KENTWOOD, Mich. — It doesn't take much time walking around Hero's Corner to see water damage in the brand-new drop ceiling. It's in the main hall, the bathrooms, the women-only wing called Shero's Corner and the back storage area.
"We'll spend over $5,000 having a patch, only to find out that we have a flat roof that water just finds another way in, which is causing large amounts in all different areas of our building, damage to our ceiling tiles," said Hero's Corner founder Reginald Howard.
13 ON YOUR SIDE has been following the story of Hero's Corner since April 2022 when they held their first meeting inside Marge's Donut Den in Wyoming. Since then, they've rented office space in Kentwood, and more recently they moved into the former Disabled American Veterans building at the corner of 48th Street and Eastern Avenue. They took ownership of that new home in May.
"We love serving our veterans, and we love that our veterans now have a place to come to feel at home. Veterans come in on a regular schedule. Some of them have nowhere to go, and now they come in, they enjoy a snack, watch TV, play a board game. One of the most important things is they get to talk to other veterans, and they get a chance to share, and they get a chance to feel appreciated," Howard said, noting that Hero's Corner offers a substance-free environment that veterans don't often get in other places.
But this setback is significant for Hero's Corner. It's estimated that replacing the roof would cost around $80,000.
"We can't afford, by ourselves, to have our roof replaced, and we've been already told by several contractors that our roof should be replaced before the winter sets in," Howard said.
"If we don't get our roof repaired, then we may have to shut our building down. We can't afford to have the damage come in and fall on someone. Our safety is number one. The last thing we want someone to do is feel like, 'Hey, I came there to get peace and to be among other veterans, but I don't want to put my safety at risk.'"
If you want to help Hero's Corner, you can stop by their location at 4809 Eastern Avenue SE. They'll be hosting a flea market on Saturday, August 31 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They're also planning a "Raise The Roof" event specifically to raise money to fix the roof. The date for that event has not been announced yet, but you can follow the Hero's Corner Facebook page for updates.