JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Fraternal Order of Police joined with local businesses Tuesday morning to donate a roof to an elderly veteran in need through the Housetops for Heroes program.
“My dad’s in his 80s, lifetime Jacksonville native,” said Anthony Douglas of his father, Navy veteran Frank Douglas.
Douglas said his father lost all of his retirement savings in recent years after he started showing signs of dementia.
“When dad’s cognitive disorder set in, he unfortunately became the victim of the scammers,” he said. “It was devastating to, you know, look him in the eye and tell him, ‘Nothing’s left, Dad.’”
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And then came the call from the insurance company— the roof on his father’s home needed to be repaired. He said the estimated cost was about $20,000.
“We didn’t know what we were going to do,” he said.
He turned to the local FOP which has just the program to help— Housetops for Heroes.
“Throughout the year, we pick two or three people that are in need, that need a roof, and they’re able to do that with the help of ABC SWupply and the Cowford dumpster company,” said Randy Reaves, who is the president of FOP Jacksonville Lodge 5-30. “They’re able to get together and get roofs on first responders or military veterans for free, no charge.”
“Everybody’s got to have [a roof] and, I don’t think anybody plans for that big financial expense,” Reaves said.
The program was started by Southern Coast Roofing.
“We are honored to actually do this program,” said Ty Karakus, who is the vice president at Southern Coast Roofing.
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For Douglas, the gratitude is overwhelming.
“It’s just been a huge blessing,” he said.
He followed his father’s footsteps in choosing a life of service, as a firefighter, and he said it means a lot to see support for his father and his family.
“We see people with these situations all the time, and we see the people come out to help them...and to be on the receiving end of it this time is it’s humbling. So these guys have big hearts,” he said.