A new Fort Wayne snow removal business serving residents, military families

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A Fort Wayne snow removal company is offering free snow removal for military families this winter.  It's part of a nationwide program, called SnowCare for Troops.

One of the business' founders, Andy Kelker, is an active member of the Air Force.  He and his brother-in-law, Brian Thornton, formed Fort Wayne Snow Removal Corp. after Kelker struggled to find a job back home.

"I was looking for pretty much anything," said Kelker, who has not had a steady job since 2008.  "There was not a whole lot out there.  I've been overseas a few times, and this most recent one, I came back over to not having a job.  So I needed something."

So Thornton and Kelker went into the snow removal business. Kelker said the business targets residental areas.

"Come to find out, a lot of companies that get into commercial snow removal don't get into residential at all," he said.  "So we thought there was a market there for that."

While overseas, Kelker said several military servicemen worry about their families back home, and all the things they are required to do over winter and the holidays, including clearing the driveway.

"If you have a wife and two kids, and they don't have the time to do it," he said.  "We came up with the idea to help them out, and it's one less thing they have to worry about during the winter."

Before the first snow fall, Fort Wayne Snow Removal is urging interested military families to register for the SnowCare for Troops program by calling 260-484-7669.

"We are going to need some type of documentation," said Kelker.  "A copy of your orders, or their orders.  If they really feel like calling from overseas, they can."

Kelker said military families will get at least one free snow removal, but he hopes they will be able to do more.

The SnowCare for Troops program joins the five-year program, GreenCare for Troops, managed by Project EverGreen that has already provided free lawn and landscape services to thousands of military families.  This program now has more than 12,000 military families in its database and is supported by nearly 3,400 green industry professionals and volunteers.