New Roof Gifted to Man in Need

By Lauren White, RCS Reporter.

The 90-year-old home received a free, new roof, just in time for the holidays.

In Lowell, North Carolina, Kenny White still lives in the home where he grew up.  Shortly after he was born, his grandparents adopted him. Kenny told the Gaston Gazette, “My parents didn’t want [anything] to do with me.  When [my grandparents] got me, I had sores on top of my head from flea bites.  I took care of them when they got older until they passed away.”

Kenny, who is 33-years-old and disabled, lives off of a small income.  It’s increasingly difficult for him to care for the 90-year-old house where he resides with his two dogs, Cora and Missy.  According to the Gaston Gazette, the roof was “...made of poor patch jobs, wet and molded plywood and 40-year-old shingles.” 

Lowell Councilwoman Candy Funderburk saw Kenny’s need for a new roof and knew something needed to be done.  She reached out to Brandon Johnson, the owner of Southern Star Roofing and Construction in Charlotte, to see if he would be willing to help Kenny.  

Brandon and his team are dedicated to helping those in need and do similar jobs around Charlotte.  When they heard about Kenny, they were all in and got right to work. Ten sheets of plywood and all of the shingles were replaced.  And they didn’t charge Kenny for any of it. Cora and Missy received a gift too, Brandon donated five bags of Purina dog food for them.

Brandon felt compelled to help Kenny.  He remembers when he, his mom, and his siblings lived like Kenny.  Brandon shared, “We grew up in a little single-wide trailer…[my mother] worked three jobs, we got our Christmas from the Salvation Army and grew up eating ketchup sandwiches...Monetary items and money doesn’t make a person.  It’s just part of our story; I’m glad I grew up the way I did because you appreciate what you have later on, and it keeps you grounded.”

Kenny expressed his gratitude, saying, “It makes me feel really good.  It makes me feel blessed. I don’t know how I would’ve got it done without them...It’s hard to make ends meet.”  Brandon’s empathy and kindness made a huge difference in Kenny’s life, and in Missy and Cora’s too.  

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.