Community Spotlight: Two Men and a Truck

HK is fortunate to partner with a number of dedicated community organizations, and none more so than Two Men and a Truck. Whether it’s helping out with Operation Holiday collection or distribution, Souper Bowl or otherwise, Two Men is always eager to help. From all of us at HK, thank you, Two Men, for all you do! We could not serve thousands of our low-income and homeless neighbors each year without committed partners like you.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and the company. 

My name is Renee Carrion and I am the Director of Community Engagement for Two Men and a Truck. The organization was founded by two brothers as an after-school job in the 1980s. It has evolved to more than 350 locations worldwide. The core purpose of Two Men and a Truck is to move people forward, and you see that in everything we do: from following the Grandma Rule—treat everyone the way you would want someone to treat your Grandma—to a commitment to giving back to the community and the way we move thousands of people to their new homes each year.

Personally, I love connecting with others and building new relationships, and it doesn’t seem to stop! I am proud to be part of the Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber, the W young professionals, The Young Latinos, and more. I have been with Two Men and a Truck for six years and I love my job! I find it amazing that I get to work somewhere that loves to give back. My favorite quote is from Helen Keller, who said: “Alone you can do so little, but together you can do so much”.

How did Two Men and a Truck first get involved with HumanKind? What interested you in partnering with us?

Several years ago, about 6 or 7, Two Men was still pretty small in Wichita, but we knew we wanted to give back, so we asked our employees to help them think of local organizations to volunteer with. We got some great ideas and, as an organization, we chose HumanKind Ministries and specifically Operation Holiday—and the rest is history! It’s such a longstanding nonprofit who does so much, and we are proud to partner with you all.

Can you talk a little about your involvement with HumanKind?

Operation Holiday is just such a fun time; there’s so much going on and getting to work with people one-on-one is so rewarding. Personally, I have served as a personal shopper and loved the experience. We’ve also delivered carts from Lowes, volunteered during distribution, and picked up collection boxes from around Wichita. We also volunteered during Stuff the Truck—we bring the truck and our mascot, “Truckie,” as HK tries to fill the truck with donations for OH. That’s 4-6 movers and the people from the office all there donating their time, it’s really a team effort, because we all believe in HK’s mission and just want to help.

We were also a big part of Souper Bowl last year! Our movers worked outside all day, picked up all the soups from the restaurants and took them to the kitchen, and more.

In everything we do, we strive to go above and beyond. Giving that push and encouragement to keep going, you help so many thousands of people, and truly empower them to move themselves forward. It can be as simple as an ear to listen, or moving someone out of homelessness. Continue pushing people forward, it’s what Two Men and a Truck is all about.

How else does Two Men and a Truck give back? 

At Two Men and a Truck, our purpose is to move people forward. Our mission is to continuously strive to exceed our customers’ expectations and ensure high standard of satisfaction. Our core values encompass that: give back to the community; be your best and have fun; have compassion, care, and integrity; and follow the Grandma Rule, which says you should treat everyone the way you would want your grandma to be treated.

To this end, we have several community cares campaigns, including: Moving Kids Forward, a back-to-school backpacks program; Movers for Moms, to benefit Harbor House and StepStone; Movers for Military in which we partner with Passageways to help move veterans out of homelessness; and we support the American Cancer Society Cattle Baron’s Ball.