On a chilly fall day in Pullman, Mich., a community west of Kalamazoo, people gathered at the Lee Township Fire Department to pick up free winter apparel. The clothing may not have matched the autumn temperature, but the recipients were grateful to have something warm once Michigan’s freezing winters took hold.

The coat drive was held in partnership with  Ais Construction Inc., which provided the coats at no cost. Ruben Gonzalez, owner of Ais Construction, was the driving force behind the effort.

“I host yearly coat giveaways to give back to my community and support those in need, reflecting my own experiences growing up in a low-income family and working in the fields,” said Gonzalez. “This initiative is a way for me to share the blessings I've received and to inspire others to uplift one another. I hope to create a positive impact and help others overcome their challenges.”

In a year where a presidential election, combined with international conflicts and inflation woes, are creating divisiveness and stress, roofing contractors have been doing what they do best: providing safe shelter and support for their communities.

Story after story of roofing companies expressing their gratitude through donations and labor poured in from around the country, and RC is here to celebrate those who are making a difference.

The following are just a handful of examples of roofing companies giving back and giving thanks in 2024.

Guardian Roofing, Gutters & Insulation in Washington continued its giving back efforts with its annual HALO Project.
Photo courtesy of Guardian Roofing, Gutters & Insulation.

Doing Good

A new roof provides so much for an individual or a family, like peace of mind and a dry and secure shelter. They can also be expensive, especially for those on fixed incomes, so roofing contractors aren’t shy about providing them to deserving individuals.

Ironclad Construction in South Dakota held its “Roof Over Your Head” giveaway this year, bestowing a new roof on Yankton resident Sharon Kostroun, who had spent a decade trying to have her roof fixed.

“We saw a need for it, and we thought, you know, this is something that, we can’t do it for everybody, but we can do it a couple a year, we can find a couple of candidates that really need one and get it done,” Kyle Kirschten, COO of Ironclad Construction, told KSFY.

Last May, the company donated $3,500 to Warriors Never Give Up, a nonprofit that offers hunting and fishing outings for deployed or service-connected disabled veterans.

In Oklahoma City, Apollo Construction contacted Kevin Hillhouse after seeing a story from  KFOR that the contractor he hired to fix his roof ran off with $14,000 without doing any work. Hector Martinez of Apollo Construction fixed the roof free of charge in April.

“There was something in my heart telling me I needed to do this; it was God telling me to help out,” Martinez said to KFOR.

ABC Supply Co. Inc. showed its support for veterans in 2024 with a record-breaking donation to Homes For Our Troops and signing an “Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve" agreement.
Photo courtesy of ABC Supply.

Giving Thanks to Veterans

The roofing industry has never been shy about supporting the brave individuals who serve our country in the military. Whether it’s active-duty members or veterans who need a helping hand, contractors showed up.

The Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project continued its mission of teaming up with its Platinum Preferred contractors to donate roofs to veterans free of charge. Since 2016, the program has provided more than 600 roofs to military veterans.

Among them was Curtis Roesler, a U.S. Air Force veteran from Neenah, Wis., who, in September, received a new roof thanks to Security-Luebke Roofing.

“The fact my roof was one year within its realm of warranty, the roof was starting to show major wear,” Roesler told WFRV. “It’s pretty exciting that this is getting taken care of for me, and I don’t have to think about this roof for the next 25 to 30 years.”

Other Roof Deployment Projects included:

• Derek Ingram, a U.S. Army veteran in Spruce Creek South, Fla., received a new roof thanks to Scott’s Roofing. “We are also donating the labor side, so we’re out here to make sure that we give back to the community,” said Tyler Scott, COO of Scott’s Roofing.
• U.S. Navy veteran Russell Sams had a new roof installed last July on his home in Parkersburg, W.Va., thanks to Bowser Construction LLC. “It is incredible to have somebody actually care and do something to provide a service and do a good job and care for you,” Sams told the Parkersburg News and Sentinel. “It is mind-numbing that they would take the time to help out a veteran like this.”
• Red Dog’s Roofing donated a roof to the family of U.S. Marine Corps veteran Robert Cormier, who passed away last May from cancer before its installation in July. “My husband was beyond relieved to know that this was being accomplished and the house would be more efficient and safer. Me as well,” Maureen Cormier told the Sentinel and Enterprise. “It meant so much to him; for me, it’s peace of mind knowing it’s done for the future. The house looks incredible, and I’m happy for us and my neighbors.”

