It has been about two years since Shelter Movers launched its first New Brunswick chapter in Greater Moncton.
Now, the national non-profit that provides free moving and storage services to people fleeing abuse is expanding.
Shelter Movers Greater Moncton recently announced that it was changing its name to Shelter Movers New Brunswick.
Chapter Director Michelle Tupy said they have completed nearly 200 moves so far since arriving in New Brunswick.
“We know it’s busy, and as a natural result of that, we’re seeing calls from other areas come in,” Tupy told our newsroom.
“So, the demand to grow is a natural progression of the work that we’re doing in the Greater Moncton community.”
In fact, at least 11 per cent of the chapter’s moves are happening in communities outside of Greater Moncton.
It has seen significant demand from Shediac, Kent and Sussex, and regular calls from Miramichi, Fredericton and Saint John.
Tupy said although their expansion is in the early stages, they will be seeking volunteers, supporters and business partners as the need arises.
“Whilst we’re not formally in those areas yet, we have to date done moves in all those areas. We look at it currently as a case-by-case basis,” she said.
“Currently now, we would be using the Moncton volunteers to drive to Fredericton, for example, to do a move and then drive back. Obviously, for the long term, that’s not going to work.”
Shelters Movers said there is a growing need for their services in New Brunswick, which has the highest rate of police-reported intimate partner violence victims in Atlantic Canada.
Tupy said there are a lot of barriers to leaving an abusive situation and their organization is able to provide some relief to individuals going through that.
“It can be quite emotional on a move when the survivors have moved their stuff out of the home where the abuse has taken place,” she said.
“We could be moving it into storage for the first step or we could be moving it into their first transitional home or whatever that looks like. And it could be a number of steps. But really, there’s relief that comes with that.”
Tupy said there are a lot of costs associated with the program, such as staff support, vehicle rentals, storage costs, moving supplies, volunteer training, fuel and insurance.
Anyone who is interested in making a donation or volunteering their time can learn more through the Shelter Movers website.
