Joshua Coleman, the owner of Ridgefield, Washington, a franchise of JDog Junk Removal & Hauling, started his business a few months ago and operates from his home in Ridgefield. To expand his workforce, Coleman plans to partner with the Vancouver Department of Veterans Affairs campus and its occupational therapy program to hire up to 10 fellow veterans. (Facebook)
RIDGEFIELD, Wash. (Tribune News Service) — A local Coast Guard veteran wants to start a junk hauling service to help fellow veterans reduce homelessness in Clark County.
JDog Junk Removal & Hauling local franchise owner Joshua Coleman started his business a few months ago and now operates from his home in Ridgefield. He employs two of his, including his daughter and a fellow veteran who will soon leave for a full-time job in the Air Force.
To expand its workforce, Coleman plans to partner with the Vancouver Veterans Administration campus and its occupational therapy program to hire up to 10 fellow veterans.
Having a veteran-owned and operated business means there is special support and understanding for workers, Coleman said. It’s a better environment by comparison.
“If a man was suffering from PTSD, we really couldn’t help.” We understand the brotherhood and sisterhood of serving and if they are having a tough day we can help pick up the slack. ”
Part of Coleman and JDog’s mission is to reduce the homeless rate among veterans to less than 1%.
Coleman said he has partnered with Vancouver’s Lutheran Community Services to collect quality furniture from homes and deliver it to refugees arriving in the United States from war-torn areas, including Syria.
“If someone needs furniture removed, we can just hang on to that furniture and give it to a family in need, rather than turning it into junk,” he said.
Coleman’s recent career path has been unconventional. While serving in the Coast Guard, he was primarily engaged in search and rescue missions, he said. He retired in 2014 and moved to Clark County to work for several large companies.
A few months ago, Coleman signed a franchise agreement with JDog Junk Removal & Hauling, founded by Tracy and Jerry Flanagan in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. JDog is spread across his 200+ locations across the United States.
“Working at a big company felt a little soulless. I wasn’t working for a mission,” he said. “I wanted to connect with other vets and service members and get back to doing something that could help vets who are homeless, homeless or struggling.
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