Much like getting together with the family for Thanksgiving, we’re going to avoid doom-and-gloom and politics in this article. Not because we’re ignoring the state of the world, but because it’s important to pause and recognize there is a lot of good going on despite some obvious differences in our country.

As we have in the past, we're spotlighting all the good being done by great people and companies within the roofing industry. We are thankful to these companies and others not mentioned here that go above and beyond to care for others.

With that in mind, here is a small sample of the great things the roofing industry made happen this year.

Doing What’s Right

Last October, Bachman’s Roofing in Pennsylvania donated a new roof to breast cancer survivor Teri Jensen-Sellers of Pottstown, Pa. The adjunct social sciences professor, wife and mother of two teenage sons, was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ in late 2020 after routine testing. She went into remission in the fall of 2021 but suffered from complications that resulted in five operations.

Learning of her story, Bachman’s Roofing replaced her 15-year-old roof free of charge. In addition to the roof, Bachman’s Roofing matched donations up to $10,000 for the PA Breast Cancer Coalition.

“Teri’s perseverance inspired all of us at Bachman’s, and we wanted to help ease a major burden for her family while also offering hope to those battling breast cancer,” said Bachman’s Roofing Chief Operating Officer Andrew Hudson.

Greenwood Industries, partnering with QXO, donated a new roof to the Family Promise Metrowest Center in Massachusetts, which serves families with children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

GAF and Skyline Roofing teamed up to supply all materials for a 5,000-square-foot project at the Intermountain Cedar City Hospital’s emergency department in Utah, ensuring it could better serve residents in need of care and bringing it closer to its 2026 completion date.

Weathering Extreme Weather

This year has been somewhat muted in terms of severe weather, though it hasn’t been a smooth ride. In Central Texas, flooding over the Fourth of July weekend resulted in the deaths of at least 132 people, including 36 children.

Roofing distributors and suppliers immediately responded. McCoy’s Building Supply instructed people to visit their local branches to receive free cleaning supplies. ABC Supply’s local branches did similar, providing cleaning products and hygiene items.

QXO donated supplies, including pallets of drinking water, while SRS Distribution aimed to raise $100,000 to provide essential resources such as food and temporary housing.

Last April, Georgia-Pacific employees rallied in Smith County, Miss., to aid local emergency services and county representatives by delivering much-needed supplies to about 150 families impacted by severe storms and tornadoes.

“Our employees helped to distribute thousands of pounds of supplies that provided comfort and reassurance to folks who have been disrupted by the storms,” said Billy Cruse, plant manager for Georgia-Pacific’s Taylorsville mills.

Atlas Roofing Corp. announced a partnership with Team Rubicon, which provides relief to disaster-stricken areas across the U.S.

“Atlas Roofing is providing crucial and multifaceted avenues of support to Team Rubicon. Whether providing financial and brand support all the way to employee volunteerism, Atlas' commitment to disaster response has a true impact,” said Danica Demming, vice president of workforce development and long-term recovery.

Even RC’s Publisher, Jill Bloom, stepped in when severe weather struck. In Gaylord, Mich., an ice storm wreaked havoc on homes, resulting in a state of emergency for 10 counties. She contacted Detroit-based Ais Construction, and the crew went to work, helping tarp roofs and patching up damage where able.

“This field is full of authentic, caring people who step up at a moment’s notice,” Bloom wrote. “It’s not just about fixing roofs or clearing trees — it’s about coming together as a community.”

The Little Things Matter

Not every donation or act is in response to bad news or crises. In Michigan, Big Rapids Roofing donated three $2,550 checks to local food banks last August. The money raised was in part thanks to suppliers giving discounts on materials.

Contractors like John McClung Roofing in North Carolina and Action Roofing Services in Florida — the latter belonging to the Peak Roofing Partners platform — donated school supplies to students in their local areas, ensuring they were equipped to learn in the coming school year.

"Every child deserves to start the school year with the tools they need to succeed, and we are proud to help make that possible for families in our community," said Bruce Bessire, chief operating officer at Peak Roofing Partners.

Supporting the Military

Each year, the roofing industry finds ways to express its gratitude to those who serve in the military. This often manifests as donations of free roofs to deserving veterans who couldn’t otherwise afford it, or companies contributing to causes supporting veterans.

ABC Supply once again fundraised for Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit that builds custom homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans. This year, the distributor raised a total of $4.7 million for the organization.

“Giving back to the community and honoring our veterans is at the heart of who we are,” said Mike Jost, president and chief operating officer at ABC Supply. “The generosity we’ve seen throughout this campaign has been truly inspiring, and we are grateful to everyone who contributed to making a real difference for our veterans.”

Polyglass USA worked alongside DH2 Building Associates, SPEC Building Materials and Brandon Roofing to provide a new roof to a Florida Gold Star family, which lost its Army Ranger son, Josh.

Whether through their own initiatives or partnering with the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project, contractors throughout the country provided roofs at no cost to veterans. Since 2016, the Roof Deployment Project has provided more than 700 roofs to military members.

The list could go on, but a few include:

• Best Choice Roofing in Kentucky donated a roof to Army veteran Beverly Stuggs.
• National Guard veteran Trever Nelson received a new roof from Priority Construction in Minnesota
• Army veteran Michael Sirochman, who served in the Korean War, received a roof from Inks Installation of Pennsylvania
• In Nevada, Mills Roofing donated a roof to Navy veteran Jason Lowry

In Colorado, Honest Roofing and Redeemed Roofing pitched in last March to help repair a leaky, aging roof for the Veterans’ Art Center in Grand Junction. However, the project was stalled after the materials were stolen. Residents pitched in, sharing tips that could help lead to recovering the stolen goods. Thankfully, an anonymous tip resulted in the return of the materials.

“The community really stepped up and supported us with this, and for that we are incredibly grateful,” the center said in a Facebook post.

If you find yourself inspired to give back, check out our video with Antis Roofing & Waterproofing on how local businesses can team up in times of crisis.