College H.U.N.K.S Hauling Junk and Moving Marquette poses for a photo during its opening ceremony in November of 2024. Pictured from left: Rachel Raak, LSCP Community Economic and Development Coordinator; Michelle Dukler, College HUNKS branch co-owner; Braedyn St. Aubin, College HUNKS; Max Dukler, College HUNKS branch co-owner; Jonah Diem-Heslop, College HUNKS; Lauren Rotundo, LSCP Small Business Support Specialist; and Brooke Quinn, LSCP Senior Business Development Representative. (Courtesy photo)

NEGAUNEE – College H.U.N.K.S Hauling Junk and Moving Marquette now provides an option to facilitate moving for domestic violence victims in a safe and inexpensive way, which is the franchise’s way of helping and giving back to the community.

“So this policy discounts moving for domestic violence victims to get out of their situations,” said franchise owner Max Dukler. “It is mainly for us to give back to the community, one of the things with the franchise is to make the world move and this is a way to do it… There are multiple requirements to get the help though.”

First the individual seeking the help must talk to a shelter or caseworker who will then contact College H.U.N.K.S at Safe.Moves@chhj.com, the coordinator will send a form for the caseworker to fill out. This form will need to be filled in and sent back to Safe.Moves@chhj.com. The coordinator will send the information to College H.U.N.K.S Hauling Junk and Moving Marquette. These steps are needed to help keep all individuals safe during the move, and to receive the free move or discount if it goes over $300.

“A big thing is making sure they go through the right channels to talk to us,” Dukler said.

When the coordinator has information back from the Marquette college H.U.N.K.S, they will

contact the caseworker, gain any other information needed and ensure the job is booked. The Marquette H.U.N.K.S then sends the proposed estimate to Safe.Moves@chhj.com. The coordinator works with the shelter to get the move scheduled. The coordinator verifies with the caseworker that police have been notified to be on hand and or at the location of the job. The coordinator ensures that the caseworker knows we cover either the cost (If under $300) or a limit of $300 so if there are added costs that day, we don’t have to cover them. The coordinator will document all steps in a spreadsheet to track the value of the move, the dates, the job ID’s, etc. When the job is complete, FP will send the invoice to the shelter or caseworker. The caseworker will pay the fee if it is over $300 within 30 days.

Already the Marquette college H.U.N.K.S have already helped numerous individuals and hope to help out many more.

“We have done over three so far, and we are hoping to do more to get these people out,” Dukler said. “Our goal is to help people who cannot help themselves.”

If there are questions or concerns for the moving process, they can be answered at Safe.Moves@chhj.com.

Antonio Anderson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. His email address is aanderson@miningjournal.net.