Founding & Evolution

The history of Rooftop of Virginia CAP began in 1965 when it was called Carroll, Grayson, Galax Economic Development Corporation.  The agency was formed as a result of the enactment of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 and was designed as a community action agency to help low income citizens of Carroll and Grayson Counties and the City of Galax.  The mission was to “ameliorate poverty in the midst of plenty by offering to everyone the opportunity for education and training, the opportunity to work and the opportunity to live in decency and dignity.”

 Articles of Incorporation was signed by members on 14^th day of May 1965.

Members signing Articles of Incorporation:

• Wilton C. Dolinger                       
• Dr. Sidney Harvey           
• Samuel E. Terry
• Mrs. Charles Hoffman
• Dyer Smythers                             
• B. J. Friend                         
• James Beck                                    
• Miss Josephine Hedrick            
• W. G. Andrews                              
• R. C. Bowie                         
• Mrs. Claire Goldstein                 
• R. S. Hager                          

In 1965, Dr. R. C. Bowie served as the first Board of Directors’ President.

The Rooftop of Virginia Realty Corporation, Articles of Incorporation was signed by members on 12^th day of December 1985.

Members signing Articles of Incorporation:

• Donald G. Young
• Junior Ray Vass
• Marie Walker
• Reverend James G. Carpenter 
• Eleanor Jo Cox
• Annie Patton

Executive Directors of Rooftop of Virginia CAP:

• Thomas Hawks                            
• Gerald Brunty                              
• Beatrice Simpson            
• Cheryl Chittum                            
• Thalia Arnold Jennings
• Robert Dirks                     
• Marie Haga
• Deborah Payne
• Christina Bedsaul
• Chris Thompson

Tom Hawks of Independence was hired as Rooftop’s first Executive Director.

 On October 7, 1969, the agency’s name was changed to Rooftop of Virginia CAP, Incorporated. 

History of Community Action

Medicare Alert Program & Senior Services

The Agency received its first federal grant of $21,332 in 1965.  Another one of the first contracts received by the agency in 1966 (for a total of $5,599 federal, $620 local) was the Medicare Alert Program.  The project was designed to alert senior citizens of their rights under the Medicare provisions of the Social Security Act.  At the end of the two month period, 87% of the people contacted had enrolled for Medicare.

The senior citizens were among the first groups to be organized.  Since then, the senior citizens have become among the most active neighborhood center participants.  Rooftop contracts with the Area Agency on Aging, District Three Governmental Cooperative, to provide a meal site in Galax for the nutrition program.

Employment / Training Services

Employment/Training Services provided training and job opportunities to young people and adults who had limited job training and experience.  This program began in 1966.  Contracts with Employment/Training Services included Neighborhood Youth Corp, Operation Mainstream (a project to employ chronically unemployed men), CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act), PSE (Public Service Employment), JTPA (Job Training Partnership Act), WIA (Workforce Investment Act).  One hundred young people took part on the first project, designed to furnish income and counseling for the youth and assistance in work projects for public agencies. One example was Operation Mainstream provided jobs to men placed at Mt. Rogers State Park and with the Highway Department.  This program phased out in June 2012.

Community Clubs

In June 1966, Mt. Rogers Rural Opportunity Center was opened at Whitetop, in western Grayson County. Later, other neighborhood centers were opened in  Independence, Cana, Rugby, Mouth of Wilson, Fairview of the Fries area, and Troutdale.  At each center, a community club was organized by Rooftop staff  and concerned area residents.  The community clubs were a driving force for the area centers and for each neighborhood by being involved in the community needs.  Through outreach by center directors, they helped  Rooftop  identify and provide to the area citizens the services of agency programs and referral to other service organizations.  The Centers offered training and demonstrations in homemaking skills, craft instruction, tutoring, 4-H and Scouting, and job development.  It served as a distribution point for the Food Stamp programs in the county, provided income tax services, recreation programs, and other activities. Over the years, because of cuts in funding, Rooftop was forced to close the community centers except for the one in Galax.

