Focus

For the past 13 years, NRCA has been a partner of Rebuilding Together,® a nonprofit, nonsectarian volunteer organization that rehabilitates the houses of low-income homeowners, particularly the elderly and disabled and families with children.

During that time, NRCA and its members have donated countless hours, thousands of dollars and roofing materials to help those in need. The partnership has grown to include Hanley Wood's International Roofing Expo,® which, for the past two years, has featured a Community Service Day as part of the expo's activities and enlisted local Rebuilding Together chapters to help identify homeowners in need and coordinate the rehabilitation work.

This year, the partnership expanded to a special project with Rebuilding Together, Sears Holdings and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry to rebuild a home for Edward, an ailing Vietnam veteran, and his wife, Shannon, in Green Bay, Wis. The project was part of Heroes at Home, a program Sears Holdings created in partnership with Rebuilding Together in response to an urgent need to assist military families facing hardship.

Edward suffers from various health complications, and Shannon has been diagnosed with severe health problems. The project involved replacing their home's failing roof system and making other repairs. The work performed by volunteers from Rebuilding Together Green Bay, with donations provided by the aforementioned organizations, will make it possible for Edward and Shannon to stay in their home for many years. The roofing work was performed by NRCA member Coppens Metal and Roofing, Green Bay.

Representatives and volunteers of the participating organizations welcomed Congressman and former NRCA President Reid Ribble (R-Wis.) for the project's completion June 26.

"I'm honored to be working with great organizations like Rebuilding Together to help give back to veterans like Edward who gave us so much," Ribble says. "The Heroes at Home project encapsulates the American spirit of volunteerism and community, and it's a distinct privilege to be a partner in this important effort."

NRCA's partnership with Rebuilding Together symbolizes the generosity of the industry as a whole. In all sectors, roofing professionals continue to give back to their communities. Some of their stories can be found in "The power of commitment," page 20.

Ambika Puniani Bailey is editor of Professional Roofing and NRCA's senior director of communications.