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"HANDICAPPED
RAMPS MINISTRY "
Of the Centenary United Methodist Church in
Bath
Ramp #200 built May 7th, 2008 in Corning
The RAMP Guys
of the RAMPS Plus Program
Nominated and Recognized for Pro Action's
Steuben County Volunteer of the Year - 2007
Beginning in 1998, the "RAMP Guys" have constructed 182 handicap
accessible ramps for low and moderate income individuals
experiencing mobility challenges. The labor associated with the ramp
construction is provided by a volunteer workforce of 15 to 18
retired persons. As of the end of calendar year 2006, over $43,000
has been invested in materials, derived from a variety of sources.
As changes in life circumstances occur, these ramps are recycled to
new locations, brining a cost savings of $6,000 to $8,000 per year.
It is safe to say that if individuals hired their ramp construction
on the open market, their costs would more than double. When compared
with aluminum ramps, what the "RAMP Guys" build for $500 would
escalate to $5,000 to $6,000 for an equivalent sized ramp. The
volunteer workforce is to be commended for their outstanding
accomplishment in meeting a critical community need.
Nominated by
David Hill, Executive Director
What
started out as a way to fulfill a desire of the Couples Club of C.U.M.C. to
help others less fortunate, in a way that did not involve raising money, has
changed a great deal since our first experience in October '98. What we
thought might be a one time chance to share a time of good fellowship while
working to help someone in need, nine years later has taken on a life of
its own among the retired club members, and other male members on weekends
and evenings.
Pro-Action of Steuben and
Yates Inc. does the actual screening and handles the finances, but the "Ramp
Guys" have provided the expertise, labor, tools, etc to construct 196 handicapped ramps since October, 1998.
The "Ramp
Guys" who respond to requests for help on a regular basis are; Ron Anis,
Al Belanger, Doug Bigelow, Barney Bonicave, John Coumbe, Dale English, Kris Goodrich,
Dick Jones, Denny LeGro, Wayne Ketch, Don McIntire, Gilbert Partridge,
Renaat Rauslingeen, Dan Reppert, Ken Sherer, Bill Snyder, Don Snyder,
Lynn Wilcox and Bob Kenville.
If you need a ramp or know someone who does, contact Pro-Action Liaison
Suzzanne Miller at (607-776-8084)
Ramp Guys: As viewed by a grateful beneficiary
Dear Editor:
The Ramp Guys are a group of men in Centenary
church and Avoca who build ramps (as for wheelchairs) for people. They all have, says Dan Reppert, two things in
common: They are all retired and they have all had heart attacks (except
for one, who has another kind of heart ailment that lets him in).. Besides
these, there are volunteers not yet retired who help when they Carl. