Meet WINGS Transportation Team

Three million pounds of donated items came through WINGS Logistics Center last year and you might be surprised to learn that only three WINGS staff moved and handled 90% of these items…often twice. Those three WINGS staff consist of WINGS Transportation Team: Michael, Luis, and Steve. Meet WINGS Transportation Team and learn more about what it’s like to be a transportation driver for the largest domestic violence agency in Illinois.

WINGS Transportation Team (From Left): Steve, Michael, and Luis.

A Typical Day?

WINGS Transportation team works across the whole agency:

• WINGS Resale picking up furniture or large donations to stock the stores,
• WINGS Development department for special events and donor pickups, and
• WINGS Programs departments for client move-ins.

“There is no one typical day,” Transportation Supervisor Michael shares with a laugh. Michael usually arrives first, opening the building, turning on the lights and even shoveling the driveway in the winter months.

“Often we will start the day by unloading a truck into our warehouse or a trailer, or emptying bins in the warehouse into a truck to be delivered to a WINGS Resale store. Yesterday for example, we had a pickup at 5 Below of great items for our stores. Those donations get unloaded, sorted, and then distributed to each of our stores. Steve has a route where he picks up donations from bins and brings them back to the Logistics Center to be sorted,” Michael explains.

While Steve does donation pickups, Michael and Luis often are paired up to do furniture pickups and deliveries.

Other duties may include picking up and delivering items for WINGS special events, or picking up remaining items after rummage sales.

Luis typically takes care of maintaining the trucks: washing them, performing oil changes, and rotating the tires. “You don’t want to pull up to someone’s nice house in a dirty truck. I take it as a sign of pride in our work and presentation to the community.”

“Every day is different. Some days are really challenging, but this is the best crew of guys I’ve ever worked with. It’s physical work and not for everyone, but honestly, I shouldn’t look forward to coming to work as much as I do. I’m putting in 110% and I know they are too,” Michael shares.

Furniture Pickups

“We have been in all types of situations picking up furniture,” Michael says.

Luis adds, “Most people are happy to see us. They really seem to appreciate all WINGS does for survivors. All the time at furniture pickups we hear, ‘Thank you for what you do.’ How many jobs do you have to get thanked in that way? It’s a warm feeling.”

Although furniture pickups are scheduled and pictures of the pieces are sent ahead of time, sometimes drivers walk into uncomfortable situations when donors request WINGS take furniture that is damaged with a rip or stain, or that they take additional items that are not in our policies to accept. Michael shares in those instances that they just reiterate, “We are a charity, not a removal service.”

There can be a lot of emotions when the transportation team arrives to donors’ homes to pick up furniture. “We are the last call sometimes, if the mom and dad are moving into a retirement home, someone is downsizing, or someone has passed away. Their furniture pieces are one of the last things they have left. Sometimes people will talk about the person who has passed. I’ve found I sometimes don’t know what to say, but to me, it’s more important to listen. It’s a tough job, but rewarding,” Michael shares.

Efficiency and Relationship Building

Brian, WINGS Senior Manager of Logistics Operations and Transportation, oversees the Transportation team and shares, “Everything these guys do is strategic. It takes planning and can sometimes be rearranged on the fly to improve efficiency. They are not driving round or waiting on standby, they have each moment planned out to what makes the most sense logistically. They are so dedicated: sometimes eating in the car on their way to a pickup, working six days a week to get the most done for the agency.”

Brian continues, “Our trucks are at our WINGS Resale stores every day and our drivers often go above and beyond to help the stores. They put a lot of thought into maximizing their day and the use of trucks to increase their efficiency.”

“I hear feedback all the time about how reliable our drivers are. They are there when we said they would be there. Over time, this reliability has cultivated trusting relationships with donors and businesses. Our drivers are the face of these interactions,” Brian adds.

Michael shares, “In the past we have had notes to treat this person special because they are a board member or influential. I find I don’t need that information, because when we show up to pick something up, we treat everyone the same: with the utmost respect…

…I’m really looking forward to when we move into a new Logistics Center in the near future. It is a much bigger location and will make it much easier to move things in and out. Other WINGS departments will benefit too, WINGS Pantry and other programs,” Michael says.

What We Find Most Rewarding

WINGS transportation team also offers a free delivery to WINGS survivors moving into one of our housing programs.

“When we move client’s furniture into their new home, that is my favorite part of the job,” Michael shares.

Luis adds, “The kids really get excited about their own furniture. It is physical work, but it is worth all of the work to see their faces and see them feel at home in their new, safe space.”

“One of my favorite WINGS memories was at a client delivery, playing football for a short bit with one of the children,” Luis shares and continues,

“I hope the organization keeps on growing. Everybody should feel safe and secure.”