Verona mother receives free roof as part of annual giveaway

A single mother in Verona received the surprise of a lifetime from a Plum heating, cooling and roofing company this month.

Lindsay Kappeler received news earlier in the year from an insurance company who told her a random inspection determined she needed her home’s roof replaced by June 2023.

Kappeler said the request weighed more on her mind as she was navigating being a single mom of two kids after her marriage ended in June. By chance, she said, came across a Facebook post about a roof giveaway.

“I decided to go for it,” she said.

Schultheis Bros. was looking for nominations for its second annual roof giveaway. The annual roof giveaway began in honor of their 75 years in business last August. The company was founded in 1946 by brothers Bill and Richard Schultheis, after they finished their service in the U.S. Navy.

Kappeler nominated herself, sending in her own personal story of the challenges she was facing to afford replacing her roof at the time. As days passed by, she said she thought someone else was chosen.

When she was getting ready to pick up her kids from her parents’ house on Aug. 26, she found out that was not the case. She opened the door to her immediate family and representatives from Schultheis Bros. yelling “surprise!” on her porch.

“It was so surreal,” she said.

The announcement was perfect timing for Kappeler, who said her roof was beginning to leak after a thunderstorm swept through a week prior. She said she was working to get the replacement done faster because of it.

“I am just super grateful to Schultheis Bros. and everyone that voted for us to have this covered,” she said.

Katie Rullo, president of Schultheis Bros., said the roof, provided by CertainTeed roofing system, should be installed by Sept. 12. She said it was a wonderful feeling to be able to give Kappeler and her family some relief.

“You forget being a roofer is not the most sought after career, and it reminds you how important it is to do,” she said. “It makes you feel good to see someone so thankful. It reminds you to keep doing good for people.”

Rullo said the company aims to continue the roof giveaway and kick it off every July.

“I was really excited we could do this again,” she said. “It has been tough times, and it is important for a company to give back.”