Paying it forward, one roof at a time

By Emma Peterson. 

How a neighbor’s kindness and a stranger’s gift saved this mother’s roof.  

To Amy Koonce, the sound of nail guns was a welcome sound. Amy is a single mom of two kids and on top of caring for medical conditions, paying for a new roof was always out of the question, even though she had known their roof needed repairs for years. She explained to Fox5, “I was worried about it, but didn't expect to ever get it done because it's a very expensive project. It was just pouring out water every time it rained, so I put a bucket under it just to catch the water.” Unfortunately for Amy, that bucket and the damage from water leaks were just the tip of the iceberg when it came to her home.  

But her luck turned around thanks to her kind neighbor and a local business, Transformation Roofing. Earlier in the year, Transformation Roofing announced a free roof giveaway in collaboration with a local radio station. This was the first giveaway they had ever done, and they were excited to support their community in a new way! They discovered Amy after her neighbor nominated her. 

Alexa Waters, Amy’s longtime neighbor and friend, heard about the contest and knew she had to enter Amy’s name into the running. She explained to Alive, “She is one of my greatest friends and literally, like, the most perfect neighbor. She deserves to have a safe and stable home that's not leaking.” When Tyler Streetman, the owner and president of Transformation Roofing heard her story, he knew they had to help. He shared, “We had a conversation with her, and we couldn't have met a more genuine, sincere person or someone who's more in need of getting this done today.” 

When Tyler’s crews got on the roof, they found more than just a few leaks — they found the roof was in dire need, having multiple leaks, rotting decking and a number of missing shingles. Altogether, the repairs would have cost Amy an estimated $10,000, but Transformation Roofing was able to do it entirely free of charge. Tyler explained, “We've had a really good year, we're blessed to have that good year, but this is where the real impact happens, being able to give back like this.” 

Photo source: Fox5