Making a difference in the world is only possible when people come together and use the resources around them. When moving franchise TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® teamed up with the faith-based organization Convoy of Hope, this was the exact mindset that helped the partnership come to fruition. At TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, finding ways to give back to the communities that the brand operates in and to the people they serve has been a goal over the last 35 years.

This commitment to giving back to the community drove Greg Micklos, franchisee of the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Pensacola, Fla., location, to support local residents affected by Hurricane Harvey’s devastating effects in the Gulf Coast in 2017. The damage was substantial, people needed help, and he knew his moving team and his trucks could be of use. The next step was finding a partner to put these resources to good use.

Micklos had been organizing both the supplies to be donated and a fleet of trucks to head to Houston when a mutual connection introduced him to Convoy of Hope (COH).

“I was involved in Hurricane Floyd and Dennis in 1999 when I was living in North Carolina, so I have experienced hurricane devastation myself,” said Micklos. “During Hurricane Harvey, we started getting donations left and right, and I was so overwhelmed with items, I didn’t know what to do. One of my volunteers was reaching out for partnerships and came across Convoy of Hope. She introduced me to the organization, and I started talking to their team about what needed to happen in order to properly distribute these donations to Houston. Finding an organization like Convoy of Hope to help us actually get in there and get out without making a scene — we knew they needed supplies, and it was a great fit for us.”

Convoy of Hope — which is based out of Springfield, Missouri — was founded in 1994 with the plans of making a difference in communities all around the world, mainly by working to feed children through food initiatives, community outreaches and disaster response. Since then, the number of people reached by Convoy of Hope has been staggering. The organization has served 100 million people, distributed 262 million meals and mobilized 615,000 volunteers to help children, families and survivors of disasters. These numbers also include 115 countries served and $805 million worth of food and supplies distributed. In addition, Convoy of Hope has delivered more than 100 million meals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Part of what gives us the ability to be on the ground helping at so many different places, for so many different causes, is our infrastructure,” said Eric Neubauer, corporate relations director for Convoy of Hope. “We have a fleet of semis, we have an international headquarters here in Springfield with a 3,000 square foot building with essential supplies and products. We also have regional warehouses in different parts of the world, including Haiti, Asia, Puerto Rico and Houston. This allows Convoy of Hope to adapt on the go to whatever the disaster situation may need and stay prepared for any situation.”

With the help of Convoy of Hope’s impressive infrastructure, Micklos ended up filling 11 trucks and worked with the COH National Disaster team to distribute the donations all over Houston. Afterwards, Convoy of Hope invited the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK International team to visit their headquarters and see what they were all about.

“When people like Greg get involved with Convoy of Hope, it is so inspiring because it shows the passion to serve from a franchisee perspective, as well as the vision of the entire franchise organization,” said Neubauer. “Greg had a real vision and was willing to do whatever it took to help those who were struggling. As soon as I got off my first phone call with him, I saw the alignment between us and the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK brand. When I met the whole home office team, it was clear that they wanted to have a positive impact on the communities they serve, which is what Convoy of Hope does. For us, it just makes sense to ask if there is a logistics connection, and if it could radically improve our capacity. People want to do something to help, and TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has tons of trucks and people.”

Over the past few years, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has continued to work together with Convoy of Hope, as each organization works hard to make a difference when possible. With the ability to provide both trucks and manpower on relatively short notice, the two organizations have developed an understanding with one another and are working to build their partnership. Micklos notes that now, through the partnership, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK donates 10 cents of every move to Convoy of Hope.

Grant Hornbuckle, a franchise owner of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK in Springfield, Missouri — where Convoy of Hope is headquartered — has also worked with the organization. “Convoy of Hope is located right in our backyard, so we've been able to tour their facilities, see their operations and meet several people on the executive team,” he said. “We are also proud to be a part of the team that presents them with a check every year on behalf of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK. Since we are both part of the Springfield community, it has been great to see them transition from a local organization to an international charity over the years.”

Outside of Convoy of Hope, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK encourages franchisees to give back to their communities in any way they see fit. “I’ve continued to prioritize other cause marketing campaigns locally as well, including a “Touch a Truck Campaign” where we invite truck drivers to pay an interest fee and park in the local mall parking lot across from the children’s hospital, so that the kids can be entertained by the trucks and we can donate all that money to the hospital,” said Micklos. “I’ve also done relief efforts for the Humane Society, assisted in serving meals to first responders when we had the wildfires and have distributed tarps to hurricane victims. It seems that every hurricane comes up this way, and we are proud to be able to provide relief efforts and a distribution of supplies.”

Hornbuckle notes that his location also recently donated moving services to a local children’s learning center, as well as the local history museum.

When it comes to Convoy of Hope or any other charitable campaign, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchisees have the opportunity to give back to their community in a way that really makes a difference. “After nine years with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, the community effort is one of the things I love most about this franchise,” said Micklos. “The ability to give back is a main reason why franchising with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK continues to be such a rewarding experience.”

To learn more, visit: https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/