‘Kindness goes a long way’: Neighbors help man win much needed new free roof
By Pete Cuddihy
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COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (KETV) — You know what they say, kindness can go a long way.
And the kindness an Iowa man has shown his community is paid back as they help him with a much-needed repair to his house.
The roof on Richard “Boss” Stokes’ house can help explain the man’s character.
It may have some discoloration and missing shingles, but it’s kept his home protected for years.
“I would say, like, it’s 10 years past due. It’s pretty old,” said his grandson Owen Belt.
Stokes’s grandson Owen, lives with him.
“He’s proud, you know. He wants to be able to do things on his own,” said Belt.
And he has—taking care of himself and the people around him.
“He lives across the street from us. He’s kind of always just taken our family under his wing,” said neighbor Carrie Lear.
While he’s helped his neighbors get by, that sometimes meant putting his own needs to the side.
“He’s talked to us about needing a new roof. And, you know, everybody in this economy right now, it’s hard to come up with extra funds for things like that,” said Lear.
To pay it back to the man who is always helping them, his neighbors nominated Stokes to win a free roof repair from White Castle Roofing.
And Wednesday night, he got a surprise visit.
“You are one of the winners for our free Roof Rescue,” said Holly Dreamer with White Castle Roofing.
Which goes to show the importance of being there for one another.
“There ain’t nothing better than friends and family,” said Richard “Boss” Stokes.
White Castle Roofing says this is the third free roof they’ve given out this year, and they say ‘Boss’s’ roof will be replaced over the course of the next week—giving back to a man who always gave back to others.
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