September 18, 2025 • 42 mins
On this episode, we welcome Judy Brucia and Meg Freer, Co-Founders of JM Move Managers and Moving Forward Warehouse. JM Move Managers was established after Judy and Meg assisted their own families in downsizing to more suitable homes as they aged. They recognized the stress that comes with moving and identified a significant need to support families in this untapped market.
Now, with a dedicated team of over 15 employees, JM Move Managers collaborates closely with families to help them make informed decisions, develop plans, and manage the entire moving process.
This venture marks a second chapter for both Judy and Meg, who previously spent over 20 years as stay-at-home moms raising their children. Their journey is a remarkable tale of recognizing a need and, through grassroots and organic growth, transforming it into a thriving business that offers valuable services and warehouse capabilities.
Tune in to discover how Judy and Meg turned their personal experiences into a successful business and how they continue to positively influence the lives of many... and they are just getting started.
About JM Move Managers
JM Move Managers was founded to assist families in downsizing as their needs change with age. They aim to alleviate the stress of moving by collaborating closely with families to make informed decisions, create a comprehensive plan, and manage the entire process. Their passion is to ensure smooth transitions to new homes while minimizing the chaos typically associated with moving.
About Moving Forward Warehouse
Moving Forward Warehouse (MFW) is a non-profit furniture and home goods thrift store. Our mission is to transform donated furniture into support for those in need, helping create homes with care and comfort. MFW values sustainability and believes community involvement is the key to providing hope.
About JM Move Managers
JM Move Managers was founded to assist families in downsizing as their needs change with age. They aim to alleviate the stress of moving by collaborating closely with families to make informed decisions, create a comprehensive plan, and manage the entire process. Their passion is to ensure smooth transitions to new homes while minimizing the chaos typically associated with moving.
About Moving Forward Warehouse
Moving Forward Warehouse (MFW) is a non-profit furniture and home goods thrift store. Our mission is to transform donated furniture into support for those in need, helping create homes with care and comfort. MFW values sustainability
About R. Seelaus & Co., Inc.
R. Seelaus & Co., Inc. was founded in 1984 by Richard Seelaus, originally as a municipal bond broker-dealer. The firm has since become a certified women's business enterprise ("WBE") and has grown into a full-service financial firm that is mission driven in its commitment to creating more opportunities for women in the financial services. R. Seelaus & Co., Inc. and its subsidiaries offer investment advisory, asset management, capital markets, brokerage, fixed income and equity trading, institutional sales, leveraged finance and insurance services. The R. Seelaus & Co., LLC subsidiary is a broker dealer registered with the SEC and member of FINRA, and the subsidiary Seelaus Asset Management, LLC, is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor ("RIA"). With various fixed income trading desks and more than seventy professionals, both entities serve individuals, families, public and private companies, non-profit organizations, and institutional investors. The firm has offices in NJ, CT, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois, South Carolina, and Massachusetts.
For more information about R. Seelaus & Co., and its subsidiaries visit www.rseelaus.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Annie S. (00:15):
Welcome to Sea Change.
I'm so excited today because I'mjoined by Judy Brucha and Meg
Freer.
They are the founders of JM MoveManagers and the Moving Forward
Warehouse, which is a nonprofitoffshoot of JM Move Managers.
I'm so excited to have you bothhere.
I have to be completely honest,when I started this podcast, you
guys were the exact kind ofpeople I wanted to highlight.
(00:38):
It's the woman next door, it'syour friend you didn't realize
was doing something amazing.
And I think as women, we tend tonot toot our own horn.
And I think what you guys havedone is really special.
And I think that there's a lotof people out there who have
good ideas or see a need intheir community and they don't
even know where to begin.
So I wanted to have you both onand highlight what you've done,
(00:59):
why you did it, tell your story,what it's turned into, um, and
hopefully inspire other peopleto take that risk and jump in
and do something that's a newchallenge.
Um, so let's start at thebeginning.
Um, Judy, I know you personally,so it's a little bit, I'm
cheating here a little bit, butum prior to this endeavor, you
(01:20):
were staying home with yourkids.
Yes.
Your kids were all grown.
SPEAKER_02 (01:23):
Yes.
Annie S. (01:24):
What what brought this about?
SPEAKER_02 (01:26):
Meg.
No, actually.
I had spent a lot of time withmy father.
My father had Alzheimer's and Ihe moved into a community.
I had spent a lot of time takingcare of him and learning about
the communities just as anatural offshoot of being with
him in the community all thetime.
So once and he passed away in2018, and I wanted to continue
(01:49):
working.
Uh I decided I wanted tocontinue working in one of the
communities.
And someone had told me about agroup that um helped seniors
move, like downsized, move fromtheir homes to the community.
So I reached out to them,started with them in 2019,
worked for them for about a yearand a half before COVID.
COVID really shut down thecommunities.
(02:11):
So, and then it was during thattime, which she called, it was
Christmas time of 2020.
2020 or 2020.
2020.
And she broached the subject ofyou know, starting our own, so
our own move managers.
Annie S. (02:29):
And so you saw a need really in the senior community
specifically.
SPEAKER_02 (02:34):
Yes, yes, definitely.
Just from that I was there for ayear and a half with the other
group, and just from workingwith that group, yes.
Annie S. (02:41):
And and the pain point is seniors now need to leave a
home that they've been inprobably for a long time.
They might be ill-equipped ordon't have the resources around
them to help with that downsize.
Absolutely.
And you thought this is a placewhere we could step in and do
something that's needed.
Absolutely.
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (03:00):
Yes, because a lot of them, well, there's a couple
of factors.
A lot of them are living longer.
In general, are living longer.
Geographically, their familiesare more spread out than when we
were younger and growing up, andpeople tended to live, you know,
closer together.
Um, so they just don't have thatsupport system.
And a lot of them, uh, you know,we're in Ismova.
(03:22):
We're a lot of people todaymove, move, move.
A lot of the people we work withhave been in their home 50, 60
years.
Right.
Annie S. (03:28):
And that you accumulate a lot of stuff.
A lot of stuff.
Right, right.
SPEAKER_02 (03:32):
No idea how much stuff.
Yes.
Right.
And that's where we come in.
Okay.
Annie S. (03:35):
Yes.
And so, Meg, where do you pluginto this story?
Were you working before this?
Were you just inspired by yourcrazy friend Judy and what she
was looking to do?
SPEAKER_01 (03:46):
No, I have four kids.
Um, was home with them, raisedthem all.
Their kids are similar ages.
So Judy and I knew each otherfrom basically like a lot of the
sideline sports, you know, andthen through that way of just
like kind of hanging out anddoing stuff throughout our kids.
Um, but I always was someone whowas like, I never sat still.
(04:07):
So it was like I knew there'dbe, you know, something to do,
like whether it was volunteerstuff I was doing.
I was very involved with likethe night for a while because I
my dad and my sister had passedaway from leukemia.
And so I did a lot of volunteerstuff with them, doing the light
the night walks, and always justloved that, loved being able to
try to help people doing it.
Um, I really enjoy like moving.
(04:30):
I mean, when my kids move fourtimes a year, it's not as fun,
but like I always loved it.
It was such a great like feelingof like removing the kids into
an apartment and I'm kind of notleaving until it's all settled
and done.
Yeah.
And so when I knew what Judy wasdoing, you know, that's when we
kind of were like, Oh, thiswould be really fun, but like I
don't really want to go work forsomeone else.
Like, let's go do thisourselves.
(04:52):
Um, and then it kind of justcame about from there and it
hasn't stopped since.
Annie S. (04:58):
So there was a little bit of this entrepreneurial
spirit that you guys had.
SPEAKER_02 (05:02):
Yes, no, definitely.
Annie S. (05:03):
But it wasn't like you were sitting there saying we
want to start a business, whatshould that business be?
It was a little more organicbecause you were already
involved in this issue.
Yes, right.
Okay.
Definitely.
Okay.
And so you decide, hey, this isa real thing.
We we can do this.
We have the skill set.
And by the way, I love thisparticular idea because it is a
skill set you have.
I mean, between the two of you,there's eight children, a lot of
(05:26):
moves.
Um, I think being organized andsort of like not being able to
sit still and tackle thatproblem, that's such a mom
quality, right?
So I always tell women this youhave these skills that you're
using all the time, raising yourchildren, and they're so
applicable to so many otherthings, um, including business.
So you see this now, where doyou begin, right?
(05:47):
Um, how do you think about goingfrom this is an idea, this is
something I'm kind of doinganyways on the side, to let's
start a business.
SPEAKER_01 (05:55):
I mean, we were it was a very actually simple
business to start.
You know, it was kind of likelet's really from the basic,
let's open a bank account andyou know, form our LLC and let's
go.
You know what I mean?
SPEAKER_02 (06:07):
Let's just try it and reached out to the national
organization that we registeredwith.
So uh it's called the NationalAssociation of Senior Move
Managers that are in Chicago.
They have a big office,everything stems from that.
They offered you you pay to be amember, so then you're on their
we're on their homepage, you canwhere it says find a move
manager.
(06:28):
So you're registered on there,and they make you take a class
to to be certified.
Okay.
Um, but the best part of it wasthey had all kinds of templates
that um and guidelines and thenyou know, to start your own.
So we use that to get started.
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (06:43):
But then kind of I mean we started with like yeah,
basic, you know, kind of folder,like nothing with like a sticker
of JM on it and put our computerourselves, yeah.
