Missouri Veteran Receives New Roof on Century-old Home

By Evelyn Witterholt, RCS Reporter. 

Springfield veteran’s beautiful blue home gets a new roof thanks to the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project. 

When Ronald Burger, a U.S. Army veteran from Springfield, Missouri, bought his home 12 years ago, he had no clue how difficult the upkeep would be. So much so, he couldn’t even move into the lovely blue home for nearly six years.  

The house was built in 1909, so it’s safe to say that its roof was in pretty rough shape. “It was uninhabitable," Ronald told the Springfield News-Leader. "I've patched here and there and did all kinds of stuff to prevent damage to the inside." Still, the century-old home needed a new roof. 

Ronald’s girlfriend Debbie Good helped him apply for Springfield’s Homeowner Emergency Loan Program (HELP) in an effort to fix his roof. The program came about from a partnership between the City of Springfield, Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri, Council of Churches of the Ozarks - Connections Handyman Service, Habitat for Humanity and Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC).  

Once his application was approved, Midwest Roofing, an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, was sent out to install Ronald’s new roof with labor free of charge and Owens Corning supplying the materials. 

Along with them came Ken Adler, area sales manager for Owens Corning and the Owens Corning Foundation. The foundation is responsible for developing the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project, which has provided over 275 roofs for veterans all over the country. Adler told Springfield News-Leader, "It was a way to repay our veterans for their service.” 

The Owens Corning Foundation works with a variety of charities, including Habitat for Humanity, to donate new roofs to people all over the U.S. They also partner with Gary Sinise Foundation for the Roof Deployment project, which brings new roofs to many veterans throughout the year. 

When asked how he feels about his new roof, Ronald told Springfield News-Leader, "I feel fortunate. I'm blessed." 

Do you know of someone in the industry who is ‘doing good deeds’ in their community? Help us catch them at it. Send news and information to info@rooferscoffeeshop.com. 

Photo credit: Nathan Papes, Springfield News-Leader