News Photo by Darby Hinkley Pictured, standing from left, are Level Up Roofing representatives Duane Hershberger, Michael Tadajewski (Level Up owner), and Casey Woytaszek, homeowners Jessica Wilding and Justin Wilding and son Logan Corwin. In front are daughter Harleigh Wilding and Amanda Rhoades, who works with Harleigh Wilding, who has non-verbal autism. Rhoades is a registered behavioral therapist with Autism of America.

ALPENA — An Alpena family is grateful beyond words to be selected as the winner of a new roof for their house from Level Up Roofing in Alpena.

“Straight tears” was the reaction Jessica Wilding said she had when she received the call from Level Up telling her she and her family had been selected to have a brand-new roof installed at no cost to them.

Level Up selected the family after the company received a host of nominations during a promotion they announced on Facebook.

“Many, many tears,” Jessica Wilding said. “It’s hard to put into words. I was extremely excited.”

Upon receiving the news, she called her husband, Justin Wilding, who could barely understand her because she was so overwhelmed with emotion.

“I called my husband at work, sobbing,” she continued. “He had to hold the phone away from his ear because he couldn’t quite understand what I was saying. I just feel extremely fortunate.”

“I had to tell her to calm down so I could understand what she was saying,” Justin Wilding said. “It took me quite a while to come to the realization that we’d actually won. I was in shock for most of the day.”

The Wildings live on 5th Avenue in Alpena with son Logan Corwin and 5-year-old daughter Harleigh.

“It means the world,” Jessica Wilding said.

“It’s a huge burden off our shoulders,” Justin Wilding added.

The Wildings said they cannot say enough about the generosity of Level Up.

“They’re beyond amazing,” Jessica Wilding said. “We’re beyond blessed that we were chosen.”

The roof replacement is valued at an estimated $8,800.

The family had been getting by, patching the roof when they had the funds, but their roof is long overdue for full replacement, the Wildings said.

“I actually worked for a local hospital for 10 years,” Jessica Wilding explained. “Our daughter was diagnosed non-verbal autistic, so I had to quit my job to stay home with her, and things have just been extremely tight and hard since then.”

“I work, and we struggle with vehicle repairs and everyday problems, and other little repairs on the house, and the roof has just been something that we just haven’t had the money for,” Justin Wilding noted.

“Again, this has just been the biggest blessing that we’ve ever received,” Jessica Wilding said. “Things like this just don’t happen to people like us.”

Level Up owner Michael Tadajewski explained why the company held the promotion.

“Basically, we’ve had a really great customer base over the last year and a half, so we just wanted to do something to give back to the community,” he said. “We had a decent amount of applicants, and it was a hard decision, but I think we found the right family to give it to.”

“Thank you so much, Level Up Roofing, from the bottom of our hearts,” Jessica Wilding said.

“We’re so grateful that they’re part of this awesome community,” Justin Wilding added.