TOLEDO, Ohio — Thanks to a friend, Toledoan Willie Lee Howard is getting a much-needed new roof free of charge.
It took a little teamwork. Howard's friend reached out to Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity for help. That's when the non-profit connected with SMR HomePros, which offers a roof replacement program.
SMR HomePros CEO Chanelle Wright said it is part of the company's latest project to support local veterans and give back to those who have served.
"Because we understand that the cost of materials, labor, everything isn't cheap," Wright said. "Because there's people like us that want to help."
Erin McPartland, executive director at Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity, said that, while still possible, without SMR's gift it is significantly more difficult to provide free roofing.
"But it's huge for us as a program that this roofing company decided to give back to us, because that's one more roof that we'll be able to replace," McPartland said.
It is a big deal. The project would have cost Howard some $18,000.
"So that value is huge," McParland said. "You multiply that over a hundred roofs or so that we're going to replace this year, so everything counts and everything helps when it comes to giving back."
Howard said he is grateful for the opportunity to get a gift like this and the community's help means a lot to him.
"Oh, the community is what it's all about, to come to help one another, to help the ones that are a little less unfortunate," Howard said. "I'm blessed to have Habitat for Humanity to come and fix my roof for me."
Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity will be celebrating its 500th roof replacement later this year and McPartland said the hope is to be able to continue to serve others.
Meanwhile, Howard says without this gift, he does not know where he would be.
"I'd be still struggling trying to get a roof on this house," Howard said. "And if it caved in, I'd probably have to leave."
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