Touching moment dozens of strangers came together to fix 75-year-old man's crumbling rooftop after his kind-hearted neighbor issued plea on Facebook

Touching moment dozens of strangers came together to fix 75-year-old man's crumbling rooftop after his kind-hearted neighbor issued plea on Facebook

• David Perez spotted his neighbor Richard Dubiel, 75, trying to fix his roof
• He wrote Facebook post asking strangers to help the elderly man finish it
• Message was shared 1,400 times and 40 people turned up to help for free
• Some donated water and food to volunteers, who fixed roof in four hours
• Mr Dubiel, of California, said he was left 'astounded' by strangers' efforts
• 'You see so much negativity and out here... this was positive,' he said
  

By Sophie Jane Evans For Dailymail.com

Published: 19:14 EST, 1 September 2015 | Updated: 19:33 EST, 1 September 2015

This is the touching moment dozens of strangers came together to fix a 75-year-old's crumbling roof after the elderly man's kind-hearted neighbor posted about his struggles in a Facebook post.

David Perez uploaded the public plea for help on Monday, August 24, after he spotted his frail neighbor, Richard Dubiel, attempting to mend his rooftop in Fremont, California, all by himself.

'I feel sorry for him but I have no roofing skills,' he wrote. 'I would like to see if anyone can donate their time to help him finish. It appears that he has all the materials so looking for free labor.'

Mr Perez asked volunteers to turn up at his own house at Murphy Court last Saturday morning, so they could approach Mr Dubiel together and offer to help him 'finish putting shingles' on his roof.

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Heart-warming: Dozens of strangers came together to fix 75-year-old Richard Dubiel's crumbling roof on Saturday after the pensioner's kind-hearted neighbor, David Perez, posted about his struggles on Facebook

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Finished! Mr Perez uploaded the public plea for help on Monday, August 24, after he spotted Mr Dubiel trying to mend his roof in Fremont, California, all by himself. Above, Mr Perez (second left, in a red top and glasses) is pictured posing alongside some of the volunteers and Mr Dubiel (front row, third left) on the finished roof

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Moving: Mr Perez (pictured, right, with his wife) asked volunteers to turn up at his own house at Murphy Court on Saturday morning so they could help his neighbor. Left, Mr Dubiel said he was 'astounded' by the gesture

Plea: 'I feel sorry for him but I have no roofing skills,' Mr Perez wrote in the Facebook post, which was shared by users a staggering 1,400 times. 'I would like to see if anyone can donate their time to help him finish'

His post was shared on Facebook a staggering 1,400 times. Incredibly, 40 people showed up to work on the elderly man's roof - while others donated water, donuts and pizza to volunteers.

And the gesture touched the hearts of both Mr Dubiel and people across the world.

'It restores your faith in humanity,' Mr Dubiel told KTVU. 'I’m just astounded. I couldn’t believe it when this fella knocked on my door and said he wanted to help for free. What a gesture.'

Mr Perez told ABC News that he initially believed the project would take a full day of work. But thanks to the number of people that turned up, the roof was completed in just four hours, he said.

'I think he [Mr Dubiel] was still kind of in awe or in shock since he's used to doing things by himself. He was definitely grateful and thanked everyone for all their hard work,' he added.

Footage of the project shows some of the 40 volunteers smiling and pulling faces as they start to work on the roof under a cloudy sky, armed with hammers, drills and other proper equipment. 

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Big turnout: Mr Perez said he initially believed the project would take a full day's work. But thanks to the number of people that turned up, the roof was completed in just four hours, he said. Above, some of the volunteers (as well as Mr Dubiel and Mr Perez) pose on Mr Dubiel's roof prior to their efforts to mend it

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Welcome help: Incredibly, 40 people showed up to work on the pensioner's roof - while others donated water, donuts and pizza to volunteers. Above, a volunteer helps Mr Dubiel place shingles on to his roof last Saturday

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A touching sight: 'I think he [Mr Dubiel] was still kind of in awe or in shock since he's used to doing things by himself. He was definitely grateful and thanked everyone for all their hard work,' Mr Perez said this week

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Professionals: The volunteers' vehicles took up the street last Saturday as they worked on Mr Dubiel's roof

The volunteers later posed for a picture on the finished rooftop.

Mr Dubiel said he had previously decided not to pay professionals to fix his roof because he feared they would carry out the work as quickly as possible, 'without worrying about the quality put into it'.

He added that Mr Perez and the volunteers' efforts - carried out for free - had left him speechless. 

'You see so much negativity and out here, this was positive - real positive - with no thought of return or reward, other than that of helping somebody,' said the retired systems test engineer.

Meanwhile, Mr Perez, who works as a specialist at the California State Board of Equalization and is married with two adult sons, said he was thankful by how far his Facebook post had reached.

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Hard at work: Mr Dubiel said he had previously decided not to pay professionals to fix his roof because he feared they would carry out the work as quickly as possible, 'without worrying about the quality put into it'

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Cloudy day: He added that Mr Perez and the volunteers' efforts - carried out for free - had left him speechless

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Volunteers: 'You see so much negativity and out here, this was positive - real positive - with no thought of return or reward, other than that of helping somebody,' said the retired engineer. Above, five volunteers

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Overjoyed: In this heart-warming photo, an overjoued Mr Dubiel looks up and points at his finished rooftop

'Just knowing how many times people shared it, it was very surprising how far it reached. The ones who took their time to come out and help a stranger was very nice,' he said.

'It was very uplifting to see that.' 

This week, Mr Perez's friends were taking to Facebook to praise him for his thoughtful actions.

'It takes one person, one good thought, one good deed to change the world. David, nearly 52,000 likes!!!! You've inspired the masses. I'm honored to call you "friend",' Joanne Stevens wrote.

'I'm so glad that this story and your kindness spread like it did,' Lisa Rauch Kruger added.

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Teamwork: Mr Perez, who works as a specialist at the California State Board of Equalization, said he was thankful by how far his Facebook post had reached. Above, several volunteers work on Mr Dubiel's roof

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'I feel sorry for him': Mr Perez included this photo of Mr Dubiel working alone on his roof (left) in his Facebook post. Right, the pensioner strides up the side of his roof, which was completed in just four hours by volunteers

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Thankful: 'Just knowing how many times people shared it, it was very surprising how far it reached,' Mr Perez said of his Facebook post. Above, Mr Dubiel is pictured working on his roof - which has now been fixed

Read more:

• Volunteers to help 75-year-old Fremont man finish his roof - Story | KTVU
• California Strangers Repair Elderly Man's Roof After Neighbor’s Heartwarming Facebook Plea - ABC News

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3218995/Touching-moment-dozens-strangers-come-fix-75-year-old-man-s-crumbling-rooftop-pensioner-s-neighbor-issued-plea-Facebook.html