I cannot imagine there is a more deserving entrant than my boyfriend, Dustin.

 

This is a man for whom you can pick almost any moment in time and find hurt and strife in excess of what a single person should have to endure. While we’ve only been together for about a year now, I’ll begin a handful of years before that with a sort of rapid-fire list of events that he can provide more details about if he feels up to it. He was laid off from his job without compensation, his best friend of nearly 20 years (his cat) died, his marriage ended and he relinquished primary custody of his son, his dog died, his Dad was diagnosed with stave IV cancer, 2 days before his flight to go see his dad the borders were locked down, he was put on disability with some still undiagnosed brain condition, his dad died (he never ended up seeing him before he passed), and he came out the other side of all of this by the strength of a motto “well it’s not like I can be any more sad anyways right?” which absolutely breaks my heart. There’s even more than I’ve written about here, he has the kind of backstory that a movie wouldn’t make up for a character because it's too much to believe.

He'll be the first to tell you that all of that is just stuff that happens to everyone, and when you hear him tell it, it’s hard to disagree. But what truly makes him deserving is his insistence on helping the people around him, regardless of what he’s dealing with. On any given day you can find him advising a friend on interview tips, re-writing resumes for people, teaching friends or strangers online how to play a game, showing his son some cool new science experiment. He also streams sometimes and is incredibly calm and supportive of people and the things they’re doing/playing, heck in video games he always picks “Support” characters to help others have the fun they’re seeking.

He’s only managed to stay ahead of his finances during all the struggle by never buying himself anything, he wears clothes from well over a decade ago because “they’re still good, why would I buy new ones just to have new ones?”. This man has spent his entire life buying used, taking hand-me-downs, never taking vacations, and living as frugally for himself as he can so he has the resources to help or support others instead. He’ll be embarrassed that I shared this but when I moved in his main furniture was a pair of couches that was passed onto him 15 years ago, and even that friend had gotten it from a friend over 15 years before that. When it came to getting a new one, he said “maybe there’s someone on Kijiji that could use the money instead of some Retail store” so you’d better believe he bought a couple used ones from someone instead.

Even this nomination; I’m completing it because the last thing he’d ever do is ask for some help or some sort of handout. His roof is non-existent, it’s beyond curling shingles, in fact they look like melted crumbled piles of tar and grit instead of any actual roof material. Every time it rains or the snow melts you can see water pouring over the sides of his house because the shingles don’t even reach the eavestroughs they’re so degraded. I’ve confirmed with those who’ve known him longer that this house needed a new roof when he first purchased it almost a decade ago. I think this is the perfect opportunity for someone to finally treat Dustin to something that he deserves, and he’d be hard pressed to turn it down because of how much of a necessity it is.

And finally, I’ll comment that the “Dustin experience” is universal. Everyone from his life that I’ve met so far speaks highly of his kindness and consideration, they quite plainly love this man. I’m positive that you could even contact his ex-wife and almost any ex-employee or co-worker he’s had and they would only say kind, positive and warm things about their time with him.

Please choose Dustin for a new roof, by all accounts he deserves a win.

Steve Plamondon is my partner’s ex-husband.

Christine and Steve had two children together (Emily who is 13 and Lizzy who is 8). Steve remarried and now has two more children (Jacqui is 6 and Bruce is 5) with his wife Amanda.

We have an interesting family because I am divorced with one child and Christine and I had a child together 3 years ago. We all get along very well. We go camping together…yes, I go camping with my partner’s ex-husband and his family! Haha! To my kids, Steve is “Uncle Steve” and to his kids, I am “Uncle Corbin”.

Steve is a fantastic guy who has been through a lot in the past 3 or 4 years. His dad passed away while he was in the middle of a divorce, his landscaping business went under, and over the past few years he has been off on long-term disability. The doctors have spent a long time trying to figure out what was wrong with Steve…not cancer, not colitis, not heart disease, etc. They determined that he has a disease called Ankylosing spondylitis which is an inflammatory disease that, over time, can cause some of the bones in the spine to fuse. Steve’s dad had this and the doctors never thought he could have got it. Fact: this is the same disease that Mick Mars from Motley Crüe has!

Steve has a good prognosis and, with proper treatment, should be able to live a happy life (albeit not without its challenges). Steve, of course, has kept a positive outlook on things despite the adversity he has been up against. His wife is a nurse, so with Steve being off work and Amanda having to had work the frontline during the epidemic , the past few years have been difficult for them financially. A lot of jobs around Steve’s house have been put off because they cannot afford to fix the issues and Steve is unable to fix things. They need new windows, a new door, new siding and DEFINITELY a new roof….not only on their garage but also their house. Being chosen to win a roof would be a huge deal for them.

Steve is like a brother to me. It’s weird, but it’s true. He is a great guy and even more important, a great dad to his four kids. Him and Amanda both deserves a break, which is why I’m nominating them for the Ardent Home 2022 Roof Giveaway. Thanks for considering them!

I am nominating myself as no one that knows me has mentioned the contest and I cannot bring myself to ask someone to do it for me.

I am 64 years old and have been alone most of my life.

 

I raised two children as a single parent on a single income with hopes of getting ahead once they matured. I then had my oldest diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and after two round of chemo we were sent out of province for a stem cell transplant. This was not covered by any plans, nor was the medication he required so I refinanced and charged my credit cards to the max to keep him alive. I was back at work paying it off and then was involved in a situation where I have become disabled in my dominant hand and as a result was forced on disability. I received the papers today as to what my pension will be next year and it will be below my CPP disability amount.

 

I have no idea as to how I am going to keep my home and replace the shingles which need replacement. I have no parents or family to depend on. My parents both passed away while I was in my 30. If I had new shingles I would be able to retire in my home without the worry of having to sell because I cannot afford a new roof.

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Winning this contest would change my life. I understand we all have a story and would like to thank Ardent Roof for allowing us to enter and best of luck to all entries.

My mom and dad have had a rough few years. My dad has had multiple heart attacks, diabetes and back issues to the point where he is unable to work… but the government will not approve him for disability.

 

After he was let go, my Mom was laid off from her job of 26 years and financially they are struggling. I know I’m biased but my mother is a saint, the most loving and caring women you will ever meet. She would do anything for anyone… at work a homeless man came in asking for help no shoes, no shirt, hadn’t showered in months. She let him have a shower at her work, then rushed home and grabbed my dads shoes, and an outfit. This is just one story of how selfless my mother is, the list goes on.

 

At this point anything helps, there roof is so bad I think it’s creating leaks (I don’t know if that’s possible) but with all the wet marks on the ceiling I wouldn’t be surprised. This would mean the world to us daughters to be able to help them anyways we can. They are grandparents to 7 grand children.. each of those grand children have lived under that rough due to struggles all of us have faced. If it was for my parents.

 

We all wouldn’t have our own homes now and amazing families. She would never ask for anything in return.. but if we could do something to ease some stress I will try over and over again.

Hi! I am a single mom of a teenager and a preteen. My ex-husband is not really around to help or want to help with any anything around our house. We have lived in this house for 15 years.

 

I have been paying for everything on my own for the last 4 and 1/2 years that we've been separated. Our roof is really getting rough. We live in a really cute neighborhood Beverly Heights in Edmonton and our house is just a tiny house but it could really really really use a new roof.

 

I just can't afford it with living on one income. Three people, three cats and an axolotl. I could really truly use the help with a new roof. We don't even have insulation in our roof, so it would be nice to have new shingles at least keep any leaks out, it's an older house. 1950s and it's only about 800 ft².

 

Thank you so much for the opportunity.