Paul Watrous, the owner of the Polson Cert-A-Roof branch and president of Cert-A-Roof overall, got a call for a small roof repair. Watrous started explaining his process to the homeowner's friend, and it was clear that the cost was out of reach.  

But before Watrous walked away he said, “Let me make a few phone calls.”  

Ms. Diane, the homeowner, is a senior citizen in poor health and on a fixed income. So, with this being the situation, Watrous found people to donate materials, time and labor.  

“I called a bunch of my contacts and kind of explained the story. I said, ‘Hey look, it’s something that I want to do?’” Watrous explained. “Every single person I called was receptive, not only receptive, but excited to help out.” 

The winter before heavy snowfall had filled the gutter on one side. Watrous said it wasn’t strong enough to support the ice, which caused the gutter and the fascia board—a piece of trim that is located at the roofline of the house covering the ends of the roof rafters and trusses—to fall.  

With winter approaching, Ms. Diane was anxious to get it repaired. It took two months to organize everything and finish the project.  

Daylen Dupuis at Dupuis Lumber donated the lumber needed for the project. Sam Williams at AS Built Customs hung the fascia board. Bryson Holdeman at Redline Seamless Gutters supplied the materials and labor to install a new gutter.  

Another concern for Ms. Diane was burnable fuels around her house. So Watrous jumped in on another project. He coordinated with his daughter, Autumn, Tyson Dupuis and Peter Dupuis at Precision Aerial Applicators to clean up the yard.  

Watrous operates the Polson Storehouse organization. He takes a portion of the proceeds from Cert-A-Roof and puts it into the organization to reinvest into the community. Watrous explained that a couple weeks ago they donated $2,000 to the local food pantry.  

“But another arm of what we do is to help community members,” Watrous said. “The vision of the Polson Storehouse is to bring in not only contractors, but let's say, if there's a tax accountant or a dentist, someone who understands the vision and wants to support the community too and offer their services for people in need.”  

Watrous explained he believes in generosity, and he also wanted it to be a full experience for Ms. Diane. He wanted her to feel loved, seen and not forgotten, he said.  

“She needed help and she didn't have the means to do it. It was just the right thing to do, to step in and help out,” Watrous said. 

Watrous finished the project on Oct. 3; and when he went to grab a bouquet of flowers for Ms. Diane from Alpine Designs, the owner Joslyn Shackelford decided to donate the flowers.  

“I guess they just decided that they would not charge, that they would donate, that they do things like that,” Ms. Diane said. “They help people. They are a very wonderful group of people.”      Paul Watrous’s daughter Autumn stains wood for the repair. (Paul Watrous Photo)