Pittsburgh, PA – September 24, 2016 – MyWay Mobile Storage is pleased to have assisted Operation Troop Appreciation (OTA) in their move to a much-needed larger storage facility. OTA has been serving service men and women for 12 years their operations expanded so much that they outgrew their space at the Century III Mall in West Mifflin after two moves inside the mall. MyWay Mobile Storage worked with OTA to move them into their new 13,000 SF space in the South Hills Industrial Park, West Mifflin, which just happens to be where MyWay’s storage warehouse is located. The new location triples OTA’s operating space.
Monica “Mo” Orluk, OTA president and COO commented, “In our first 12 years of history, we have directed at least 98 cents of every dollar to our troop and veteran programs. We are incredibly thankful to Tony Sylvester for leasing us this new space in the South Hills Industrial Park on Route 885 at a very affordable rate, so we can continue to be excellent stewards of the financial gifts of our donors.”
According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, young male veterans ages 18 through 24 who served after 9/11 have an unemployment rate of 29% compared with less than 18% for non-veterans. The estimated 1.4 million veterans in poverty have the highest chance of experiencing homelessness of any group.
“OTA continues to grow thanks to the contributions and encouragement of our many supporters,” Orluk said. “Expanding our space will allow us to expand our “Welcome Home Program” to support more area veterans, and it gives us additional room to house our inventory, and pack and ship “Wish List” items and care packages to our deployed troops.”
Jim Nickelson, manager, Operations & Logistics for Operation Troop Appreciation, arranging items on a MyWay Mobile Storage truck during OTA’s move.
“Operation Troop Appreciation is a great organization and the work they do is so important to our military service men and women whether they are deployed or have returned home” said Ed Sickmund, MyWay Market Owner. He continued, “MyWay is honored to help them do what they do. We moved them into their space at the mall so it’s only fitting that we moved them when they outgrew that space. It wouldn’t have gone nearly as smoothly, though, if not for the efforts of Jim Nickelson who managed the move on OTA’s end. I was very impressed with him.”
Jim Nickelson served as a Sergeant with the US Army. He deployed to Iraq in 2007, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and sustained injuries in combat that resulted in the loss of his left leg, below the knee. During his deployment, recovery, and transition to civilian life, Operation Troop Appreciation (OTA) provided support and assistance. Now living in West Mifflin, Jim continues to serve our troops overseas and our veterans at home, as volunteer manager of Operations & Logistics for OTA.
Jim worked tirelessly, up to 12 hours a day in the weeks leading up to the move, assembling teams of volunteers, breaking down shelving, packing inventory and preparing their new space. He coordinated all activities with My Way Moving & Storage and created a move plan that was executed with military precision. Since the move on September 9th, Jim continues to manage post-move activities and construction of shelving and set-up of inventory so OTA doesn’t miss a step getting back to the business of serving our brave heroes.
About Operation Troop Appreciation:
Operation Troop Appreciation (OTA) is a Pittsburgh-based 501 c 3 non-profit whose mission is “To build and sustain the morale and well-being of the military community, past and present, with the assurance that the American public supports and appreciates their selfless service and daily sacrifices.” OTA is a 100% volunteer charity that has granted wishes to over 160,000 deployed troop members since July of 2004 and to thousands of local veterans in need since launching their “Welcome Home” program in 2014.
The “Welcome Home” program fills a gap in support our veteran community receives today, by helping to prevent homelessness and provide a “hand-up” for veterans experiencing poverty today. Working with the VA Healthcare for Homeless Veterans program and the Veterans Leadership Program, “Welcome Home” provides support for veterans in need by helping to defray the costs associated with establishing a new home.
OTA extends the tradition of house-warming gifts by providing gifts that help veterans and their families establish residence. Moving into a new home can be stressful and costly. A critical component of veterans’ full recovery and transition into civilian life is that they be healthy, rested, and comfortable. To that end, OTA provides these families with a good bed and mattress, and essential household items to give them the best possible environment in which to live.
About MyWay Mobile Storage:
MyWay Mobile Storage is the leading provider of moving and storage solutions and located in a spacious 27,500 square foot facility in the South Hills Industrial Park in West Mifflin, PA to better service their customers in the metropolitan Pittsburgh area. They provide quick and easy do it yourself moving containers that can be delivered right to your door and stored in their climate controlled, secure storage facilities. To learn more, visit https://www.mywaystorage.com or call 888-336-9929 to speak with a Moving & Storage Consultant.