Annie S. (06:54):
And so then how did you find that very first client
or did they find you?
SPEAKER_02 (06:58):
Uh it was actually through a realtor who's a friend
of ours.
Yes.
Annie S. (07:01):
That makes sense.
SPEAKER_02 (07:02):
We get a lot of referrals through realtors or
the communities, but this firstone, and we've they were
amazing.
We loved them both, and it wasjust she and I.
And uh they were moving out ofstate, um, but older and had
been in their home for a while.
Annie S. (07:17):
Okay.
So you guys go in, and at thebeginning, now it's just the two
of you doing all of thislegwork.
Um, so you guys go in, you helpthese people get their home
organized, and then part of itis getting rid of or disposing
of some of the stuff in theirhome.
Part of it's moving some of thestuff.
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (07:36):
We do we pretty much just go room by room and they
tell us what they, you know, arenot parting with that they want
to take with them.
We work on a floor plan.
We usually get a floor planwhere they're going, um, fit the
pieces in that way.
So that's kind of how we startedwith them.
Um, and we we pack, we makepiles for donation.
We at that time we were selling.
(07:57):
Um, we would set some peoplewant to sell pieces, and so we
were doing that at that time.
Okay.
Um and then we after the thenthe second job too was from a
realtor, right?
SPEAKER_01 (08:09):
Right, right.
So at those point, it was itwasn't really um the beginning
ones weren't moving intocommunities, even though they
were kind of, you know, I wouldsay like had been in their home
for a while and were justdownsizing.
So, you know, we kind of createdjust started looking for
different resources of where canwe bring furniture, where can we
bring donations, you know, andjust kind of had to create this
(08:31):
whole list of where we can bringeverything and what we can do,
and started kind of formingrelationships with like
different places.
Right, you build like a networkof resources, and then we
started kind of going out, youknow, looking for different
communities and stuff like thatthat we can be.
Oh, interesting.
SPEAKER_02 (08:49):
They all have a marketing group.
Okay.
Um, so if you were taking yourparent there, if your parent was
or whoever was thinking aboutmoving there, that's the person
you would meet with.
So we reached out to, I don'tknow, we were we spent a lot of
time just visiting communitiesand getting to know those
people, and we were telling themwhat we could, you know, offer.
Some some had move managers,some did not.
(09:10):
Um they they everyone's veryopen to the idea was very, and
then slowly we started gettingcalls.
Annie S. (09:17):
That's interesting.
And so how did and from thereyou grew pretty quickly.
Yes, we did.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (09:23):
Even the first job, I have to say, there's a woman
on earth who's still on our teamwho lived on that street.
Um, and we were like, you know,do you want to come over and
help?
Oh yeah.
And then they decided they alsodid want their kitchen packed,
right?
And I was like, okay, Judy, noone packs the kitchen like my
mom, right?
Like she still packs like mykitchen, you know, like if it
was that's just how she is, youknow, let me see if she wants to
(09:43):
come pack that.
Like everyone has theirstrengths and weaknesses, right?
That's like I'm not a verydetailed person with like that
stuff.
And um, so my mom came and didthe packing of the kitchen that
day.
So that job we kind of end upwith like four, even though we
started it, and to this day,both of them still are on our
team and work with us, yeah,doing it.
SPEAKER_02 (10:04):
And her mom's amazing.
Annie S. (10:06):
Yeah, and so the jobs grew and the team grew.
SPEAKER_02 (10:10):
Yes, by that summer, I think we took on two more, and
we just kept bringing on gettingmore.
It just kind of snowballed, uh,especially once we did one job
or two jobs out of community,because then they got to know
what we did.
Right.
And then they were morecomfortable.
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (10:25):
And we her daughter was doing like a lot of the
marketing, and then started withlike you know, all the
brochures, and she kind ofcreated all that stuff.
We kind of got to be a littlebit more of like a real company.
SPEAKER_02 (10:39):
Yeah, you know, and so then we had brochures to take
and folders to take, and yeah.
Annie S. (10:44):
Right.
So this is a part of the storythat I think is so important,
and especially for people whoare listening and intimidated by
the idea of doing something likethis.
You don't have to have it allfigured out day one, right?
It's like one step at a time.
Each thing comes up, you tacklethat thing, and you move to the
next.
SPEAKER_01 (11:01):
So And that was very Judy and I kind of like oh, we
have this idea, great, let's doit.
Not like we need to see, likehave a projection on it, you
know, exactly um of what it'sgonna be and where we're gonna
be.
And it's kind of we never knewwe would be here.
Annie S. (11:17):
Right.
Like, right.
So But it's also, I think theother important piece of the
story is, you know, there'sthere's a very like humanitarian
aspect to this, right?
Because it's people's homes,it's a difficult time in their
life, potentially.
It's like that's a bigtransition, and it can be
emotional and it's their stuff,and that's a lot, right?
And I think another key piece ofthe success that you guys have
(11:40):
is that you are hands-on, youare conscious of that connection
to the people that you'rehelping.
And like when you're talkingabout your mom packing a
kitchen, like there's pride inthose things.
There's like that's important,right?
How you think about helpingsomeone definitely in their
home.
Yes.
I think that's a reallyimportant piece of it.
SPEAKER_02 (11:58):
Someone's home is important to them, may not be
important to us, but it's veryimportant to them, and we
respect that.
SPEAKER_01 (12:04):
Right, we'll suggest things, and you know, we we
always go in.
So when you were talking aboutlike kind of the exactly what it
entails, like, you know, wealways start with like a free
consultation, right?
And then that's more where wewant them to just we want to see
obviously what we're gonna beworking with, but also have them
be comfortable with us, right?
To know us right now.
Annie S. (12:24):
Because if they don't trust you, that's a very
nerve-wracking thing.
SPEAKER_02 (12:26):
Uh absolutely, because we're in every corner of
their house.
Annie S. (12:30):
And there's a certain amount of throwing away, I
imagine.
Yes, that can be a challenge forpeople.
SPEAKER_02 (12:35):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (12:36):
And you know what we've we've also kind of found
when Judasan, like sometimeslike their kids aren't as you
know, close by or whatever,working with them.
That honestly, sometimes likethe kids are, you know, a mile
away, but they're like, this isgonna be much easier if you
handle it with them.
Because we found like even ifthey'll stop by the kids or do
(12:57):
something, I think the parentskind of seem most of them kind
of get a little bit like, well,do you want that?
Like they don't want to get ridof something that their kid
might want, or they're gonna belike, Why is why are they
throwing away my stuff?
Or you know, so they actuallysometimes it's like I guess with
your own kids, right?
Like I could say, Oh, I canteach you how to play soccer,
but they're not gonna allow meto or whatever.
Annie S. (13:17):
But right that moment when you realize you shouldn't
coach your kids, yes.
SPEAKER_01 (13:22):
We've all done that, and it's kind of like like this
situation, right?
It's kind of more like if you ifif you can do it, kind of say,
like, hand it off, we can get itdone, no problem.
You know what I mean?
And and we can take it as wealways say, like, and we get a
good idea on the consultationhow how slow or how quickly this
is gonna go, right?
(13:42):
Like, and we'll move at theirpace.
It doesn't, we don't need tocome in and plow through it.
SPEAKER_02 (13:47):
And some people it's two of us, so we'll just send
two people over a series of daysor weeks or months.
We've even done months wheresome we've sent two people for
three hours and for a couplemonths leading up to the move
day, because that's all they canhandle.
Right.
They can tell us.
We always tell them when they'retired or done, they can tell us
(14:08):
to leave.
They don't have to, you know,ride out the time, so to speak.
Right, right.
Yeah.
Annie S. (14:12):
So, um, in this journey thus far with with move
managers, um, what's been thebiggest challenge?
And and did you have any momentwhen you were like, uh, we're in
over ahead, I'm not sure I wantto do this.
unknown (14:24):
Last night.
SPEAKER_01 (14:26):
So when I came out, left dinner and I said, GD, why
is there 58 text on my Oh yes?
Um, yeah.
So I don't know, I feel likeit's if I did like kind of put
it in like a guess, it wasalmost been like every, let's
say, like six months, right?
It's kind of like, oh wow, it'sgetting busier.
Let's hire more people.
(14:47):
And then again, it's like, ohwow, it's getting even busier.
And it kind of has done that thepast like four years.
Then we did hire someone.
Well, she was part of our team,but then became more of like an
admin person.
Like, okay, we can't be doingall the scheduling on the job,
all the scheduling, doingeverything.
So we kind of hand it off likescheduling estimates, like, you
know, kind of doing that.
And even she says that was onlymaybe six months ago, and now
(15:10):
it's at a point where she'slike, it's like doubled them,
you know, like so.
We have to kind of keep changingall of that stuff.
You know, we're up to nowfifteen um women, two more who
are working with us this summerwho are teaching.
SPEAKER_02 (15:25):
And is it all women?
All women and uh we brought ontwo teachers for the summer.
Oh, that's that's interesting.
Because so many people are onvacation, like on regular not
our regular team, but on the fitteam of 15 have vacation.
So we've been slotting them in,and the one has been on every
day this week.
Oh my god.
So it's really boring, so butit's worked out great.
SPEAKER_01 (15:47):
Yeah, it's everyone just jumps in, it's amazing.
I have to say, everyone has alot of fun, which is what keeps
us going with it.
SPEAKER_02 (15:54):
I mean no one has left us.
SPEAKER_01 (15:56):
I love it.
SPEAKER_02 (15:56):
Yeah, no one has left.
SPEAKER_01 (15:57):
And how have you found managing other people?
Um I said, I think thedifference is it's not like we
don't we could be on a job andit's not like I don't know, if
if someone else is just kind ofthat lead person to talk to the
person, it doesn't have to beus.
You know what I mean?
SPEAKER_02 (16:14):
So we kind of we try to not we because we were on
every job.
Yes.
We were on every job probablyfor the first two, three years,
maybe three years.
Annie S. (16:22):
I mean, that's one of the hardest parts of starting a
business.
You kind of have to be hands-onwith everything until you get to
a certain point.
SPEAKER_02 (16:28):
And then but I'll let you know when I get to that
point where I don't have toalmost every I mean everybody
that has has been with us foryears now, so they know exactly
what's going on and know exactlywhat to do, so we don't have to
go on every job.
Okay, right.
Um, we have two jobs going onthis right now, actually, that
(16:50):
that we won't attend to today.
Annie S. (16:52):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (16:52):
Um, and then we're gonna go see a house, then we're
going to another job allafternoon.
Wow.
So yeah.
Annie S. (16:57):
Okay, so now if your story of this journey and
partnership had just been aboutthis, it would still be amazing.
But there's this whole otherchapter.
Um and that's the moving forwardwarehouse.
And this is just a piece of thestory that I absolutely love.
Um, tell me about the movingforward warehouse, where the
idea came from, what it's allabout.
SPEAKER_02 (17:19):
Well, it was probably this time last year, a
little earlier, maybe likespring of last year that we
talked because everybody thatwe're working with, they're in a
house that's like 3,000, 4,000,if not bigger, square feet.
And generally the communitiesare anywhere from 750 to 1,000
square feet.
So they had a lot of stuff.
And a lot of the organizationsin the in our area, Union Morris
(17:43):
County, um they they weregetting saturated.
SPEAKER_01 (17:46):
Um and right, there's a lot of times we would
they'd say, like, we're full, wecan't take something, right?
SPEAKER_02 (17:52):
And it was very hard to and with closed dates, they
have closed dates, move dates,and the stuff had to be gone.
Right.
And um we took a lot in ourgarages.
Yes.
GD did have a lot in her.
Both of us did for a whilebecause we hated to see good
pieces to the dump, but that'swhat was happening.
Um because a lot of there's alot that don't take furniture.
(18:14):
Right.
Um, so then we started talkingabout getting our own space.
We were just kind of thrown atthe idea.
SPEAKER_01 (18:21):
We started looking at spaces that were like a
thousand square feet, twelvehundred square feet, you know,
like and we'd looked for a whileum and we came across the one
that we're in now, which is justabout three thousand square
feet, and honestly, it could bedouble the size.
It could be.
Um, within the first month, wehave a container sitting outside
because we couldn't fiteverything.
And so, but it is it's just madeit like the from the JM side
(18:46):
very seamless in a sense of likewhat can go where.
You know, we don't take clothes,but just the furniture
household, but we have amazingorganizations to take the other
stuff, right?
That we need to take stuff to.
Um, but the so the warehouseitself is just kind of talking
to a client and we are able totake all this stuff and donate
(19:06):
it, you know.
And if we can't use it, youknow, we will find a home for
it.
Like we can take it, you know,have our mover take it to
habitat.
We will use other resources thatare amazing.
Um, but it's just been I, youknow, I think on their side too,
wow, is they're just socomfortable with like oh, it's
going somewhere.
Annie S. (19:23):
Right, right.
Because, you know, there's a lotof stuff that's probably gently
used or in good condition.
Yeah, definitely.
You know, you don't need itanymore.
No.
So initially it's we need aplace to keep all this furniture
while we find a home for it.
And then it turned into the ideaof let's make this a nonprofit,
or was that the idea from thebeginning?
SPEAKER_02 (19:44):
D to make it a nonprofit.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (19:47):
Because we're asking people to donate.
Donate stuff.
So we're not gonna be selling.
SPEAKER_02 (19:51):
We're not selling it.
There's no consignment, notselling.
Right.
Annie S. (19:55):
Yeah.
So how does it work?
You take the you take all thefurniture into your warehouse.
That doesn't have another home.
And people come and buy it, andthen the proceeds benefit
organizations.
Exactly.
Okay.
And what tell us about theorganizations that you're
supporting through thewarehouse?
SPEAKER_01 (20:12):
So our mission statement started off with like
CASA in the foster care system,kids transitioning out of the
foster care system, anybody inthe foster care system.
We have a few people on our teamwho are CASA volunteers that
help with that.
So we kind of that was just likean easy segment, right?
We had people that are involvedin this, you know, organization.
(20:33):
So let's kind of continue withthat.
And they're setting up theirapartments.
Annie S. (20:37):
Right.
There's that sort of as they ageout of those programs, there's
not that support system for themat that moment.
Exactly.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (20:44):
Okay.
So we just figured like, okay,this would be a perfect way.
And and it is.
But even just in a couple ofmonths, the there's probably
been a like a handful of otherorganizations that have reached
out, you know, and that theiremergency shelter housing,
people that are living, youknow, in the Ys in different
areas or you know, anything likethat, and they're fine, you
(21:06):
know, they're getting their newapartment and they need
furniture.
So it's just kind of kind of avapor into like it's still
children though.
SPEAKER_02 (21:15):
Right?
All the people kids.
Yeah, yeah.
They all they also still havekids, yeah.
Right.
So we're still focused on thechild, child-centered.
SPEAKER_01 (21:23):
Right.
Yeah.
Um, yeah, I mean, what are the18 to 20s or something in there
and they're kind of getting outon their own.
Some of them have childrenthemselves, you know, that they
had to, you know, kind of addthat to, like, they need stuff
for them.
Um, so we've set up a bunch ofapartments already.
We've, you know, moved stuff topeople's apartments.
(21:43):
If uh if we're setting up anapartment for like the emergency
shelter housing, we then theproceeds like they'll be able to
get the furniture, but then ourproceeds then also go to buying
them all new beds, new bedding.
Um that's amazing.
Annie S. (21:59):
Yes, yeah, absolutely great.
Yes, uh, it is amazing how muchyou need when you are setting up
a place to live.
SPEAKER_02 (22:05):
Yeah, just the base, yeah, just the bed because it
has to go into an encasement,then a mattress pad the sheets,
the pillows, the comforters, theblankets, yeah, and the
mattress.
Annie S. (22:14):
And nothing's cheap.
No, right, right.
SPEAKER_02 (22:16):
Yeah, we're working on that part of it.
Annie S. (22:18):
That's amazing.
And so, do you have a separateset of volunteers that help with
the warehouse?
SPEAKER_01 (22:24):
We yes, it's it's us a lot.
And another woman on our team,Christine, she's been very
involved in the warehouse and aswell.
Um, and so it's great.
And we do have a few volunteers,and we now we have an amazing we
have a list of probably 30volunteers that have signed up,
and now we're kind of at thepoint where we're kind of
putting that out to there tothem, and we'll start getting
(22:46):
them more involved in it.
But in the beginning, it waskind of like okay, we need to be
there, we need to see work outall the kinks.
Yeah, what's going on, who comesin, and just you know, they like
just see everybody's face andkind of um but we officially
opened May 1st.
SPEAKER_02 (23:01):
Um, May first, May 1st, yes.
And so we just finished ourthird month and it's been
amazing.
Annie S. (23:08):
I mean, if you guys look back and you take a moment
to appreciate what you'veaccomplished in five or six
years, you've started an entirebusiness and now an entire
nonprofit.
SPEAKER_01 (23:17):
So we don't have to be a good thing.
SPEAKER_02 (23:18):
Do you feel proud of that?
I mean, it's been great, and wewouldn't change it.
We wouldn't change it.
No, we just laugh about it allthe time.
SPEAKER_01 (23:26):
It just, you know, and then every time you think
like, oh my gosh, this is crazy.
What are we doing?
Right.
And then the text from like ourteam about a job they were on
yesterday, and yeah, they alllike you're like, they really
everyone has a great time.
Like they're it's really anamazing group.
Everyone has a lot of fun.
Yeah.
Um finds it rewarding, right?
Annie S. (23:47):
Yes.
100%.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (23:49):
That's so important.
Yeah, I would say they're allwomen of our age where they're
children.
We just the youngest one on ourteam's youngest just graduated
high school.
So, but everybody's kind of inthat same position.
And very rarely do people say noto us.
I mean, on our team to work, towork apologizing, or they're
like, I can come for two hours,or you know.
(24:10):
Yeah.
Um, so we do.
And when we go on theconsultations, we always kind of
end it by promising the clientwe're gonna have fun.
unknown (24:16):
Okay.
Annie S. (24:18):
So let me ask you, was it always your intention to have
this professional chapter inyour life when your kids were
grown?
SPEAKER_02 (24:28):
Yeah, I yes, I was always looking for something.
Okay.
Annie S. (24:31):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (24:32):
Yes.
I would say the same.
I didn't know it would be this.
Like it was always just kind oflike I would volunteer whether
like coached my kids in socceror something.
Right.
Annie S. (24:40):
There's a lot of like energy and time and skills.
SPEAKER_02 (24:43):
Yeah, yes, definitely, with the kids.
And once they, you know, likeyou said, because we each have
four and they're pretty much thesame ages, and that was all
consuming.
Yeah.
Um, yes, right, for sure.
Annie S. (24:58):
I know, that's the thing.
They that's what I always hear.
