At the heart of every community is its people. People who share stories. People who share passions. People who share support. And some of the special ones, are people who share their service.
Juan Reyes is one of those people. One might even call him a community hero, although I’m sure he'd shrug off the notion.
Meeting with Juan, he’s humble, he’s reserved, and he’s just here to help.
As an Army veteran with 22 years of service, and then a Houston Police Department veteran with 25 more years on the job, one might think his decades of service could come to a well-deserved and restful end.
But, not for special people like Juan. He’s recently set his sights on serving his community yet again, but this time, in a completely different way.
Earlier this year, Juan decided to open a Katy branch of the popular, nationwide service-based company called The Junkluggers.
While the concept is simple - hauling unwanted items from homes and businesses, the impact is anything but.
Juan realizes the calls he gets for help now are not that far off from the calls he received as an officer of the HPD.
Calls from elderly couples that need help hauling furniture away to make room for medical equipment.
Calls from grieving families that need help organizing an overwhelming house full of memories they now have to prepare to sell.
Calls from single moms needing help hauling away big items turned safety hazards for their young children’s play areas.
The calls for help are still coming in, just in different ways.
One aspect of The Junkluggers that also really appealed to Juan was that it wasn’t just a haul and dump system. It’s one that takes the time to do it right.
To help sift through items, to pull sentimental pieces, to pull reusable items, and donate and recycle as much as they can.
“It varies from job to job, but if we can achieve 100% landfill diversion, that’s our goal,” he explains.
It might also help clients part with items knowing they’re going to help others, and not end up hurting our environment.
And when asked about how his past skills on duty can relate to the skills he’s using now, he says, “I’ve always tried to empathize with people, to listen to their stories or concerns and try to help, talk to them in a way that’s encouraging, just like talking to family or friends.”
Juan has traveled and worked all around the globe, but being here in Katy, being home, is where he’s choosing to continue to make a difference.
He says our area is so diverse compared to other parts of the country, and world. That we really have something special here.
And I’d agree, because we have people like Juan here too.
If you’d like to learn more about Junkluggers - Katy’s services, please visit junkluggers.com/katy
“I’ve always tried to empathize with people, to listen to their stories or concerns and try to help, to talk to them in a way that’s encouraging, just like talking to family or friends.”