Greensburg foster mom surprised with free roof on Monday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj_t3d1A91I

(GREENSBURG, Ind.) – A longtime foster parent got a big surprise on Monday afternoon. 

Family members of 79-year-old Connie Dodd nominated her for CRF Roofing’s annual Free Roof Giveaway.

CRF Roofing owner Courtland Robertson oversees the nominations and determined Dodd was the perfect choice for the free roof.

Connie never planned on being a foster parent. It all started after a friend of hers asked her to temporarily watch their children. 

“That woman showed up at my house with three children, a truckload of toys and she was broke. She said God sent me to you. Long story short, I ended up adopting those three kids,” Connie recalled. 

Connie has fostered 14 children and several grandchildren over the past 25 years. 

She admits that it isn’t always sunshine and rainbows as the journey has brought both good and bad times. 

“It’s just terrible how children can be so abused and some of my children were put through horror before they got here,” she said. 

Those children were blessed with a welcoming and loving home when they got to Connie's.

“It’s about giving love to children and it’s not always an easy journey. I’ve been through some of my darkest times and I’ve had the joys of seeing my children grow and I wouldn't change a thing,” Dodd said. 

She's recently been struggling with the loss of her 31-year-old her daughter, Elizabeth, who passed away in March due to a medical condition. 

Dodd will soon turn 80-years-old and said if she was given the chance, she would live this life exactly the same way again. 

On Monday, she got a big surprise when a group of people showed up at her house. 

CRF Roofing was joined by Greensburg Mayor Joshua Marsh, Decatur County Economic Development Director Brian Robbins, the Greensburg Chamber of Commerce and representatives from ABC Supply. 

This is the second year that CRF Roofing has given away a free roof and Robertson said Connie was exactly who they were looking for. 

“It’s always a battle to pick the one recipient of the free roof, but it eventually feels like an angel is guiding us or something, and that it just works out that the best person that deserves this is the person selected,” Robertson said. 

Robertson added that Dodd's home on E. Central Street will have the new roof installed within the next few weeks.

Here are some more photos from the surprise: