Londoners looking for a night of friendly competition and community impact will have a chance to do both at an upcoming Trivia night in London at the brewing co-op on March 6th. The event is to raise funds for Shelter Movers, a nonprofit that helps survivors of domestic violence relocate to safety, organized in partnership with Empathy Collective.
Esther Zee, one of the event organizers, says, “Domestic violence can affect anyone: women, men, children, and even pets.” “The emotional and logistical challenges of leaving an abusive situation are immense, and often, survivors struggle with how to safely move their belongings,” she added.
Zee also says, “Shelter movers help victims move out of their homes once they have secured another living arrangement.” Some move into shelters or a friend’s place, and some find one-bedroom apartments. Having that moving service available really helps them transition into a safer life.”
Lorraine Thorne, a survivor of domestic violence, says, “I have used Shelter Movers three times in the space of three years; what I really like about them is that they have a no- no-questions-asked approach. They will move the same client out repeatedly if needed because it reduces violence and enhances safety.” “It’s amazing that a trivia night is being organized in London to support this good cause. I moved from Edmonton to London, and I am quite sure people don’t talk about Shelter movers enough in this city,” she added.
The event is not just about testing knowledge; it’s about raising awareness and funds. The team has raised $1000, and they are hoping to reach $5000. “That’s me being optimistic, but anything and everything helps. Having the conversation is important, but donations are what allow the work to continue.” Zee added.
To help reach their goal, the event will feature door prizes and a silent auction with local businesses donating items for participants to bid on. “We originally planned to do a raffle, trivia, and a silent auction, but it’s kind of a triple threat. As we talked more as a group, we came up with new and better ideas,” she says. Our primary goal is facilitating conversations and educating the public while raising funds.”
Beyond fundraising, the event is also part of the team’s submission to the Ontario Project Management Competition (OPMC), where they compete against other initiatives. “The OPMC wants projects that support sustainability goals, and we connected Shelter Mover’s mission to the goal of reducing violence by providing funding and spreading awareness. We’re actively working towards that goal,” Zoe emphasized.
This event is especially timely as Shelter Movers is expanding into South Western Ontario, and increased funding will help them support more survivors in the region.
The trivia night is open to attendees aged 19 and older. Those who cannot attend but still want to support the cause can donate directly through Shelter Mover’s website or via Empathy Collective to have their donation tracked as part of the event’s fundraising.
Zoe says, “We’re excited to keep it going, and we hope people come out, have fun, and support a great cause.”
