OLEY – An Oley roofing company wants to provide a free roof to a Berks County homeowner – but needs help from the public to find the right person.
Mast Roofing & Construction Inc. has joined the national ‘No Roof Left Behind’ project. Mast Roofing is currently accepting nominations of Berks homeowners who need a roof, but may not have the money to pay for it. Nominations are being accepted through July 19.
Kerwin and Corrie Mast are celebrating 15 years in the roofing industry and wanted to do something to mark the milestone.
‘We don’t just work in Berks County. We grew up here, live here, shop here and raise our family here. We wanted to let the community know just how important they are to us,’ said Kerwin Mast, president of Mast Roofing. ‘Giving away a free roof seemed like a logical way to do that.’
Nominations can be made by friends and family members, or by the homeowners themselves.
‘We don’t want it to be a competition as such, but sometimes you don’t even know the needs in our communities,’ said Michelle Frymoyer, marketing manager for Mast Roofing. ‘Until someone steps up or a neighbor steps up, you may not know.’
Frymoyer said there are a few conditions for the program, however. Nominees must own the home they are living in and be a resident of Berks County. In addition, the homeowner must be current on their mortgage. She added that nominees will need to provide a picture of the nominated roof.
‘If someone has a big hole in the roof, obviously there’s a real need,’ she said.
The nominees will then be reviewed by a team of local volunteers, and four finalists will be selected. Their stories and photos will them be posted on Mast Roofing & Construction’s No Roof Left Behind home page. Between Aug. 2 and Sept. 6, the public will be able to vote for the finalist they feel should receive the roof. The winner will be revealed Sept. 9 and the installation will begin shortly after.
No Roof Left Behind was started in Michigan in 2009, to help communities organize and rally around a local family in need. It provides a local contractor the framework to provide a new roof at no cost to a deserving homeowner in need. Currently, contractors in 13 states participate in the program. Mast Roofing & Construction is the first contractor in Pennsylvania to participate.
‘We are just so excited about implementing a program like this,’ said Corrie Mast, administrative assistant at Mast Roofing & Construction. ‘A roof may not be a glamorous thing, but when you need a new one it can be a stressful problem.’
To nominate someone who deserves a roof, visit www.mastsroofing.com and click ‘nominate a family.’ Or, visit https://noroofleftbehind.com/competition/PA/Berks/2013.
Frymoyer said the national average for the cost of a roof is $7,500, but stressed that the total cost for the project will depend on the size and condition of the roof.
‘Our plan is to be in the $5,000 to $10,000 range,’ she added.
Kerwin and Corrie Mast are hoping other businesses will step forward to be part of the effort.
‘We think it’s a great way to rally the community together,’ said Kerwin Mast. ‘That’s why we’re inviting other neighborhood businesses to show support by way of donations. You don’t have to swing a hammer or even get dirty to help out. Just give us a call and we’ll find a place for you.’
Editor’s note: previously published the incorrect web address for the roofing company. We regret this error. The correct address is www.mastsroofing.com.
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