Yeah, exactly.
There's still a lot to do.
Um, and ha is this somethingthat you would have or could
have considered when your kidswere still home?
No.
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (25:12):
Not and put the time and effort into it because we do
a lot later in the day.
Like we once the day is done, wekind of wind up.
But then while we're at a job,we get 59 text messages from
other that we're answeringbetween like five and seven,
seven.
Yeah, we try to cut it off at 730.
Okay.
Annie S. (25:32):
Um, but yes, you have to have some boundaries,
otherwise it'll be yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (25:36):
Oh, all the time.
SPEAKER_01 (25:37):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (25:37):
And uh, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (25:38):
So then that's when we kind of know though, that
like, okay, now we're, you know,okay, we need more help on
whatever side it's gonna be orhowever we're gonna do it and
stuff.
But um, I mean, I can't for me,I can't say like either both are
just amazing.
Like adding this to thewarehouse has just been just
such a like fulfilling list.
(25:59):
Yeah.
Like JM is amazing in in adifferent way.
You're taking care of Megas as amom, right?
You're always taking care ofyour kids and doing all that,
and then now you're helpingthat.
And I do say, I mean, it it isso like one of my favorites is
the unpack of a JM side, isbecause you're totally
recreating their home, right?
And it's like such a greatfeeling to have them know that
(26:22):
they're going to be in there orwalk in and say, like, after all
the hesitation or nervousness,stress, like, yeah, yeah, wait,
all my like really importantthings are here with me.
And you know, we created all ofthat.
And it's on the moving forwardside, it's a similar feeling of
like, yes, the warehouse isgreat, and we love, I love
(26:43):
meeting people when they come inand they're all shopping for a
different reason.
And but again, it's thatcreating like when we just set
up a few apartments, right?
And we go there and we're makingthe beds and doing all that.
Just in my mind, I think, like,wow, this family's gonna come in
here and they're sleeping in newbeds and they have their
comforter and they they havewhat they need.
SPEAKER_02 (27:03):
You know, we try to make it look as nice, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (27:06):
Yeah, and the furniture has come from our
warehouse, and it's just it's ait's true, it's a great feeling.
Annie S. (27:11):
It's really special.
It's the same when you're movingyour kids into college, right?
As soon as their space feelslike a home, yeah, then you feel
okay leaving them.
Yeah, right.
SPEAKER_01 (27:20):
My husband could leave like three hours before
that.
Yeah, like I cannot, like untilit's off, they have their
groceries in there, everythingit's just that's how it's it's
another thing that's sort ofuniquely female, right?
Annie S. (27:31):
Like when someone's going through a tough time or
they're sick, and you know, yousort of want to show up and
clean their kitchen.
Or exactly.
I remember when I had newborns,like my mom would do things like
make my bed, or you know, andthose things matter.
Those are the little things thatreally matter.
SPEAKER_02 (27:46):
Together, yes.
And we're, you know, we we're onthe list of services for a few
communities, and there's one outin Bridgewater where we do a lot
of work.
So they're they offer ourservice to their incoming uh
residents now.
And when we go out there, weknow half the boys.
I bet we were there yesterday,and it's just it's so much fun
(28:08):
to see them settled.
Yes, the the transition part iswhat's hard, and we tell them
that and once they're settledand involved and you know doing
the activities there, you cansee you can see a change in the
world.
A weights lift us.
Yes.
Annie S. (28:23):
Some of them look, I don't know, we say like they
they really do look likeyounger, they're healthier.
And I'm sure for their kids orfamily members, there's a lot of
worrying about them until theyget settled.
Yeah, exactly.
So it's there's a ripple effect.
SPEAKER_02 (28:36):
Right.
So it's fun to see that side ofit too when we get to see them
again.
Annie S. (28:41):
And yes.
Would you say that your familiesand your kids have been
supportive of this endeavor?
There's no part of them that'slike, hey, I thought you were
gonna have more time, you know,we were gonna travel, what's up
with you working all the time?
No, they've been like amazinglysupportive.
They must be so proud of youguys.
They are they are.
SPEAKER_02 (29:01):
I will say that.
Yes, they are.
They're always alwaysencouraging, they're always
wearing our shirts out.
Annie S. (29:06):
That's so cool.
I mean, what a great exampleyou're setting.
SPEAKER_02 (29:09):
And I'm sure you can put them to work too if you find
yourself again all in somedifferent warehouse to to
volunteer so far, all of them.
SPEAKER_01 (29:17):
Yes, yeah, yeah.
My daughter just bought a placeand she said her goal is it's
you know, an apartment inCranford and is to furnish
everything from the warehouse.
Yeah, and she's like, I'll takemy time and do stuff, but it's
all gonna come like from there.
That's so cool.
So it's kind of fun like to kindof create that and and see it.
And it is having, I mean, I havethree girls and then a boy, but
(29:38):
so to have the you know, thegirls kind of see like, yes, you
can stay home and you can changeyour kids and you know, you can
find something.
And you never know what's next.
Annie S. (29:46):
A hundred percent.
Never know what's next.
I think that's why it's soimportant to tell the story.
So maybe a good ending notewould be I would love to know if
you guys have advice for otherwomen who are sort of thinking
what's next, and they've stayedhome with their kids and and
they're intimidated by maybestarting this all up.
Um, what advice would you giveto people out there?
SPEAKER_02 (30:08):
I mean, just do it sounds like sounds a little
cliche, but I mean that's moreor less what we did.
I mean, it's it's very helpfulto have a partner because ideas
and feedback and I love that youdid it together.
Yes, we do we do pretty mucheverything together.
Yes, but it's we I don't Icouldn't do it alone.
It would have been much too, itwould never have grown as big as
(30:30):
it has.
Um absolutely yeah, but not tobe in not to think you can or be
intimidated by because neitherof us have business backgrounds.
No, no.
Um I was a teacher, um, and thenyou know, as she said, as Meg
said, uh volunteerism was likefor years and years and years
and organize and things likethat, but we don't have formal
(30:52):
business backgrounds.
SPEAKER_01 (30:54):
No, and I think that's part of what I don't
know, I feel like sometimesworks is like we did like I know
that we're like just doing it,but it's like okay, let's just
try it, right?
It wasn't starting small.
We weren't thinking, okay, wewant to build this huge company
or or build something.
It was kind of like let's dothis, you know.
And well, it would kind of benice to do as a little side
(31:14):
thing.
Yeah.
One thing at a time, kind oflike a side hustle.
Yeah.
Um, and so it didn't ever likestarting, it didn't seem
overwhelming because it was justkind of like, oh, this will be,
you know, kind of like a smalllittle fun thing to do.
And here you are.
Created, you know, from there.
But so yeah, I would kind of saylike she said, just even if it's
(31:36):
with a friend or doing somethingand not having it's always good
to have like visions of what youwant it to be, but sometimes
when they're too big, I wouldlike it would might have scared
me off saying like, oh, I wantto have a company that's X, Y,
and Z, you know, whatever.
But just to say, like, we'regonna do this because it's
something we enjoy to do, right?
And then just let it take itwhere it ends up taking it.
SPEAKER_02 (31:58):
Yeah, we made mistakes along the way, and we
just trial and error, really.
We just kept changing thedirection to what it is now.
Right, right, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (32:06):
Judy still has a book at home.
She hasn't read, but she got abook for Christmas from one of
the women on our team.
SPEAKER_02 (32:14):
How to say no?
Annie S. (32:16):
Oh, yes.
I think, yes, I think most of usprobably need a little bit more
of that in our lives.
SPEAKER_02 (32:21):
If they need the help, it's really hard.
Annie S. (32:24):
It's really hard, I imagine.
SPEAKER_02 (32:27):
You know, just take every little bit.
Annie S. (32:29):
We could work 24 hours if it was Judy going.
I know.
Well, that's what that's theproblem.
You see a need, right, and youwant to just do more and more
and more.
SPEAKER_02 (32:36):
Yes, and we yes, and we've grown.
We've doubled each year.
This year we're 30, we're 30 or40 percent.
This is our business busiestyear, yes.
No, I'm saying our businessbackground cover.
Oh, yes.
Um, we're we're like 30, 40percent ahead month to month.
Wow, but the every other yearwe've double, double, doubled.
(32:59):
So that's amazing.
SPEAKER_01 (33:00):
No, it's exciting.
SPEAKER_02 (33:02):
We always say we need a bigger boat every every
few months.
SPEAKER_01 (33:05):
And it's the same with the warehouse, honestly.
I feel like the minute it justhit the ground running, it's
like we've been able to dothings for people without even
getting any grants yet.
Or, you know, we've we had somedonations, you know, that for
opening night, which wasamazing.
And but that is just that's justtime, right?
We've still been able to dolittle things that yeah like
(33:28):
that we planned that we wantedto do, you know, from the
beginning.
SPEAKER_02 (33:32):
So, you know, the rest is just we know it'll fall
into place, just like you know,and the other part of it is too,
I think, because we met so manyamazing people, and there's a
lot of people out there doingincredible things that are
willing to help because we've uhI mean we've gotten help from
different organizations, youknow, for something that you
(33:52):
know we have avoid.
Like uh our biggest problemsometimes is pickup and
deliveries, and we we have acontact um that helps us now.
We have a place to take all ofour medical equipment and
supplies, and the person thatruns that is unbelievable.
Yes, and there's a lot, sothere's a lot of people out
there that we've met along theway that are willing to help us
as well.
SPEAKER_01 (34:12):
That's really then our who just done moves with us
amazing, like five years,everything, you know.
It's like he was at thewarehouse this morning, you
know, making space in ourcontainer for us, and like he'll
just, you know, it's everyone'skind of really pitched in on
this part of like the movingforward, you know, like getting
it up and running and creatingit and like it's been it all
(34:32):
hands-on.
Um, our team coming in andvolunteering when we're like,
okay, the place looks like amess right now.
Like, let's come in and peoplejust show up.
Annie S. (34:41):
It's been that's awesome.
It's been great.
Well, I feel like there's thisidea that we have here, which is
this like impact multiplierwhere you start with one thing
that you see seniors that havethis need in their lives, and
and you start there, and and nowall of a sudden you have this
nonprofit where you're helpingpeople get going in their lives.
And and then on the side, you'recreating jobs for women who need
(35:03):
to get back to something or whowant to get back to something
and want to feel that.
Um, and then the last piece ofthe impact is you're setting an
example.
And I think that's amazing, andI think it is intimidating to so
many people.
And you might not realize howspecial what you've done is, but
um I know our listeners aregonna appreciate it, and I think
(35:24):
probably be inspired to takethat chance and do something and
see the ripple effect that itcan have.
So I'm so grateful for you guyscoming on and sharing your
story.
Um it's incredibly impressive.
And I encourage everybody tosupport JM Move Managers as well
as the Moving Forward Warehouse,two amazing organizations.
Um, but thank you.
Thanks for being with us.
Thank you.
Welcome to Sea Change.
I'm so excited today because I'mjoined by Judy Brucha and Meg
Freer.
They are the founders of JM MoveManagers and the Moving Forward
Warehouse, which is a nonprofitoffshoot of JM Move Managers.
I'm so excited to have you bothhere.
I have to be completely honest,when I started this podcast, you
guys were the exact kind ofpeople I wanted to highlight.
(00:38):
It's the woman next door, it'syour friend you didn't realize
was doing something amazing.
And I think as women, we tend tonot toot our own horn.
And I think what you guys havedone is really special.
And I think that there's a lotof people out there who have
good ideas or see a need intheir community and they don't
even know where to begin.
So I wanted to have you both onand highlight what you've done,
(00:59):
why you did it, tell your story,what it's turned into, um, and
hopefully inspire other peopleto take that risk and jump in
and do something that's a newchallenge.
Um, so let's start at thebeginning.
Um, Judy, I know you personally,so it's a little bit, I'm
cheating here a little bit, butum prior to this endeavor, you
(01:20):
were staying home with yourkids.
Yes.
Your kids were all grown.
SPEAKER_02 (01:23):
Yes.
Annie S. (01:24):
What what brought this about?
SPEAKER_02 (01:26):
Meg.
No, actually.
I had spent a lot of time withmy father.
My father had Alzheimer's and Ihe moved into a community.
I had spent a lot of time takingcare of him and learning about
the communities just as anatural offshoot of being with
him in the community all thetime.
So once and he passed away in2018, and I wanted to continue
(01:49):
working.
Uh I decided I wanted tocontinue working in one of the
communities.
And someone had told me about agroup that um helped seniors
move, like downsized, move fromtheir homes to the community.
So I reached out to them,started with them in 2019,
worked for them for about a yearand a half before COVID.
COVID really shut down thecommunities.
(02:11):
So, and then it was during thattime, which she called, it was
Christmas time of 2020.
2020 or 2020.
2020.
And she broached the subject ofyou know, starting our own, so
our own move managers.
Annie S. (02:29):
And so you saw a need really in the senior community
specifically.
SPEAKER_02 (02:34):
Yes, yes, definitely.
Just from that I was there for ayear and a half with the other
group, and just from workingwith that group, yes.
Annie S. (02:41):
And and the pain point is seniors now need to leave a
home that they've been inprobably for a long time.
They might be ill-equipped ordon't have the resources around
them to help with that downsize.
Absolutely.
And you thought this is a placewhere we could step in and do
something that's needed.
Absolutely.
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (03:00):
Yes, because a lot of them, well, there's a couple
of factors.
A lot of them are living longer.
In general, are living longer.
Geographically, their familiesare more spread out than when we
were younger and growing up, andpeople tended to live, you know,
closer together.
Um, so they just don't have thatsupport system.
And a lot of them, uh, you know,we're in Ismova.
(03:22):
We're a lot of people todaymove, move, move.
A lot of the people we work withhave been in their home 50, 60
years.
Right.
Annie S. (03:28):
And that you accumulate a lot of stuff.
A lot of stuff.
Right, right.
SPEAKER_02 (03:32):
No idea how much stuff.
Yes.
Right.
And that's where we come in.
Okay.
Annie S. (03:35):
Yes.
And so, Meg, where do you pluginto this story?
Were you working before this?
Were you just inspired by yourcrazy friend Judy and what she
was looking to do?
SPEAKER_01 (03:46):
No, I have four kids.
Um, was home with them, raisedthem all.
Their kids are similar ages.
So Judy and I knew each otherfrom basically like a lot of the
sideline sports, you know, andthen through that way of just
like kind of hanging out anddoing stuff throughout our kids.
Um, but I always was someone whowas like, I never sat still.
(04:07):
So it was like I knew there'dbe, you know, something to do,
like whether it was volunteerstuff I was doing.
I was very involved with likethe night for a while because I
my dad and my sister had passedaway from leukemia.
And so I did a lot of volunteerstuff with them, doing the light
the night walks, and always justloved that, loved being able to
try to help people doing it.
Um, I really enjoy like moving.
(04:30):
I mean, when my kids move fourtimes a year, it's not as fun,
but like I always loved it.
It was such a great like feelingof like removing the kids into
an apartment and I'm kind of notleaving until it's all settled
and done.
Yeah.
And so when I knew what Judy wasdoing, you know, that's when we
kind of were like, Oh, thiswould be really fun, but like I
don't really want to go work forsomeone else.
Like, let's go do thisourselves.
(04:52):
Um, and then it kind of justcame about from there and it
hasn't stopped since.
Annie S. (04:58):
So there was a little bit of this entrepreneurial
spirit that you guys had.
SPEAKER_02 (05:02):
Yes, no, definitely.
Annie S. (05:03):
But it wasn't like you were sitting there saying we
want to start a business, whatshould that business be?
It was a little more organicbecause you were already
involved in this issue.
Yes, right.
Okay.
Definitely.
Okay.
And so you decide, hey, this isa real thing.
We we can do this.
We have the skill set.
And by the way, I love thisparticular idea because it is a
skill set you have.
I mean, between the two of you,there's eight children, a lot of
(05:26):
moves.
Um, I think being organized andsort of like not being able to
sit still and tackle thatproblem, that's such a mom
quality, right?
So I always tell women this youhave these skills that you're
using all the time, raising yourchildren, and they're so
applicable to so many otherthings, um, including business.
So you see this now, where doyou begin, right?
(05:47):
Um, how do you think about goingfrom this is an idea, this is
something I'm kind of doinganyways on the side, to let's
start a business.
SPEAKER_01 (05:55):
I mean, we were it was a very actually simple
business to start.
You know, it was kind of likelet's really from the basic,
let's open a bank account andyou know, form our LLC and let's
go.
You know what I mean?
SPEAKER_02 (06:07):
Let's just try it and reached out to the national
organization that we registeredwith.
So uh it's called the NationalAssociation of Senior Move
Managers that are in Chicago.
They have a big office,everything stems from that.
They offered you you pay to be amember, so then you're on their
we're on their homepage, you canwhere it says find a move
manager.
(06:28):
So you're registered on there,and they make you take a class
to to be certified.
Okay.
Um, but the best part of it wasthey had all kinds of templates
that um and guidelines and thenyou know, to start your own.
So we use that to get started.
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (06:43):
But then kind of I mean we started with like yeah,
basic, you know, kind of folder,like nothing with like a sticker
of JM on it and put our computerourselves, yeah.
Annie S. (06:54):
And so then how did you find that very first client
or did they find you?
SPEAKER_02 (06:58):
Uh it was actually through a realtor who's a friend
of ours.
Yes.
Annie S. (07:01):
That makes sense.
SPEAKER_02 (07:02):
We get a lot of referrals through realtors or
the communities, but this firstone, and we've they were
amazing.
We loved them both, and it wasjust she and I.
And uh they were moving out ofstate, um, but older and had
been in their home for a while.
Annie S. (07:17):
Okay.
So you guys go in, and at thebeginning, now it's just the two
of you doing all of thislegwork.
Um, so you guys go in, you helpthese people get their home
organized, and then part of itis getting rid of or disposing
of some of the stuff in theirhome.
Part of it's moving some of thestuff.
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (07:36):
We do we pretty much just go room by room and they
tell us what they, you know, arenot parting with that they want
to take with them.
We work on a floor plan.
We usually get a floor planwhere they're going, um, fit the
pieces in that way.
So that's kind of how we startedwith them.
Um, and we we pack, we makepiles for donation.
We at that time we were selling.
(07:57):
Um, we would set some peoplewant to sell pieces, and so we
were doing that at that time.
Okay.
Um and then we after the thenthe second job too was from a
realtor, right?
SPEAKER_01 (08:09):
Right, right.
So at those point, it was itwasn't really um the beginning
ones weren't moving intocommunities, even though they
were kind of, you know, I wouldsay like had been in their home
for a while and were justdownsizing.
