Help Lehighton family to stop the rain Haydts enter national contest to win $75,000 for house repairs
A leaking roof that causes water damage inside a house is no laughing matter.
Unless you're the Haydt family of Lehighton.Their 80-second video, called, "Sing the Jingle" is one of 24 entries in the $100,000 Certainteed Living Spaces Homemaker Contest in which the grand prize is a new roof and vinyl siding renovation."I just happened to find the contest on Facebook one day," says Holly Haydt, who has lived with her husband, Steve, and her children, Rob, Courtney and Ana in their home in Lehighton since 2013."My husband was both the producer and the director of the video," she says. "It's his nature to be goofy and sarcastic so we decided to have fun with something that's become a pretty serious problem."The "problem" is extensive. The Haydt house is missing many roof shingles and those still in place have rotted away, which has resulted in interior water leaking and staining.The siding is also in need of replacement. Several seams have split open and there are holes on each side of the house. A black stain covers much of the exterior of the house because of a recent furnace problem.The "fun" is the singing and dancing the family does in the video. They even filmed a bird pecking at the damaged roof line."Yeah, it's a bird," says Rob Haydt."The contest rules required that if music is used in the video, it has to be original," says Steve, who manages a Men's Wearhouse store in Whitehall."I have had this silly jingle in my head since we spent our anniversary in Lancaster so I figured we could use it as an original music score."To be eligible for the contest, a home has to need extensive repairs and the Haydt house fits the criteria.The water damage has caused staining on the upstairs' ceilings and window sills. There is also evidence of damage in all the bedrooms and bathrooms.Despite their house's problems the Haydts, who formerly lived in Slatington, love their Lehighton home."We are up high on the road," says Holly. "It's very quiet and we have beautiful views of the mountains."The Haydts are a one income family now, as Holly gave up her job to stay at home with Ana, who is 1 year old."If we don't win the contest, everything will get fixed eventually," says Steve. "Right now, money is tight."The contest requires a popular vote to win.The Haydts were in 12th place, but since have slipped down to 18th.The grand prize is valued at $75,000 worth of renovations with an additional $25,000 for federal income tax purposes. The next top 10 vote getters will each be awarded $500 worth of outdoor furniture."My hopes aren't too high about winning," says Steve. "We have to rely on friends and family for votes and people I know at work."The family had fun making the video, although Steve says he was a "little embarrassed" when he saw himself dancing at the end."My silliness is why Holly married me," he says with a laugh "So that's a good thing."Steve's sense of humor can be viewed and heard in the video, especially in the in the family dance and in the lyrics to the original song that come at the end.Certainteed is guaranteedTo give us what we really needTo have a roof and sidingTo make our home invitingCertainteed is what we really need.Voting ends on June 7.Certainteed will announce the winners on June 15.Voters can cast their ballots once a day at https:/www.facebook.com/Certainteed.If the Haydt familywins, they can all take a comfortable breath knowing that the rain will be finally be where it belongs, outside and not inside their home.