Founding Of Head Start Program

In the summer of 1966, Head Start programs were conducted in Carroll and Grayson counties, at a cost of $100,100 in federal funds and $20,238 in local resources.  This program provides developmental programs for three and four-year olds and assist the family in its efforts to improve the condition and quality of family life. Head Start was discontinued in Grayson County after that year, but continued in Carroll County.  Galax City Schools operated the summer program during that time.  Then later, Rooftop began operating Head Start in all three jurisdictions with the full-year center-based and home-based programs.

Crafts Program

In December 1967, Mrs. William Berry was employed to develop a program to encourage the production and sale of crafts in the area.  After an extensive survey of the local situation and advice from a qualified consultant, it was determined that pottery, weaving and woodworking offered the best prospect as crafts developed by local people to be profitable.  A demonstration sales outlet was opened at Fancy Gap on Route 52 in Carroll County.  At the conclusion of the season, Mrs. Berry set up training classes at Oak Hill Academy in Grayson County and at Vaughn School and Coal Creek Community Center in Carroll County.  At this time, the CAA had not be able to secure additional funds for instruction materials and equipment.  With the projected increase in tourism, an extensive market for locally made crafts seemed possible.  In crafts, as in all other areas, “offering opportunities” to disadvantaged people was the only step toward giving help.  According to Bea Simpson, a long-time Executive Director at Rooftop, “Involving them in change required hours, days, even months of encouragement of bringing about achievement in small ways so that they can feel confidence enough to undertake bigger things.”  The craft program soon out grew the small store in Fancy Gap; and in 1971, the program was moved to the Rooftop building.  The project assisted participants in the production and sale of handmade crafts.  The crafts sold year round at the Galax craft center and the summer operated Grayson Highlands craft center were made by area residents.  It added a satellite shop at Grayson Highlands State Park in 1982. Because of less availability of handmade crafts, it was decided to close the Craft Shop in January 2015.

Rental Assistance

The Rental Assistance program for the City of Galax began at Rooftop in 1970; and in 2008, Rooftop, also, began operating the program for Carroll and Grayson Counties.  The Section 8 Existing Housing Assistance Program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 1937 Housing Act is intended to provide low income families with decent, safe and sanitary housing at an affordable cost.  The program is administered through a contract with the Virginia Housing Authority, and we currently maintain 330 vouchers active with the program.

Weatherization

The weatherization program started in 1976 and has provided an energy conservation program for those most in need of it but at least able to afford it.  Contracts we have/had with this program includes: LIHEAP, DOE, Emergency Home & Rehabilitation Program, Multi-Family Units, Stripper Well Pilot Program. Since its inception, Rooftop staff has weatherized at least 3,080 homes.

Virginia Water Project

Work with the Virginia Water Project began at Rooftop in 1980.  It provided area citizens assistance with water and/or wastewater-related needs.  The program was, and is, able to help the low-income, elderly and handicapped people with water and/or wastewater hook-ups, emergency repairs for pipes or pumps, hot water tanks, well cleaning and septic services. Today the program has expanded up and down the east coast and its name is Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project.  Rooftop continues to refer its clients to this excellent resource.

Energy Crisis Intervention Program

In the early 1980’s, Rooftop operated the Crisis Intervention Program to respond to the high cost of energy of the poor.  This program worked in tandem with the Weatherization program.  Today, that program is operated through the local departments of social services.

Ridesharing Program

In 1981, the Reagan Administration block granted the OEO, then, Community Services Administration, to the States.  In Virginia, the Community Services Block Grant funding was administered through the Department of Social Services.

Rooftop operated a “Ridesharing Program” in 1981 through 1983 to provide low-income workers a reliable means of getting to and from work.  A van ran from Mouth of Wilson to Vaughan-Basset Furniture in Galax.  Another van ran from Laurel Fork to Hillsville in Carroll County. 

Community Service Sentencing Program

The Community Sentencing program offered adult offenders a choice of community service in lieu of incarceration from 1993 through 2002.  Additionally, offenders were allowed to work off court costs and fines if they were unable to pay for these costs.

