Veteran Honored with Free Roof

By Alec Doniger. 

This Michigan Army veteran received a free new roof in recognition for her service and her “heart for helping.” 

Rebecca Johnson served in the U.S. Army for 20 years. Her sacrifices and kind-heartedness have always been recognized in her community. Being gifted a new roof, however, is an entirely different way to show gratitude. This simple act of kindness will have a lasting effect on Rebecca’s life for years to come.  

The winters in Dowagiac, Michigan are brutal. With temperatures regularly below freezing, Rebecca would not have been able to occupy her home this season without the help she received. Her roof was in extremely rough condition. After a season of intense Michigan rain, Rebecca’s roof finally caved in, exposing the sky above and allowing water to quickly leak into the house. Two large buckets had to be placed under the rotting area to collect the waterfall. She said that even a squirrel made it inside at one point.  

West Michigan Roofing provided the labor for this project. “She probably wouldn’t have been able to make it through this winter and live in the house if we hadn’t jumped in and got this done,” Michael Megna, owner of the contracting company, told 16 News Now WNDU. Harbor Habitat for Humanity and Owens Corning partnered to make this free roof a possibility. 

The Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project partners with other non-profits, like HFH, throughout the year to make their roof donations possible. Since its inception in 2016, Owens Corning has donated over 375 roofs to veteran families in need. Rebecca is their most recent recipient.  

Rebecca helps people in whatever way is possible for her. It was finally time for her to receive another helping hand. “I had family members and some friends who were in need when I first got out because I had a little bit of savings. I try to help everybody. If I see someone that I could help, I would help them,” Rebecca said to WNDU.  

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About Alec  

Alec is a reporter for RoofersCoffeeShop, MetalCoffeeShop and AskARoofer. When he isn’t investigating the state of the roofing industry, you might find him playing drums with his bands in Denver.