The billowing gray storm clouds floating above Dartmouth on Saturday afternon threatened to rain down inside Raul Henriques’ kitchen. But, thanks to a group of contractors who donated their time and labor, Henriques could stay dry beneath his brand new roof.

David Roach, manager of Home Depot, helped coordinate the effort to renovate Henriques’ home on Potter Street. About 10 people spent eight hours tearing off shingles, replacing rotting planks above the home's kitchen and breezeway, and adding gutters around the roof.

“Home Depot is running a ‘Celebration of Service’ campaign,” said Roach. “It runs from September to November. What we’re looking to do is volunteer projects for veterans.”

The nationwide campaign aims to improve the homes of U.S. military veterans and their families. The campaign focuses on two types of veterans: seniors who require repairs to their house so that they can remain living independently and those who are living with a disability as a result of their service. Home Depot funds the projects.

“We’ll be back at a later date to do some painting, flooring, and some cosmetic remodeling,” Roach said.

Henriques sat in a bench in his front yard leafing through newspapers as the team made repairs. Bill Dugan, owner of a local general contractor company, had asked his employees and his friends to chip in on the project.

“My father’s a Vietnam veteran. My daughter’s in the military. It’s the right thing to do,” said Dugan.

“They’re doing it out of the goodness of their heart,” said Roach. “There’s a lot of great support with this project. Bill has donated his time, his men, his labor. It’s awesome.”

Henriques, a 77-year-old army veteran, said he has had issues with rainwater coming inside his home.

“I didn’t have to take a shower. I got it naturally,” he said with a grin.

He was drafted in the Vietnam War when he was 23 years old. He stayed in America, distributing medicine to military clinics in New Jersey and Texas.

“I enjoyed it,” he said. “I can’t really complain about the army, although I became a general nuisance, but that’s besides the point.”

More than anything else, Henriques enjoyed the camaraderie among the soldiers and medics.

“They talk to you like they’ve known you for years. I like that. It made me feel comfortable,” he said.

Henriques was all smiles as the workers hoisted equipment up onto his new roof. As the crew was busy hammering away, he said he was happy that he could finally put his rain coat away.

“It’s excellent,” Henriques said of his new roof. “It makes my liver quiver.”