Local business owners Tyler and Amber Gabbard of Redemption Roofing and Exteriors recently donated nearly $1,500 worth of essential supplies to students at Mattoon Middle School (MMS).
Tyler said their family’s business was founded on a commitment to give back. “When we started this business, I asked God to keep us afloat, keep our family fed and warm, and in return, we’d use the extra to do good, whatever He showed us that to be,” he shared. “Giving back to a community that has supported us is how it should be. Sharing from personal experience, sometimes all a kid needs is for someone to care.”
Amber, along with her daughter Kira, a seventh grader at MMS, and Adalyn Young, another seventh grader, personally selected the donated items, choosing things they felt other students their age would most appreciate.
The donation included clothing, shoes, coats, personal hygiene items, recess equipment, classroom supplies, earbuds, and fidget tools.
Jana Roberts, school counselor at Mattoon Middle School, expressed deep appreciation for the contribution. “We are incredibly grateful to Redemption Roofing and Exteriors for their generous contribution,” Roberts said. “These donations will make a meaningful difference in the daily lives of our students. The recess equipment will give them more opportunities to be active, which boosts mood, decreases anxiety, and increases focus after lunch. The fidgets are a calming tool they can use during counseling visits. It’s a reminder of the impact local businesses can have when they invest in our children.”
The Gabbards hope their act of kindness encourages others to support local schools and families. For the Gabbards, business isn’t just about growth, it’s about giving back. As Tyler said, “If you can do it, you should.”