Holiday roof replacement delivers comfort and relief for a veteran

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Learn how a community partnership delivered a free roof and renewed peace of mind for a veteran in need. 

For contractors, roofing is more than shingles and nails: it is protection, stability and peace of mind. In Toledo, Ohio, that protection recently came in the form of a free roof replacement for a local veteran whose home had fallen into serious disrepair. 

Floyd “Butch” Stewart, who served in the Army from 1969 to 1971, said the failing condition of his roof had weighed on him for years. Each morning at 5 a.m., he wakes up and listens to the national anthem, a routine that reflects his pride in serving his country. But above him, the roof over his East Toledo home was deteriorating. 

“It was pretty bad. I had to get a roof; there was no doubt about it. It was so close to just collapsing,” Butch said in an interview with 13 Action News WTVG. 

The cost of repairs, estimated in the tens of thousands of dollars, was out of reach for him living on a fixed income and managing a disability, and that financial burden raised fears about potentially losing his home. “Fixed income, disabled, how’s he going to fix his house? He ends up having to lose his house because he doesn’t have the money?” said Robert E. Stewart, Butch’s brother and fellow veteran. 

The situation changed when Great Lakes Home Remodeling partnered with roofing manufacturer GAF. Through GAF’s Community Matters initiative and Great Lakes Home Remodeling’s Project Homefront program, the companies provided a brand-new roof at no cost to Butch. “We found someone who really needed our product and services and it was our privilege to partner with our provider GAF through our owner Doug Farr and Great Lakes Home Remodeling to get this done for Butch,” said Anthony Brock, executive director of marketing for Great Lakes Home Remodeling. 

Because of the extent of the damage, the project took longer than a typical installation. Still, the crews completed the work ahead of the holidays. “We were able to get it done for him and I’m glad he’s happy with it,” Anthony said. 

For Butch, the finished roof brought both relief and gratitude. Joking about his resemblance to Old Saint Nick, he said, “Feels like Santa Claus got a gift this time, instead of everybody else.” 

With the repairs complete, his home is secure and the weight that once hung overhead has finally been lifted.