Army veteran's widow receives new roof: 'It was like winning the lottery for me'

Oct. 12—ELLENTON — When it rained, water leaked through the ceiling of nearly every room in Sandy Kerr's home.

Kerr, 78, knew she needed a new roof for her Colony Cove home, but she didn't know how she she could afford one. Her husband of 56 years, Army veteran James Kerr, died at age 77 in 2020 after several years of declining health.

It was then that her granddaughter went online and discovered the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project, a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to install roofs on the homes of military veterans nationwide. The project is a nationwide effort to show gratitude and honor the veterans who served the country and the families who support them.

Since its start in 2016, more than 275 military members have received new roofs. Because she lives in a manufactured home, there was some questions whether she might qualify for the program.

But when a representative of Red Dog's Roofing, an Owens Corning roofing contractor, inspected her house, there was no doubt.

"You need a new roof," he told her.

A Habitat official told her she had been accepted for the program.

The Owens Corning Foundation donated the roofing materials and Red Dog's Roofing, 1598 Apex Road, Sarasota, donated the labor.

"What an awesome program. Everyone was so nice. Everyone was just wonderful. It was like winning the lottery to me. It was such a blessing," said Kerr, a retired nurse. "This roof should last 25 years."

James and Sandy Kerr were originally from Lafayette, Indiana. They went to separate high schools and met while working at Danner's dime store, after James completed four years of military service.

"The day he graduated from high school, he enlisted in the Army and served in Germany during the Berlin airlift," she said.

The couple had three sons, and James started a candy-making company, eventually growing it to three stores.

"He made chocolates, and truffles. He could make some really good candy," she said.

After the couple retired, they moved to Florida and lived in Colony Cove for 20 years.

"I play cards and do things that I enjoy, but I really miss James," she said.

Manatee County Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical, volunteer-based organization with the mission to develop resources, educate and mobilize people to work alongside families in need, rehabilitating existing homes and building sustainable, affordable homes to improve the quality of life in Manatee County.

Habitat's vision is that everyone deserves a safe place to live. To learn more, visit manateehabitat.org.

For more information on the Roof Deployment Project, or to learn more about how you can get involved, visit https://www.reddogsroofing.com/.

This story was originally published October 12, 20211:17 PM.

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