In a holiday season unlike any other due to the pandemic, roofing contractors brought some cheer to their communities with donations and gifts of free roofs.

Roofing contractors don’t need an excuse to give back, as we’ve seen time and again, but the holidays were are perfect time for contractors around the country to show their appreciation to everyone from military veterans to homeowners in need of a helping hand.

Below are just a few of the roofers who made headlines by spreading good will and cheer during the holidays.

Kalkreuth Roofing & Sheet Metal Donates Gifts and Beds

Kalkreuth Roofing & Sheet Metal in Wheeling, W. Va. continued a tradition of donating gifts to local Catholic charities. The team at Kalkreuth Roofing & Sheet Metal’s Headquarters collected and donated all the gifts on Dec. 4.

The roofing contractor also supported the MD-Frederick Chapter of "Sleep in Heavenly Peace," a charity that provides bunk beds for children who otherwise wouldn't have a place to sleep. Kalkreuth Roofing not only spent a day manufacturing and setting up the bunk beds, it donated a 40-foot container to house the tools and other materials needed to build the beds.

Kalkreuth Roofing even donated a fully decorated Christmas tree to the Oglebay Institute's annual Festival of Trees, in which trees are packed up and delivered to local families in the Ohio Valley area.

"There are a lot of reasons that make us proud of our employees at KRSM, but one of the greatest qualities of our Kalkreuth team is their willingness to help their communities during times of need," said Montana Johnston, marketing associate for Kalkretuh Roofing, in a written statement. "Due to the pandemic, more people than ever needed a little extra help this year, especially during the holidays."

City Roofing and Remodeling Joins Effort to Fix Navy Vets Roof

Edd Sinnett is a Navy veteran who has lived in Longwood, Fla. for decades, according to Spectrum News 13. His neighbors adore him, so when he happened to mention he didn’t have homeowners insurance due to his roof, they stepped in to help.

They contacted the city, who in turn spoke with Rick Hyman, City Roofing and Remodeling. Hyman, upon hearing the story, offered to fix the roof for free.

“I really wasn't aware of how bad it was,” Hyman said. “It was keeping him up at night and basically bringing him to tears, and it really made me feel good knowing that when he goes to bed, he's not going to have to worry about a new roof.”

Sinnett said he is grateful he can go back to a somewhat normal life again “without a heavy cloud” over his head.

Best Choice Roofing Donates Roof to Navy Veteran

In New Market, Va., Best Choice Roofing teamed up with Owens Corning to provide a roof to George McKenzie, a U.S. Navy veteran on Dec. 23. Emory Brooks, owner of Best Choice Roofing’s Manassas branch, told the Northern Virginia Daily that the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project reached out to see if Best Choice could help McKenzie, a disabled veteran, with his roof.

“We were more than happy to help,” Brooks told the Daily. “Whenever they call, we are there to help.”

It turns out the local Habitat for Humanity was the “Secret Santa,” as McKenzie had asked them for help with his roof. They passed on the info to Habitat for Humanity International, who partners with Owens Corning.

“I didn’t expect all this to happen, but I am so thankful,” McKenzie said. “We should pay it forward because what you put out into this world comes back to you.”

Nathaniel’s Roofing & More Helps Illinois Resident

At the beginning of 2020, Diane Hawkins, a resident of East St. Louis, Ill. for 20 years, noticed her roof was leaking at several spots. Fox-affiliated KTVI said she feared she would have to move if she couldn’t fix it.

“Every time I tried to save money something else started breaking down, and I just didn’t have [the money],” Hawkins told KTVI.

That’s when help arrived in the form of Nathaniel McCloud, owner of Nathaniel’s Roofs & More. He said he often passed by Hawkins’ house, noticing the blue tarp that remained on her roof. He called ABC Supply Co. and explained how he wanted to help. In response, ABC Supply donated the supplies needed to install a new roof on Hawkins’ home.

“She’s a really great person. An advocate. Someone that’s been helping the community. Everybody knows her and everybody loves her,” McCloud said. 

Much like preparing a Christmas present, the roofing company went to her house when she was at work, installed the new roof, and put the tarp back over it so she was none the wiser. They surprised her on Christmas Eve with the reveal.

DryHome Roofing and Siding Installs Free Roof for Animal Therapy Nonprofit

Michelle Robinson is a Navy veteran and founder of Summit Dog, a nonprofit that provides animal therapy to people with special needs and disabilities in the D.C. region. To keep her mission going, DryHome Roofing and Siding selected her as the recipient of its annual Free Roof for the Holidays program.

“Michelle is helping so many people in our community heal. I am so pleased we can reduce her burden so she can focus on serving those in need. She’s a hero, and we are honored to support her with a roof,” said Steve Gotschi, president of DryHome, in a statement to InsideNoVa.

The roofing company’s program works by having people nominate members, families and nonprofits of the Northern Virginia community that are in need. DryHome then selects a winner from the nominees. To date, the company has donated 19 roofs valued at more than $175,000 back to the community through its program.