Community Unites to Gift 94-Year-Old a New Roof

Quick Smiles:

• 94-year-old Detroit woman gets a new roof thanks to community support.
• Generous contractors step up to help during the holiday season.
• GoFundMe campaign sees a surge in donations, raising $7,000.

A 94-year-old woman from Detroit, Michigan, faced an alarming situation when her damaged roof allowed rain and even squirrels to invade her bedroom. Her story sparked a wave of community support that led to her receiving a brand-new roof. Hannah Flack, the daughter of one of the woman’s neighbors, had been striving to raise funds for the roof repair since July. Despite her efforts on GoFundMe, the donations were only sufficient for a temporary fix.

“I reached out to FEMA. We missed the deadline for FEMA. I reached out to several other organizations, missed the deadline,” Flack explained. The situation was dire, as the repairman had warned, “At some point [the repairman] said that we would have to get it replaced. Because this will continue to happen and I can’t continue to throw money at it.” Fortunately, the story prompted immediate action.

Multiple contractors reached out with offers to assist, moved by the woman’s need and the spirit of the holiday season. Lucas Graves, president of Roofman, expressed his motivation: “I saw the story. She was in need. It’s Christmastime. Just doing anything we can to help.” Graves not only committed his company to start installing a new roof but also saw the GoFundMe campaign flourish, amassing $7,000.

Hannah Flack was overwhelmed with gratitude and shared, “This is awesome. I didn’t think it would get done this quickly.” She hopes this situation inspires others: “I hope this is a message for everyone to be kind. If you see someone in need, be kind. Step up. It’s not always about us.” In a world where kindness can sometimes feel like a rare commodity, this story is a cheerful reminder of the power of community and compassion.

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