independence.” Women are also given a week’s worth of clothing once they have a job.

“It’s amazing a piece of clothing can literally change someone's life, and it’s not even about the clothing, but it's a way to start a relationship with these women,” Ballew said. “You know how good you feel when you look good. We want to give them that same empowerment when starting a career.”

Those needing clothes can either call to set up an appointment or come during the new walk-in hours on Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m.

“We’re so thankful for what Angela and Two Men and a Truck have been doing for us for four years now, collecting all these clothes,” Ballew said. “[Angela] really adds a personal touch going through the clothes. It’s just so heartwarming and fantastic.”

The history and inspiration behind Two Men and a Truck

The national company was originally founded by a Michigan woman, Mary Ellen Sheets, and her two sons who helped move things while home from college. After making a $1,000 profit that first year in 1985, Sheets donated much of it to various women’s charities, and that was the start of Movers for Moms, Drake said. The company has since grown to more than 380 locations in 46 states.

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Inspired by the history and mission, Drake opened her own franchise in 2015, which has since grown to six trucks and an added junk removal service. She’s been running the Movers for Moms programming ever since, partnering with various women’s charities the first few years before landing on Dress for Success.

Drake said it’s a good fit for people who are moving because they often have things they want to get rid of or donate, so it’s a win-win situation for everyone.

“It’s a wonderful give-back opportunity each year that really focuses on the amazing work EmBe is doing in the community,” she said. “For me, it's a labor of love over and over every day. And the men also get excited about bringing things back because they love to give back just as much as everybody else here in the office.”

In addition to Dress for Success, EmBe also has other career development and support programs such as Making Cents and Tapestry that help women in the workforce. EmBe serves about 200-250 women in the community each year.

Their spring closet sale, which happened last month, raised a record dollar amount, which goes back to support the programs. The next closet sale is set for July 28-29.

For more information about program offerings, visit EmBe online.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Here’s how a moving company is helping Sioux Falls women 'dress for success'