EL DORADO, Kan. — When Janet Brown’s aging roof became a problem, she feared losing the home she shared with her brother, who had muscular dystrophy and dementia.

“I was so scared,” Brown said. “I knew my roof wasn’t going to make it, and I was scared that he was going to have to move someplace else.”

Everything changed in 2009, when Brown became the inaugural recipient of a free roof from the Roof Giveaway. The Roof Giveaway is a program created by Rhoden Roofing in 2009 to support deserving families in need. Her story became the starting point for an initiative that has since helped 18 families across the Wichita area.

A Life-Changing Phone Call

A dozen friends and family members nominated Brown for the Roof Giveaway, inspired by her selflessness and devotion to others. Brown, who was subsidizing home health care to keep her brother at home, didn’t nominate herself. Even as she supported her brother with home health care, she continued giving back, volunteering at the Wichita Children’s Home. When she received the call notifying her that she had been selected, Brown was on her way to volunteer.

“All I could do was cry,” she said. “For the first month [after installation], every time I came home, I just got teary-eyed. And I still do.”

The new roof brought immediate relief, allowing her to focus on caring for her brother without the looming worry of a state inspection or additional damage.

Built on Friendship

Brown’s home has always represented community. Built by her then-husband and his Navy friends in 1982, the house quickly became a hub of activity for neighbors and family.

“This house was built on friendship, pure and simple,” Brown said. “It’s full of love.”

That spirit lives on every December. Brown decorates her home with a Christmas display that draws visitors from across the area. Children gather on her and her husband Wayne’s lawn to take photos with Santa, while neighbors visit to admire her Christmas tree and village.

“It’s no Christmas Vacation, but it’s peaceful out here,” she said.

A Ripple Effect of Kindness

When Rhoden Roofing’s team arrived to install her new roof, Brown couldn’t help but give back in her own way. Greeting the crew with homemade cinnamon rolls, burgers, chicken, and boxed meals, she ensured no one left her home empty-handed.

Brown turned her gratitude for the free roof into an opportunity to give back. When Rhoden Roofing’s team arrived to replace her roof, she greeted them with homemade cinnamon rolls, burgers, and boxed meals.

“There was so much food,” she said, laughing. “I had to send them off with plates. They joked they needed a siesta before starting their next job.”

This kind of mutual kindness is what makes the Roof Giveaway unique. When families aren’t worried about the roof over their heads, they have the stability they need to make a difference in their communities. Brown is gracious and kind, and helping people like her in times of need is the ultimate privilege for Rhoden Roofing.

“It’s okay to ask for help,” Brown said. “It’s 15 years later and I wouldn’t be here without that roof.”

Applications Now Open

Last year, the Roof Giveaway provided free roofs to two deserving families in the Wichita area. Applicants are encouraged to tell their stories, or the story of their nominee.

Applications for the 2024 Rhoden Roofing Roof Giveaway are open through Jan. 12, 2025. The recipient will be announced on Feb. 14, 2025. To learn more or nominate someone in need, apply here on our website or call (316) 927-2233 with any questions about the application process.