Two brothers, Aaron & Evan Steed, established a for-profit moving company twenty-three years ago called the Meathead Movers. Shortly after they were in business, they received calls from victims and survivors of domestic violence seeking help to flee from their abusive homes. The duo have been in some sticky situations before, including abusers coming home in the middle of their move and becoming aggressive. Regardless, they are always more than happy to help victims flee abusive homes and they do it for free.
Meathead Movers employs student-athletes, who are clean-cut, and fit. The company encourages its workers to exercise and lift weights, so that they could be strong enough to handle anything from lifting big furniture to defending themselves in a sticky situation.
Aaron recalled one of the calls the company received, “their husband or boyfriend is on a business trip or away for two days. [She said], ‘I just need to get out and get out now.'” In another incident, the victim’s husband came back home as the move was underway. “He accused us of stealing his items. He screamed for us to put things down. A toaster oven was thrown,” Aaron shared. Afterward, things got violent and the police were called. At that moment, the Steed brothers realized, “We are not domestic violence professionals. We are movers that want to help,” he explained.
Many victims have shared their stories to help motivate others who may be in the same situation but are scared to do something about it. They are so thankful for the kindness the Meathead Movers have shown.
One of the victims who the company once helped, Dulce Flores, shared:
They did it with such pride and love. They wouldn’t let me lift a thing! Not even light stuff. They said, ‘No, it’s an honor to be here.’
After Flores and her two kids fled their abusive home, they were placed into an emergency safe house by a social services organization called the Marjaree Mason Center. “If I stayed, we would have fought. I didn’t want it to get physical. I was afraid I might fight back, and I didn’t want my kids to lose both of us,” added Flores. Women like Flores get to restart their lives and keep their families safe, thanks to the Meathead Movers.
In collaboration with the Marjaree Mason Center, the moving company has already helped move 60 families in 2019 alone.
Meathead Movers executive director, Nicole Linder, said:
It takes partners like Meathead Movers to step up. What I appreciate is that they challenged others to lead the way. It is imperative that businesses donate part of their time and resources so that survivors can lead a successful life. I want abusers to know there are people like Meathead Movers that will stand up and help people who feel trapped in their home, being abused by the person supposed to love them.
The moving company is currently still open for business; however, they have enforced new strict rules to keep employees & customers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can visit their blog for all of the increased safety precautions that Meathead Movers are taking.
