Family’s Story Touches the Hearts of This Generous Roofing Company

By Dani Sheehan. 

This Dayton family received a free roof as their daughter battles a chronic illness. 

Van Martin Roofing in Dayton, Ohio started the On the House program to uphold their commitment to give back to the community. They believe that everyone should have a secure place to live, and that financial reasons should not create a barrier to safety. Recently, Cara Arnold and her family were anonymously nominated by a community member to benefit from this program. Cara’s daughter, Gracie, battles autoimmune encephalitis and mitochondrial dysfunction, putting a strain on the family’s day-to-day life for the last several years.  

Cara describes it as a “crash course in powerlessness.” “Six years ago, I put a healthy little girl to bed, and I never saw that child again,” she told media outlets. The sudden decline was heartbreaking for the family, and they continued to need to adapt to Gracie’s condition. 

When the nomination came through, Dustin Carl, an exterior consultant at Van Martin Roofing, felt the choice was easy. During an interview with Dayton 24/7 Now, he explained, “This house, Cara, and her story of Gracie really touched the hearts of us at Van Martin...we just want to relieve that stress by them not having to worry about a new roof system.”  

For Cara, it means even more than a new roof, it contributes to her daughter’s safety. Because of Gracie’s illness, her home is her sanctuary. Cara explained that Gracie “can’t control body temperature, she can’t fight infection, so for somebody to nominate us and for this roof to go on our home, is a gift to our whole family.” The Arnolds are so grateful for the kindness of their community and the team at Van Martin. “When people take their energy and their resources, and they use it to support you and your family, it truly means something.” 

Photo source: Dayton 24/7 Now