So, you know, we kind of createdjust started looking for
different resources of where canwe bring furniture, where can we
bring donations, you know, andjust kind of had to create this
(08:31):
whole list of where we can bringeverything and what we can do,
and started kind of formingrelationships with like
different places.
Right, you build like a networkof resources, and then we
started kind of going out, youknow, looking for different
communities and stuff like thatthat we can be.
Oh, interesting.
SPEAKER_02 (08:49):
They all have a marketing group.
Okay.
Um, so if you were taking yourparent there, if your parent was
or whoever was thinking aboutmoving there, that's the person
you would meet with.
So we reached out to, I don'tknow, we were we spent a lot of
time just visiting communitiesand getting to know those
people, and we were telling themwhat we could, you know, offer.
Some some had move managers,some did not.
(09:10):
Um they they everyone's veryopen to the idea was very, and
then slowly we started gettingcalls.
Annie S. (09:17):
That's interesting.
And so how did and from thereyou grew pretty quickly.
Yes, we did.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (09:23):
Even the first job, I have to say, there's a woman
on earth who's still on our teamwho lived on that street.
Um, and we were like, you know,do you want to come over and
help?
Oh yeah.
And then they decided they alsodid want their kitchen packed,
right?
And I was like, okay, Judy, noone packs the kitchen like my
mom, right?
Like she still packs like mykitchen, you know, like if it
was that's just how she is, youknow, let me see if she wants to
(09:43):
come pack that.
Like everyone has theirstrengths and weaknesses, right?
That's like I'm not a verydetailed person with like that
stuff.
And um, so my mom came and didthe packing of the kitchen that
day.
So that job we kind of end upwith like four, even though we
started it, and to this day,both of them still are on our
team and work with us, yeah,doing it.
SPEAKER_02 (10:04):
And her mom's amazing.
Annie S. (10:06):
Yeah, and so the jobs grew and the team grew.
SPEAKER_02 (10:10):
Yes, by that summer, I think we took on two more, and
we just kept bringing on gettingmore.
It just kind of snowballed, uh,especially once we did one job
or two jobs out of community,because then they got to know
what we did.
Right.
And then they were morecomfortable.
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (10:25):
And we her daughter was doing like a lot of the
marketing, and then started withlike you know, all the
brochures, and she kind ofcreated all that stuff.
We kind of got to be a littlebit more of like a real company.
SPEAKER_02 (10:39):
Yeah, you know, and so then we had brochures to take
and folders to take, and yeah.
Annie S. (10:44):
Right.
So this is a part of the storythat I think is so important,
and especially for people whoare listening and intimidated by
the idea of doing something likethis.
You don't have to have it allfigured out day one, right?
It's like one step at a time.
Each thing comes up, you tacklethat thing, and you move to the
next.
SPEAKER_01 (11:01):
So And that was very Judy and I kind of like oh, we
have this idea, great, let's doit.
Not like we need to see, likehave a projection on it, you
know, exactly um of what it'sgonna be and where we're gonna
be.
And it's kind of we never knewwe would be here.
Annie S. (11:17):
Right.
Like, right.
So But it's also, I think theother important piece of the
story is, you know, there'sthere's a very like humanitarian
aspect to this, right?
Because it's people's homes,it's a difficult time in their
life, potentially.
It's like that's a bigtransition, and it can be
emotional and it's their stuff,and that's a lot, right?
And I think another key piece ofthe success that you guys have
(11:40):
is that you are hands-on, youare conscious of that connection
to the people that you'rehelping.
And like when you're talkingabout your mom packing a
kitchen, like there's pride inthose things.
There's like that's important,right?
How you think about helpingsomeone definitely in their
home.
Yes.
I think that's a reallyimportant piece of it.
SPEAKER_02 (11:58):
Someone's home is important to them, may not be
important to us, but it's veryimportant to them, and we
respect that.
SPEAKER_01 (12:04):
Right, we'll suggest things, and you know, we we
always go in.
So when you were talking aboutlike kind of the exactly what it
entails, like, you know, wealways start with like a free
consultation, right?
And then that's more where wewant them to just we want to see
obviously what we're gonna beworking with, but also have them
be comfortable with us, right?
To know us right now.
Annie S. (12:24):
Because if they don't trust you, that's a very
nerve-wracking thing.
SPEAKER_02 (12:26):
Uh absolutely, because we're in every corner of
their house.
Annie S. (12:30):
And there's a certain amount of throwing away, I
imagine.
Yes, that can be a challenge forpeople.
SPEAKER_02 (12:35):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (12:36):
And you know what we've we've also kind of found
when Judasan, like sometimeslike their kids aren't as you
know, close by or whatever,working with them.
That honestly, sometimes likethe kids are, you know, a mile
away, but they're like, this isgonna be much easier if you
handle it with them.
Because we found like even ifthey'll stop by the kids or do
(12:57):
something, I think the parentskind of seem most of them kind
of get a little bit like, well,do you want that?
Like they don't want to get ridof something that their kid
might want, or they're gonna belike, Why is why are they
throwing away my stuff?
Or you know, so they actuallysometimes it's like I guess with
your own kids, right?
Like I could say, Oh, I canteach you how to play soccer,
but they're not gonna allow meto or whatever.
Annie S. (13:17):
But right that moment when you realize you shouldn't
coach your kids, yes.
SPEAKER_01 (13:22):
We've all done that, and it's kind of like like this
situation, right?
It's kind of more like if you ifif you can do it, kind of say,
like, hand it off, we can get itdone, no problem.
You know what I mean?
And and we can take it as wealways say, like, and we get a
good idea on the consultationhow how slow or how quickly this
is gonna go, right?
(13:42):
Like, and we'll move at theirpace.
It doesn't, we don't need tocome in and plow through it.
SPEAKER_02 (13:47):
And some people it's two of us, so we'll just send
two people over a series of daysor weeks or months.
We've even done months wheresome we've sent two people for
three hours and for a couplemonths leading up to the move
day, because that's all they canhandle.
Right.
They can tell us.
We always tell them when they'retired or done, they can tell us
(14:08):
to leave.
They don't have to, you know,ride out the time, so to speak.
Right, right.
Yeah.
Annie S. (14:12):
So, um, in this journey thus far with with move
managers, um, what's been thebiggest challenge?
And and did you have any momentwhen you were like, uh, we're in
over ahead, I'm not sure I wantto do this.
unknown (14:24):
Last night.
SPEAKER_01 (14:26):
So when I came out, left dinner and I said, GD, why
is there 58 text on my Oh yes?
Um, yeah.
So I don't know, I feel likeit's if I did like kind of put
it in like a guess, it wasalmost been like every, let's
say, like six months, right?
It's kind of like, oh wow, it'sgetting busier.
Let's hire more people.
(14:47):
And then again, it's like, ohwow, it's getting even busier.
And it kind of has done that thepast like four years.
Then we did hire someone.
Well, she was part of our team,but then became more of like an
admin person.
Like, okay, we can't be doingall the scheduling on the job,
all the scheduling, doingeverything.
So we kind of hand it off likescheduling estimates, like, you
know, kind of doing that.
And even she says that was onlymaybe six months ago, and now
(15:10):
it's at a point where she'slike, it's like doubled them,
you know, like so.
We have to kind of keep changingall of that stuff.
You know, we're up to nowfifteen um women, two more who
are working with us this summerwho are teaching.
SPEAKER_02 (15:25):
And is it all women?
All women and uh we brought ontwo teachers for the summer.
Oh, that's that's interesting.
Because so many people are onvacation, like on regular not
our regular team, but on the fitteam of 15 have vacation.
So we've been slotting them in,and the one has been on every
day this week.
Oh my god.
So it's really boring, so butit's worked out great.
SPEAKER_01 (15:47):
Yeah, it's everyone just jumps in, it's amazing.
I have to say, everyone has alot of fun, which is what keeps
us going with it.
SPEAKER_02 (15:54):
I mean no one has left us.
SPEAKER_01 (15:56):
I love it.
SPEAKER_02 (15:56):
Yeah, no one has left.
SPEAKER_01 (15:57):
And how have you found managing other people?
Um I said, I think thedifference is it's not like we
don't we could be on a job andit's not like I don't know, if
if someone else is just kind ofthat lead person to talk to the
person, it doesn't have to beus.
You know what I mean?
SPEAKER_02 (16:14):
So we kind of we try to not we because we were on
every job.
Yes.
We were on every job probablyfor the first two, three years,
maybe three years.
Annie S. (16:22):
I mean, that's one of the hardest parts of starting a
business.
You kind of have to be hands-onwith everything until you get to
a certain point.
SPEAKER_02 (16:28):
And then but I'll let you know when I get to that
point where I don't have toalmost every I mean everybody
that has has been with us foryears now, so they know exactly
what's going on and know exactlywhat to do, so we don't have to
go on every job.
Okay, right.
Um, we have two jobs going onthis right now, actually, that
(16:50):
that we won't attend to today.
Annie S. (16:52):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (16:52):
Um, and then we're gonna go see a house, then we're
going to another job allafternoon.
Wow.
So yeah.
Annie S. (16:57):
Okay, so now if your story of this journey and
partnership had just been aboutthis, it would still be amazing.
But there's this whole otherchapter.
Um and that's the moving forwardwarehouse.
And this is just a piece of thestory that I absolutely love.
Um, tell me about the movingforward warehouse, where the
idea came from, what it's allabout.
