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April 24, 2025

In Grand Junction, Colorado, Vince and Trish Cope are transforming lives through their work with Barkley’s Hope, a program they founded, and Mutual Aid Partners, which sponsors it. Operating at the HomewardBound/United Way Unhoused Resource Center at 261 Ute Avenue, their focus on pet care, mutual aid distributions, and breaking down barriers for the unhoused has earned them a spotlight in the “Community Heroes” series on Ashesonair.org.

A Journey of Recovery and Purpose

Vince Cope’s path to community service is deeply personal, rooted in his 20-year sobriety journey, which he’ll celebrate on August 26, 2025. “Widget was a gift, she was with me when I quit drinking and the only good thing I had in my life at the time,” Vince shared, reflecting on the dog who became his lifeline during his struggles with alcoholism. After burning bridges and experiencing homelessness in Grand Junction, Vince made a promise to Widget: if he improved her life, his would follow. This principle inspired him to found Barkley’s Hope in 2018 after Widget’s passing, alongside his wife, Trish, turning personal pain into a mission to support the unhoused and their pets.

Breaking Barriers Through Pet Care

Barkley’s Hope, a small operation run primarily by Vince and Trish, tackles a critical barrier for the unhoused: access to food and shelter for those with pets. “If you have an animal and you’re homeless, you can’t get into the soup kitchen line, and you can’t get into the shelter,” Vince explained. Since 2019, Barkley’s Hope has vaccinated over 1,000 dogs and cats, offering free vaccinations every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Resource Center, along with vouchers for discounted rabies shots. Their website, https://barkleyshope.org, provides additional resources, including spay and neuter services, financial assistance for extensive pet care needs, and information on PARVO treatment, reactive dog training, and Mesa County’s Spay & Neuter Voucher Program. Sponsored by Mutual Aid Partners, these efforts enable pet owners to access shelters and services without abandoning their companions. In January 2025, Barkley’s Hope expanded to provide pet boarding for individuals entering addiction treatment, partnering with Peer 180 and Roice-Hurst Humane Society to extend emergency fostering from 30 to 90 days. “It’s too soon to say what the impact will be, but we’ve had interest and started placing people’s pets in foster,” Vince noted.

A Hub of Community Support

Every Tuesday, Vince and Trish join about 30 volunteers from Mutual Aid Partners to transform the Resource Center into a “farmers market” of free services, distributing fresh produce, frozen meats, voter registration, health referrals, and more. Led by Stephania Vasconez and Kristin Seidel, volunteers set up tables at 8 a.m., unloading pallets from Foodbank of the Rockies and HomewardBound trucks by hand. “Trish and I show up about 9:45 and start vaccinating animals between 10 and noon as this grand parade of organized chaos plays out around us,” Vince said, praising the volunteers’ efficiency. Mutual Aid Partners has assisted over 25,000 families, fostering a community where recipients often become volunteers. “When somebody who came to get a box of food steps up and becomes a volunteer—that’s the most rewarding part,” Vince added.

Overcoming Challenges with Simplicity

Running Barkley’s Hope and supporting Mutual Aid Partners relies heavily on volunteers and donations. Vince emphasized the importance of “staying small” to manage demands: “We aren’t vets, we are just two retired people who want to do something consistent with our values.” Starting with $250 in 2018, Barkley’s Hope now maintains a PayPal account to cover six months of vaccinations and supplies, operating under Mutual Aid Partners’ 501(c)(3) status. Partnerships with Mesa County Animal Services, Roice-Hurst Humane Society, and Peer 180 are crucial, enabling initiatives like pet fostering for recovery. The Resource Center’s phased closure by June 30, 2025, poses a challenge, but Vince remains optimistic: “We’ve managed under challenging conditions… Trish and I are in for the long haul no matter where we end up.”

Transforming Lives Through Service

Vince’s work has profoundly impacted those who feel overlooked. He shared the story of “Darren” (a pseudonym), a man in his early 60s struggling with alcoholism when Vince met him. After introducing Darren to Mutual Aid Partners, Vince watched him transform: “He started helping behind the line… I got the honor of officiating at his wedding, and he has a great family now.” Sober for three years, Darren now runs a bike repair clinic at the Resource Center, embodying the idea that “transformed people transform people,” as Angie B at Peer 180 says. Barkley’s Hope also addressed community health crises, like a Parvo virus outbreak, by implementing protocols to protect pets and ensure service access for owners.

A Future of Continued Impact

Vince and Trish aim to expand Barkley’s Hope by adding another veterinarian to their team, continuing to work with Mutual Aid Partners wherever they relocate. Their vision is simple: keep doing what works, staying small and consistent while fostering collaboration. “If one has the means, one has the responsibility,” Vince said, driven by his sobriety, faith, and marriage to Trish—a “bubbly little force of nature.” His mantra, “I have no idea what someone is going through… So don’t be a jerk,” keeps him grounded in empathy.

How You Can Support

Barkley’s Hope relies on donations to sustain vaccinations, supplies, and services like spay and neuter programs, which can be supported through https://barkleyshope.org. The website also offers resources like a Barkley’s Hope Resource Sheet PDF for financial assistance, an MCAS Animal Abuse Incident Report form for reporting issues like illegal breeding, and guides on PARVO and reactive dog training. Contributions can be made via PayPal (contact Vince for details) or through the website, operating under Mutual Aid Partners’ 501(c)(3). Mutual Aid Partners seeks volunteers and donations for weekly distributions. To get involved, visit the Tuesday clinics from 10 a.m. to noon at 261 Ute Avenue or contact Vince at the Resource Center. “Come down and see what we are all about and maybe where you can fit in,” Vince invited.

Call to Action: Nominate Your Community Hero

Vince and Trish Cope’s work with Barkley’s Hope and Mutual Aid Partners showcases the power of compassion in Grand Junction. Their story is a call to recognize other unsung heroes. Know someone making an impact? Nominate them for our “Community Heroes” series via the Contact Us page on Ashesonair.org. Share their story, and let’s shine a light on those making a difference—because with heroes like Vince and Trish, there’s so much more good to uncover!

Additional Sources:

• Barkley’s Hope Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/WidgetWorksGJ/
• Barkley’s Hope Website: https://barkleyshope.org
• Unitedway/Homeward Bound Resource Center: https://unitedwaymesacounty.org/resource-center/ ; https://homewardboundgv.org/resource-center
• Mutual Aid Partners I Mesa County: https://www.mutualaidpartners.org
• Mutual Aid Partners Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MutualAidPartners