Roofing contractors also support veterans outside of the program. For instance, Lt. Col. John Nolan in Fargo, N.D., received a free roof thanks to Fargo Roofing and Siding’s  Roofs for Veterans program

“I can’t tell you how grateful I am for this program. It’s unbelievable to me,” Nolan told The Valley News Live.

For its annual  HALO Project, Guardian Roofing, Gutters & Insulation in Washington provided Lakewood, Wash., residents Steven and Penney Sorensen with a new roof. Sorensen served the United States for eight years in the Air Force and as part of Air Rescue and in Vietnam.

"Every year since the program's start, we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to give back to our community in a way that is meaningful to us," said Lori Swanson, owner of Guardian Roofing, Gutters, and Insulation.

In August,  Victors Home Solutions completed an inspection of a roof belonging to Aimee and Nancy O’Brien in Southgate, Mich. They discovered it was in “perilous condition” that could damage the entire home, and the family couldn’t receive the necessary financing to make the repairs.

The O'Briens were nominated for the Victors Home Solutions Give Back Program. For every 100 roof replacements installed, Victors gives one local family a roof free of charge.

"In meeting the homeowner, I could see the pain they felt after another roofing company didn't live up to their promises," said Donte Rivera, a roof inspector. "I wanted to make them feel heard and comfortable, and hearing their story, it touched me. After trying to get the O'Briens approved for financing and seeing it wasn't possible, I did everything I could to take care of them in the way only Victors knows how to do best."

Kansas City, Mo. couple Mike and Becky Nichols struggled with financial issues on multiple fronts. This included home repair bills and medical bills as both underwent chemotherapy to battle cancer – kidney cancer in Mike’s case and pancreatic cancer with Becky.

In addition to all this, they needed a new roof. After a hailstorm swept through the area, Apex Roofing & Restoration came through the neighborhood and gave them an estimate of $16,000 for a new roof. Thanks to the Healthy Homes program, they could afford the repairs, but as they removed the roof, Apex discovered three older roofs underneath, upping the cost.

That’s when Taylor Orr, an administrative assistant with Apex, let them know the roof would be repaired free of charge.

“From tear off to rebuild, it took us, like, 48 hours, maybe 72. And that’s a fast turnaround,” said Todd Speciale, chief sales officer for Apex Roofing and Restoration. “We were super committed because we knew the extremities that this particular loving and grateful family was going through.”

He later added, “This cost us money, and the money was well spent, and it’s about serving a family in need, and that’s who we are.”

Ais Construction in Michigan held multiple winter clothing giveaways in 2024 to help residents endure the cold Michigan winters.
Photo courtesy of Ais Construction.

Supporting Roofers and Veterans

Companies supporting roofing contractors also threw their support behind helping veterans. ABC Supply Co. Inc. continued its fundraising efforts with  Homes For Our Troops , which builds custom homes for severely injured veterans. This year, it raised more than $5.2 million, blowing away its goal of $4 million.

"We are so grateful and thrilled for the overwhelming support HFOT and our nation’s veterans received in May. At ABC Supply, giving back is a fundamental part of who we are, and we are proud to celebrate our country by honoring veterans in such a remarkable way,” Mike Jost, chief operating officer at ABC Supply, said in a news release.

Beacon Building Products  held its 6th Annual Beacon of Hope contest, providing new roofs to 12 veteran-owned homes and two community buildings. The winners will be revealed on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

“We proudly stand by our veterans, honoring their service and dedication to our country, which is why it’s our privilege to go further this year by supporting more veterans and including Gold Star Families,” said Jonathan Bennett, Beacon’s chief commercial officer.

SRS Distribution is giving service members a leg up in gaining post-military careers. Last August, the company announced a partnership with the  Department of Defense’s SkillBridge Training Program . SRS will offer an Operations Management Trainee Program, a four-month, hands-on internship providing real-world experience, including managing daily warehouse operations and inventory control.

In June 2024, SRS became an approved DOD SkillBridge partner, and over 50 branch locations participated in the program.

"SkillBridge is an amazing opportunity for SRS to give back to military members and their families by providing training and a possible career path after their service is complete," said Luis Moyano, veteran program manager and recruiter at SRS Distribution.

LP Building Solutions, a manufacturer of building products, announced its partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation, donating 100% of the LP SmartSide Trim & Siding needed for the specially adapted mortgage-free homes built for wounded veterans.