Local roofers team up to restore Veterans Art Center roof

By Jenny Yu. 

A Grand Junction, Colorado nonprofit still needs help to complete roof restoration. 

Since 2010, Operation Revamp has helped veterans heal hidden wounds by providing art experiences to aid mental health issues and trauma-related suffering. The Grand Junction nonprofit opened its Veterans Art Center in 2013, offering the space, materials, workshops and community support for veterans to create art of various mediums, from leather projects to jewelry making and everything in between. They receive an average of 15 visitors daily and have firmly established themselves as a vital part of the community.  

After years of helping veterans heal, Operation Revamp is in need of some help, too. Constructed in 1957, the Veterans Arts Center has experienced some serious structural issues. Leaks and faults in the roof have caused internal water damage, which has led to mold, a cave-in and electrical issues.    

“It’s one thing when the ceiling tiles could fall once in a while, but a swamp cooler would do a little more damage,” Operation Revamp Founder and President Wendy Hoffman told The Daily Sentinel in October 2024. 

Wendy has since been on a mission to repair the roof, turning to Facebook and word of mouth for fundraising support.  

When Justin Shaw, owner of Honest Roofing, heard that shingles would fall onto the pavement in front of the Arts Center on windy days, he commented on one of Wendy’s Facebook posts, saying, “I think I’ve got enough materials left. I’ll come down and fix that for free.” 

Justin asked a homeowner whose home he had just finished working on if they would be willing to donate the leftover materials, and when they agreed, Justin went on to repair the mansard section of the roofing. Because of the donation, he spent just over $1,000 for the additional materials. Typically, this type of project would have cost $15,000. 

“Of all the people who deserve it, it’s definitely the veterans [who] fought for my right to even be a business owner in the first place,” Justin said. “The least I could do is help them out with a roof.” 

Still, there is more work to be done. The flat deck section of the roof, the costliest part of its restoration, needs repairing. Justin turned to another roofer, Kurtis Smith, the owner of Redeemed Roofing, for additional help with surveying the damage. The remainder of the work, with a labor discount offered by Kurtis, will cost around $38,000 total. Wendy is hoping the rest of the community can continue to chip in to meet this goal.  

Justin shared, “We’re definitely happy to help Wendy; she’s a godsend to the veterans of this community. The least we could do is help her out.” 

Original photo source: The Daily Sentinel