SPEAKER_02 (17:19):
Well, it was probably this time last year, a
little earlier, maybe likespring of last year that we
talked because everybody thatwe're working with, they're in a
house that's like 3,000, 4,000,if not bigger, square feet.
And generally the communitiesare anywhere from 750 to 1,000
square feet.
So they had a lot of stuff.
And a lot of the organizationsin the in our area, Union Morris
(17:43):
County, um they they weregetting saturated.
SPEAKER_01 (17:46):
Um and right, there's a lot of times we would
they'd say, like, we're full, wecan't take something, right?
SPEAKER_02 (17:52):
And it was very hard to and with closed dates, they
have closed dates, move dates,and the stuff had to be gone.
Right.
And um we took a lot in ourgarages.
Yes.
GD did have a lot in her.
Both of us did for a whilebecause we hated to see good
pieces to the dump, but that'swhat was happening.
Um because a lot of there's alot that don't take furniture.
(18:14):
Right.
Um, so then we started talkingabout getting our own space.
We were just kind of thrown atthe idea.
SPEAKER_01 (18:21):
We started looking at spaces that were like a
thousand square feet, twelvehundred square feet, you know,
like and we'd looked for a whileum and we came across the one
that we're in now, which is justabout three thousand square
feet, and honestly, it could bedouble the size.
It could be.
Um, within the first month, wehave a container sitting outside
because we couldn't fiteverything.
And so, but it is it's just madeit like the from the JM side
(18:46):
very seamless in a sense of likewhat can go where.
You know, we don't take clothes,but just the furniture
household, but we have amazingorganizations to take the other
stuff, right?
That we need to take stuff to.
Um, but the so the warehouseitself is just kind of talking
to a client and we are able totake all this stuff and donate
(19:06):
it, you know.
And if we can't use it, youknow, we will find a home for
it.
Like we can take it, you know,have our mover take it to
habitat.
We will use other resources thatare amazing.
Um, but it's just been I, youknow, I think on their side too,
wow, is they're just socomfortable with like oh, it's
going somewhere.
Annie S. (19:23):
Right, right.
Because, you know, there's a lotof stuff that's probably gently
used or in good condition.
Yeah, definitely.
You know, you don't need itanymore.
No.
So initially it's we need aplace to keep all this furniture
while we find a home for it.
And then it turned into the ideaof let's make this a nonprofit,
or was that the idea from thebeginning?
SPEAKER_02 (19:44):
D to make it a nonprofit.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (19:47):
Because we're asking people to donate.
Donate stuff.
So we're not gonna be selling.
SPEAKER_02 (19:51):
We're not selling it.
There's no consignment, notselling.
Right.
Annie S. (19:55):
Yeah.
So how does it work?
You take the you take all thefurniture into your warehouse.
That doesn't have another home.
And people come and buy it, andthen the proceeds benefit
organizations.
Exactly.
Okay.
And what tell us about theorganizations that you're
supporting through thewarehouse?
SPEAKER_01 (20:12):
So our mission statement started off with like
CASA in the foster care system,kids transitioning out of the
foster care system, anybody inthe foster care system.
We have a few people on our teamwho are CASA volunteers that
help with that.
So we kind of that was just likean easy segment, right?
We had people that are involvedin this, you know, organization.
(20:33):
So let's kind of continue withthat.
And they're setting up theirapartments.
Annie S. (20:37):
Right.
There's that sort of as they ageout of those programs, there's
not that support system for themat that moment.
Exactly.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (20:44):
Okay.
So we just figured like, okay,this would be a perfect way.
And and it is.
But even just in a couple ofmonths, the there's probably
been a like a handful of otherorganizations that have reached
out, you know, and that theiremergency shelter housing,
people that are living, youknow, in the Ys in different
areas or you know, anything likethat, and they're fine, you
(21:06):
know, they're getting their newapartment and they need
furniture.
So it's just kind of kind of avapor into like it's still
children though.
SPEAKER_02 (21:15):
Right?
All the people kids.
Yeah, yeah.
They all they also still havekids, yeah.
Right.
So we're still focused on thechild, child-centered.
SPEAKER_01 (21:23):
Right.
Yeah.
Um, yeah, I mean, what are the18 to 20s or something in there
and they're kind of getting outon their own.
Some of them have childrenthemselves, you know, that they
had to, you know, kind of addthat to, like, they need stuff
for them.
Um, so we've set up a bunch ofapartments already.
We've, you know, moved stuff topeople's apartments.
(21:43):
If uh if we're setting up anapartment for like the emergency
shelter housing, we then theproceeds like they'll be able to
get the furniture, but then ourproceeds then also go to buying
them all new beds, new bedding.
Um that's amazing.
Annie S. (21:59):
Yes, yeah, absolutely great.
Yes, uh, it is amazing how muchyou need when you are setting up
a place to live.
SPEAKER_02 (22:05):
Yeah, just the base, yeah, just the bed because it
has to go into an encasement,then a mattress pad the sheets,
the pillows, the comforters, theblankets, yeah, and the
mattress.
Annie S. (22:14):
And nothing's cheap.
No, right, right.
SPEAKER_02 (22:16):
Yeah, we're working on that part of it.
Annie S. (22:18):
That's amazing.
And so, do you have a separateset of volunteers that help with
the warehouse?
SPEAKER_01 (22:24):
We yes, it's it's us a lot.
And another woman on our team,Christine, she's been very
involved in the warehouse and aswell.
Um, and so it's great.
And we do have a few volunteers,and we now we have an amazing we
have a list of probably 30volunteers that have signed up,
and now we're kind of at thepoint where we're kind of
putting that out to there tothem, and we'll start getting
(22:46):
them more involved in it.
But in the beginning, it waskind of like okay, we need to be
there, we need to see work outall the kinks.
Yeah, what's going on, who comesin, and just you know, they like
just see everybody's face andkind of um but we officially
opened May 1st.
SPEAKER_02 (23:01):
Um, May first, May 1st, yes.
And so we just finished ourthird month and it's been
amazing.
Annie S. (23:08):
I mean, if you guys look back and you take a moment
to appreciate what you'veaccomplished in five or six
years, you've started an entirebusiness and now an entire
nonprofit.
SPEAKER_01 (23:17):
So we don't have to be a good thing.
SPEAKER_02 (23:18):
Do you feel proud of that?
I mean, it's been great, and wewouldn't change it.
We wouldn't change it.
No, we just laugh about it allthe time.
SPEAKER_01 (23:26):
It just, you know, and then every time you think
like, oh my gosh, this is crazy.
What are we doing?
Right.
And then the text from like ourteam about a job they were on
yesterday, and yeah, they alllike you're like, they really
everyone has a great time.
Like they're it's really anamazing group.
Everyone has a lot of fun.
Yeah.
Um finds it rewarding, right?
Annie S. (23:47):
Yes.
100%.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (23:49):
That's so important.
Yeah, I would say they're allwomen of our age where they're
children.
We just the youngest one on ourteam's youngest just graduated
high school.
So, but everybody's kind of inthat same position.
And very rarely do people say noto us.
I mean, on our team to work, towork apologizing, or they're
like, I can come for two hours,or you know.
(24:10):
Yeah.
Um, so we do.
And when we go on theconsultations, we always kind of
end it by promising the clientwe're gonna have fun.
unknown (24:16):
Okay.
Annie S. (24:18):
So let me ask you, was it always your intention to have
this professional chapter inyour life when your kids were
grown?
SPEAKER_02 (24:28):
Yeah, I yes, I was always looking for something.
Okay.
Annie S. (24:31):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (24:32):
Yes.
I would say the same.
I didn't know it would be this.
Like it was always just kind oflike I would volunteer whether
like coached my kids in socceror something.
Right.
Annie S. (24:40):
There's a lot of like energy and time and skills.
SPEAKER_02 (24:43):
Yeah, yes, definitely, with the kids.
And once they, you know, likeyou said, because we each have
four and they're pretty much thesame ages, and that was all
consuming.
Yeah.
Um, yes, right, for sure.
Annie S. (24:58):
I know, that's the thing.
They that's what I always hear.
Yeah, exactly.
There's still a lot to do.
Um, and ha is this somethingthat you would have or could
have considered when your kidswere still home?
No.
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (25:12):
Not and put the time and effort into it because we do
a lot later in the day.
Like we once the day is done, wekind of wind up.
But then while we're at a job,we get 59 text messages from
other that we're answeringbetween like five and seven,
seven.
Yeah, we try to cut it off at 730.
Okay.
Annie S. (25:32):
Um, but yes, you have to have some boundaries,
otherwise it'll be yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (25:36):
Oh, all the time.
SPEAKER_01 (25:37):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (25:37):
And uh, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (25:38):
So then that's when we kind of know though, that
like, okay, now we're, you know,okay, we need more help on
whatever side it's gonna be orhowever we're gonna do it and
stuff.
But um, I mean, I can't for me,I can't say like either both are
just amazing.
Like adding this to thewarehouse has just been just
such a like fulfilling list.
(25:59):
Yeah.
Like JM is amazing in in adifferent way.
You're taking care of Megas as amom, right?
You're always taking care ofyour kids and doing all that,
and then now you're helpingthat.
And I do say, I mean, it it isso like one of my favorites is
the unpack of a JM side, isbecause you're totally
recreating their home, right?
And it's like such a greatfeeling to have them know that
(26:22):
they're going to be in there orwalk in and say, like, after all
the hesitation or nervousness,stress, like, yeah, yeah, wait,
all my like really importantthings are here with me.
And you know, we created all ofthat.
And it's on the moving forwardside, it's a similar feeling of
like, yes, the warehouse isgreat, and we love, I love
(26:43):
meeting people when they come inand they're all shopping for a
different reason.
And but again, it's thatcreating like when we just set
up a few apartments, right?
And we go there and we're makingthe beds and doing all that.
Just in my mind, I think, like,wow, this family's gonna come in
here and they're sleeping in newbeds and they have their
comforter and they they havewhat they need.
SPEAKER_02 (27:03):
You know, we try to make it look as nice, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (27:06):
Yeah, and the furniture has come from our
warehouse, and it's just it's ait's true, it's a great feeling.
Annie S. (27:11):
It's really special.
It's the same when you're movingyour kids into college, right?
As soon as their space feelslike a home, yeah, then you feel
okay leaving them.
Yeah, right.
SPEAKER_01 (27:20):
My husband could leave like three hours before
that.
Yeah, like I cannot, like untilit's off, they have their
groceries in there, everythingit's just that's how it's it's
another thing that's sort ofuniquely female, right?
Annie S. (27:31):
Like when someone's going through a tough time or
they're sick, and you know, yousort of want to show up and
clean their kitchen.
Or exactly.
I remember when I had newborns,like my mom would do things like
make my bed, or you know, andthose things matter.
Those are the little things thatreally matter.
SPEAKER_02 (27:46):
Together, yes.
And we're, you know, we we're onthe list of services for a few
communities, and there's one outin Bridgewater where we do a lot
of work.
So they're they offer ourservice to their incoming uh
residents now.
And when we go out there, weknow half the boys.
I bet we were there yesterday,and it's just it's so much fun
(28:08):
to see them settled.
Yes, the the transition part iswhat's hard, and we tell them
that and once they're settledand involved and you know doing
the activities there, you cansee you can see a change in the
world.
A weights lift us.
Yes.
Annie S. (28:23):
Some of them look, I don't know, we say like they
they really do look likeyounger, they're healthier.
And I'm sure for their kids orfamily members, there's a lot of
worrying about them until theyget settled.
Yeah, exactly.
So it's there's a ripple effect.
SPEAKER_02 (28:36):
Right.
So it's fun to see that side ofit too when we get to see them
again.
Annie S. (28:41):
And yes.
Would you say that your familiesand your kids have been
supportive of this endeavor?
There's no part of them that'slike, hey, I thought you were
gonna have more time, you know,we were gonna travel, what's up
with you working all the time?
No, they've been like amazinglysupportive.
They must be so proud of youguys.
They are they are.
SPEAKER_02 (29:01):
I will say that.
Yes, they are.
They're always alwaysencouraging, they're always
wearing our shirts out.
Annie S. (29:06):
That's so cool.
I mean, what a great exampleyou're setting.
SPEAKER_02 (29:09):
And I'm sure you can put them to work too if you find
yourself again all in somedifferent warehouse to to
volunteer so far, all of them.
SPEAKER_01 (29:17):
Yes, yeah, yeah.
My daughter just bought a placeand she said her goal is it's
you know, an apartment inCranford and is to furnish
everything from the warehouse.
Yeah, and she's like, I'll takemy time and do stuff, but it's
all gonna come like from there.
That's so cool.
So it's kind of fun like to kindof create that and and see it.
And it is having, I mean, I havethree girls and then a boy, but
(29:38):
so to have the you know, thegirls kind of see like, yes, you
can stay home and you can changeyour kids and you know, you can
find something.
And you never know what's next.
Annie S. (29:46):
A hundred percent.
Never know what's next.
I think that's why it's soimportant to tell the story.
So maybe a good ending notewould be I would love to know if
you guys have advice for otherwomen who are sort of thinking
what's next, and they've stayedhome with their kids and and
they're intimidated by maybestarting this all up.
Um, what advice would you giveto people out there?
SPEAKER_02 (30:08):
I mean, just do it sounds like sounds a little
cliche, but I mean that's moreor less what we did.
I mean, it's it's very helpfulto have a partner because ideas
and feedback and I love that youdid it together.
Yes, we do we do pretty mucheverything together.
Yes, but it's we I don't Icouldn't do it alone.
It would have been much too, itwould never have grown as big as
(30:30):
it has.
Um absolutely yeah, but not tobe in not to think you can or be
intimidated by because neitherof us have business backgrounds.
No, no.
Um I was a teacher, um, and thenyou know, as she said, as Meg
said, uh volunteerism was likefor years and years and years
and organize and things likethat, but we don't have formal
(30:52):
business backgrounds.
SPEAKER_01 (30:54):
No, and I think that's part of what I don't
know, I feel like sometimesworks is like we did like I know
that we're like just doing it,but it's like okay, let's just
try it, right?
It wasn't starting small.
We weren't thinking, okay, wewant to build this huge company
or or build something.
It was kind of like let's dothis, you know.
And well, it would kind of benice to do as a little side
(31:14):
thing.
Yeah.
One thing at a time, kind oflike a side hustle.
Yeah.
Um, and so it didn't ever likestarting, it didn't seem
overwhelming because it was justkind of like, oh, this will be,
you know, kind of like a smalllittle fun thing to do.
And here you are.
Created, you know, from there.
But so yeah, I would kind of saylike she said, just even if it's
(31:36):
with a friend or doing somethingand not having it's always good
to have like visions of what youwant it to be, but sometimes
when they're too big, I wouldlike it would might have scared
me off saying like, oh, I wantto have a company that's X, Y,
and Z, you know, whatever.
But just to say, like, we'regonna do this because it's
something we enjoy to do, right?
And then just let it take itwhere it ends up taking it.
SPEAKER_02 (31:58):
Yeah, we made mistakes along the way, and we
just trial and error, really.
We just kept changing thedirection to what it is now.
Right, right, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (32:06):
Judy still has a book at home.
She hasn't read, but she got abook for Christmas from one of
the women on our team.
SPEAKER_02 (32:14):
How to say no?
Annie S. (32:16):
Oh, yes.
I think, yes, I think most of usprobably need a little bit more
of that in our lives.
SPEAKER_02 (32:21):
If they need the help, it's really hard.
Annie S. (32:24):
It's really hard, I imagine.
SPEAKER_02 (32:27):
You know, just take every little bit.
Annie S. (32:29):
We could work 24 hours if it was Judy going.
I know.
Well, that's what that's theproblem.
You see a need, right, and youwant to just do more and more
and more.
SPEAKER_02 (32:36):
Yes, and we yes, and we've grown.
We've doubled each year.
This year we're 30, we're 30 or40 percent.
This is our business busiestyear, yes.
No, I'm saying our businessbackground cover.
Oh, yes.
Um, we're we're like 30, 40percent ahead month to month.
Wow, but the every other yearwe've double, double, doubled.
(32:59):
So that's amazing.
SPEAKER_01 (33:00):
No, it's exciting.
SPEAKER_02 (33:02):
We always say we need a bigger boat every every
few months.
SPEAKER_01 (33:05):
And it's the same with the warehouse, honestly.
I feel like the minute it justhit the ground running, it's
like we've been able to dothings for people without even
getting any grants yet.
Or, you know, we've we had somedonations, you know, that for
opening night, which wasamazing.
And but that is just that's justtime, right?
We've still been able to dolittle things that yeah like
(33:28):
that we planned that we wantedto do, you know, from the
beginning.
SPEAKER_02 (33:32):
So, you know, the rest is just we know it'll fall
into place, just like you know,and the other part of it is too,
I think, because we met so manyamazing people, and there's a
lot of people out there doingincredible things that are
willing to help because we've uhI mean we've gotten help from
different organizations, youknow, for something that you
(33:52):
know we have avoid.
Like uh our biggest problemsometimes is pickup and
deliveries, and we we have acontact um that helps us now.
We have a place to take all ofour medical equipment and
supplies, and the person thatruns that is unbelievable.
Yes, and there's a lot, sothere's a lot of people out
there that we've met along theway that are willing to help us
as well.
SPEAKER_01 (34:12):
That's really then our who just done moves with us
amazing, like five years,everything, you know.
It's like he was at thewarehouse this morning, you
know, making space in ourcontainer for us, and like he'll
just, you know, it's everyone'skind of really pitched in on
this part of like the movingforward, you know, like getting
it up and running and creatingit and like it's been it all
(34:32):
hands-on.
Um, our team coming in andvolunteering when we're like,
okay, the place looks like amess right now.
Like, let's come in and peoplejust show up.
Annie S. (34:41):
It's been that's awesome.
It's been great.
Well, I feel like there's thisidea that we have here, which is
this like impact multiplierwhere you start with one thing
that you see seniors that havethis need in their lives, and
and you start there, and and nowall of a sudden you have this
nonprofit where you're helpingpeople get going in their lives.
And and then on the side, you'recreating jobs for women who need
(35:03):
to get back to something or whowant to get back to something
and want to feel that.
Um, and then the last piece ofthe impact is you're setting an
example.
And I think that's amazing, andI think it is intimidating to so
many people.
And you might not realize howspecial what you've done is, but
um I know our listeners aregonna appreciate it, and I think
(35:24):
probably be inspired to takethat chance and do something and
see the ripple effect that itcan have.
So I'm so grateful for you guyscoming on and sharing your
story.
Um it's incredibly impressive.
And I encourage everybody tosupport JM Move Managers as well
as the Moving Forward Warehouse,two amazing organizations.
Um, but thank you.
Thanks for being with us.
Thank you.
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