The Home Confinement/Community Sentencing  program was operated from 2002 through 2006.  This program worked with youth offenders assigned to the program through the local court system.  

During that same time period, the Virginia CARES program, which started as a pilot project under Total Action Against Poverty in 1978, expanded to the Twin County area. This program provided pre-release and post release services to ex-prisoners and their families to help transition them into the community. The program ended because of budget cuts.

INdoor Plumbing & REhabilitation Loan Program

The Indoor Plumbing & Rehabilitation Loan Program began in 1996.  This program provides assistance to low to moderate income owner-occupants of substandard housing where indoor plumbing does not exist or where existing water delivery or waste disposal system has failed. Also provides for the general rehabilitation of those units and accessibility improvements of relief from overcrowded conditions.  Since its inception, the program has either constructed or rehabilitated 54 homes.

North Central Project Program

North Central Project program operated from 1998 through 2002.  This program was operated in conjunction with the Community Development Block Grant that the City of Galax had with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.  The staff in the Outreach department took applications and proved eligibility for the homeowners in the project.

Dry Well Replacement Loan Program

From 2002 through 2005, the Dry Well Replacement Loan Program operated by Rooftop assisted families with drilling a well. 

Americorp Program

The Americorp program operated from 2004 through 2006.  The program served out-of-school youth and adults who received compensation for their hours of work, and the individual earned tuition to help pay for college courses.

VITA Program

Beginning in 2006, Rooftop began operating the VITA program which includes Earned Income Tax Credit. The Earned Income Tax Credit program is to provide free income tax preparation to individuals who don’t make greater than $57,000 per year. Staff tries to educate clients about the importance of obtaining all tax credits to which they are entitled.

Collaboration Grant Program

Collaboration grant program was operated from 2007 to 2008.  This program was to encourage the school systems to collaborate with the Head Start program for a single point of entry.

AL’s Pals Curriculum Grant

A grant with Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation & Collaboration Funding for Head Start was operated from 2008 to 2010.   This grant implemented the ALs PALs curriculum, which involves the social and emotional activities with hand puppets.  Today, this curriculum is still being used by the Head Start program.

Heating And Cooling Assistance

The Heating and Cooling Assistance program operated through local departments of social services works with Rooftop’s Weatherization program staff.  The Weatherization program staff installs air conditioners/fans and wood-burning stoves on an as-needed basis. 

Early Head Start

In 2010, Early Head Start was added to the Head Start program.  The Early Head Start program works with infants and toddlers from the age of 6 weeks to 3 years of age.  This program, also, works with pregnant women.  Connected with the Head Start/Early Head Start program is USDA food services. Head Start/Early Head Start not only provides for the overall well-being of children, but assists the family in its efforts to improve the condition and quality of family life. 

Early Literacy Through United Way Virginia Highlands

With a grant funded through United Way Virginia Highlands in 2013 and which continues today, Rooftop began providing early literacy services.  The message conveyed to children, parents and the community is the importance of reading early and often, with the ultimate goal of having children enter school at or above grade level.  Activities include Mother Goose reading to children in Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms, raising funds for book resources, and distributing books in the homes of “at-risk” families and to new mothers at Twin County Regional Hospital/Healthcare.

Emergency Food, Utility And Rent

Rooftop has always provided, and continues to provide, emergency services such as food, utility, and rent as well as a Christmas Toy Shop. 

2014 Mission Change

The Agency’s mission changed in 2014 to state: Rooftop of Virginia Community Action Program will educate and encourage individuals and families by providing resources and opportunities in a supportive environment with the ultimate goal of empowering them to be self-sufficient.

Past Presidents

As best as staff can identify, the following individuals have served as Presidents of Rooftop of Virginia CAP, Inc.:

• Dr. R. C. Bowie
• Lawrence Lancaster
• Roy Quesenberry
• Harold Snead
• Ross Webb
• S. J. “Red” Johnson
• Love Cox
• Donald Young
• William Mitchell, Jr.
• Dan Campbell
• Mike Maynard
• Delmer Fields
• And our current Chairperson, David Hutchins