It’s a tough time in the roofing industry right now, with the pandemic still affecting how people do business and supply shortages causing job delays and headaches around the country.

But despite these hardships — or perhaps, because of them — roofing contractors are continually reaching out to help their communities through these tough times, whether it’s through donations or replacing roofs for deserving veterans and healthcare workers.

Case in point: The Roofing Contractors Association of South Florida (RCASF) recently donated $225,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Florida and $25,000 for the International Game Fish Association’s Junior Angler’s Educational Program. The RCASF is a not-for-profit trade association that endeavors to elevate the roofing industry and give back to its community.

Part of its effort to give back is its annual fishing tournament, the association’s largest annual philanthropic effort. This year’s tournament, held June 12, resulted in a donation that will help grant the wishes of 45 children with a critical illness.

"It was astonishing to see roofing contractor after roofing contractor stand up when the call came for a Make-A-Wish Signature Sponsorship donation of $5,000 to grant the wish of one child," said Senior Committee Member Erica Bergeron.

Roofing contractors have been generous with both their time and labor in the past month. The Roofing Guys in New York recently completed work on the home of its “Roof for a Reason” contest winner. The winner, Marlea Stecyk, told the company in her entry that her husband was a successful roofer who always intended on fixing their home’s roof, but died due to stage four lung cancer before the work could be completed.

“It was just such a great day,” The Roofing Guys owner Angela Flynn told ABC-affiliated WSYR-TV. “I’m so proud of our company and being able to do this for Marlea.”

In Michigan, American Metal Roofs installed of a free metal roof worth over $3,000, courtesy of Isaiah Industries, on Aug. 16. American Metal Roofs Owner and President Frank Farmer said the recipients, Darlene and Larry Case, were scammed by an unscrupulous company with a shoddy metal roof, so he and Isaiah Industries decided to rectify the situation.

“When Farmer told me how badly the Case family was victimized and scammed by their former roofing contractor, we knew they were prime candidates for the new Roofs of Love campaign,” said Todd Miler, CEO of Isaiah Industries.

Back in May, A&M Home Services in Indiana awarded Diane Guzicki, a healthcare worker, with a new roof through its Roof Giveaway. The company installed the roof on Monday and hosted a neighborhood cookout to celebrate.

“A&M Home Services decided to give back to the local community as the community has helped us build our business over the last 10 years,” Laura Anderson, marketing and public relations manager at A&M Home Services, told NBC-affiliated WDNU-TV.

Supporting Veterans

There’s been no shortage of roofing contractors giving veterans peace of mind with their homes regardless of supply issues. Earlier this month, as part of the Owens Corning National Roof Deployment Project, Tittle Brothers Construction, along with Habitat for Humanity, installed a new roof for U.S. Army veteran Carson Middlebrook in Michigan.

“It was very hard for me to compute at all. People were willing and able to help,” Middlebrook told NBC-affiliated WDIV. “With the cost of building materials and the cost of us being away from our families, just putting in hours of volunteer work and stuff like that? I mean it’s a big, big thing to see others willing to help others.”

Farrell Roofing also took part in the Roof Deployment Project, providing a new roof to U.S. Navy veteran Thomas McFarland in Florida, as did Midwest Roofing in Missouri, which donated the labor needed to install a new roof for U.S. Army veteran Ronald Burger, according to the Springfield News-Leader.

Since the start of the program in 2016, more than 275 military members around the country have received new roofs.

The repairs haven’t been limited to roofs. Bill Wade, owner of Wade Roofing & Holiday Lights, helped Korean War veteran Robert Snider in Ohio by installing new gutter guards on his home and garage at no cost. According to the News-Herald, the project, spearheaded by Honoring our Heroes, began Aug. 21 and will be completed within the week.

Beacon Building Products is holding its third annual Beacon of Hope contest to provide free roofing repairs or replacements to veterans. Open to all military veterans who received an honorable or general discharge, Beacon is accepting submissions from the public until Sept. 17. Beacon increased the number of winners from three to six, and will provide six runners-up with $2,500 each to assist with repairs.

“We want to help our nation’s veterans who have given so much to our country,” said Jamie Samide, Beacon’s vice president of marketing. “The Beacon of Hope contest is just one way that we can provide support and ensure they are protected by a reliable roof. We encourage the public to honor veterans within their communities by nominating them for an opportunity to receive a new roof.”