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The clutter has to go! Hauling, junk-removal services see increased demand during COVID
Written by LINDA HARKCOM For the past year, Americans have been cooped up in their homes with more time on their hands than ever before. As they finally have time to clear out basements, closets, attics and garages, they’ve realized that the clutter has to go. The result has been an increased need for junk removal. Thankfully, there are several local businesses and organizations that can help by hauling away unwanted items and trash. “Most people do not have the time, vehicle capacity, and often the muscle, to remove large, heavy items from their homes,” said Kris Detrow, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Washington County.“Due to the fact that people are home more, they are taking the time to make major changes to their homes, resulting in a huge need to remove the debris that comes along with all those improvements.” Junk-removal services are an important service for community members. “Many elderly and disabled people are unable to manage these things for themselves,” Detrow said.
JDog Junk Removal & Hauling Hagerstown recently opened to help with the increased need within the community. The company is owned and operated by Aaron and Amber Mowery of Hagerstown, and is a franchise that is nationally known for its military work ethic and employment of veterans. “We met the marketing team, everyone at headquarters and the owners, Jerry and Tracy (Flanagan), and we fell in love with them and their mission,”Aaron Mowery said. “Their goal is to get the veteran unemployment to under 1%, to be by veterans, for veterans.” Aaron Mowery is a veteran of the U.S. Army. During his service, he was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado and had a combat tour in Iraq. “We have two veterans employed with us currently – one Air Force veteran and one Army veteran,” Mowery said.“I personally enjoy having veterans on the team, as it brings back the sense of camaraderie and brotherhood that we had while we were in the military. We've been told multiple times that they enjoy the conversation and the camaraderie that they have again while being on the truck.” Mowery said his company territory runs from Shippensburg, Pa., through Southcentral Pennsylvania, and from Hagerstown to Martinsburg and Inwood, W.Va., to Winchester Va.
