How This Moving Company is Helping Victims of Abuse Escape-- And Find Better Lives

Far too many women and men are in abusive relationships where they are struggling to get away from a partner and just don’t know the way out. Victims of abuse remain in the relationship out of fear, sometimes until it is too late. They can feel helpless, especially when they want to leave their partner, especially when the resources are not readily available to them.

Enter Meathead Movers, a California-based moving service founded by Aaron and Evan steed back in 1997. At the time, their moving fee was usually $20 and a pizza! Now, Aaron and Evan have managed to build a successful business and in the process, have found a way to help women in need.

It all started with phone calls.

As their business expanded, the Steeds started to get phone calls from women with little or no money who wanted to quickly move out before their abusers returned home. Whenever these calls happened, they rushed to help the women move and offered their services free of charge.

But when the abusive partner of a particular client returned home mid-move, things got violent. It was then that they resolved to continue helping abused women and find a better and safer way to do it. Their next step was then to partner with a local women’s shelter.

What was good about that is, they could be vetting the requests for help, supporting the women with counselling, and making sure when we went in, the proper restraining orders were in place, or police were on hand if necessary.

Aaron Steed to Good News Network

Their company is expanding in a meaningful way

These efforts inevitably optimized the way the could assist the victims without putting their lives in danger. Beth Raub, director of the local women’s shelter, said that one of their staff is always on-site the day of the move so they can “call law enforcement if things get dicey.”

And the company has expanded. Now they are helping abused women in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Orange, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties. Each time they open a new office in a new neighbourhood, they immediately head to a local women’s shelter and introduce themselves.

For them, the opportunity to help is precious. They are committed to offering the same services to any victim of domestic violence, be it man or woman. This sense of purpose drives them and has become integral to their company's values.

It’s the special service we like to offer. These moves became very personal to us, made all the employees so proud, and became part of our mission statement.

Aaron Steed

They are going beyond moving

Meathead Movers aren’t done helping. In fact, they have expanded yet again. This week, the company launched a new campaign that asks other businesses to “get creative” and help victims of domestic violence.

Called #MoveToEndDV, the purpose of the campaign is to inspire other businesses to help victims of abuse, whether that means working with shelters, or helping women to get on their feet once they do get away.

“Some of our ideas are for businesses to offer free security systems, a dog kennel service, or for an auto-mechanic to provide oil changes,” Aaron said. “All those little things would help defer costs of starting over.”

Why Meathead Movers are so inspiring

Aaron and Evan Steed started with a small initiative. After all, they only answered phone calls. Yet, instead of treating these situations like any other business transaction, they decided to go beyond and extend their help, free of charge.

They realized that they were in a position to offer assistance and make a real change in the lives of victims. By expanding and raising awareness, they have turned their small initiatives into a widespread call for change.

Their touching story reminds us that we can seize the opportunity to help someone else when it presents itself, however small it is. These women were offered a chance to have a new start in life and that is no insignificant achievement. We never know how a small gesture can have a lasting impact on someone else's life.

And if you're suffering in silence, know that there are people out there ready and waiting to help!

More inspiring stories:

• Australian Zookeeper Saves Animals From Terrible Fires By Taking Them Home
• Given Only 2 Weeks To Live at Birth, She Thanks Adoption For Saving Her Life
• This Man Turned His Biggest Regret Into 1000 Acts of Kindness