BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal Don Bruce, owner of 1-800-Got-Junk? in Carson City, walks to speak with Esther Humphrey after his company removed tree branches and other junk from the woman's home on Friday afternoon. The company is providing free service to senior citizens during Carson Pride Week.
Carson City Pride Week began Friday, at Esther Humphrey's house.
The 95-year-old Carson City resident who calls herself "a senior senior" is one of many locals choosing the annual event to spruce up her place, and she was the first of several to do it with the help of 1-800-GOT-JUNK, a business that is plying its trade for free during the 10-day event for disabled and elderly people.
Ordinarily, the company loads up any manner of junk and hauls it away for a fee based on volume, but the spirit of cleaning up is just something to which the company simply must contribute.
"It's a great event," said company official Don Bruce.
Bruce heard about Pride Week last year and realized only those who could haul junk to the city dump or drag garbage bags out to the curb could participate.
"I thought we could reach the elderly and the disabled who were disenfranchised," Bruce said.
This year, the company is participating in Reno's annual cleanup week as well as Carson City's.
The service is being done by appointment only and all the spots for confirmed appointments are already booked up, but Bruce said he's keeping a waiting list of homes, and trucks are swinging by them when they find themselves in the area, "as long as we have room in the truck," he said.
To get on the wait list call 887-8898, or for information on the company, visit their Web site at ww.1800GOTJUNK.com.
Also during the 16th annual city cleanup, groups from schools, clubs and volunteer groups are adopting parts of the city block by block, where they converge with garbage bags in hand to scoop up litter.
The landfill will also be open for free today, Sunday and next weekend for Pride Week. City workers will be picking up hazardous waste by appointment all week. Bagged trash will also be picked up at curbside from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Pick-N-Pull is also getting in on the cleanup, offering free removal of junk cars, as long as the VIN number is visible and the owner signs a release.
Carson City Pride Week ends May 1.
n Contact reporter Cory McConnell at cmcconnell@ nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.