They are the only roses that bloom in a Western New York winter and they're helping local veterans. 

They're made by a Fairport artist who casts them in copper.

Marc Gaiger is not only a talented artist but for the last couple of weeks, he has spent countless hours shaping and welding and airbrushing sheets of copper into more than 350 copper roses just in time for Valentine’s Day. 

He sells them online through his studio marcsstudio.com, Stars & Stripes, Mostly Clay, Artizanns, Bauers Boutique, and American Craftsman Gallery. He donates every dollar to the Veterans Outreach Center in Rochester.

"The support has been awesome. Not one person gets one penny out of this other than the Veterans Outreach Center. I want to sell out. That would reach a career record and I really, really want to do that," said Gaiger.

You can buy individual copper flowers for $25 or $35 and bouquets of flowers in hand-forged vases for $300-$500. Last year he donated $8,800 to the VOC.

"These are very one-of-a-kind and are very limited. They come at a price tag, however, it's well worth it. It's doing good," Gaiger said. "It's saving lives and that is what this is all about."

Gaiger’s dad was a veteran. He thinks everyone who can, should do something to help others in need in their community.

"We have housing facilities for our veterans. We also have employment training programs," said Laura Stradley, executive director of the VOC. "We have a morale center and wellness and peer support, we offer legal assistance and benefits counseling so a whole host of things to help veterans reintegrate back into the civilian community. Marc’s support over the years is appreciated. In all, he has given $15,000 to the VOC.”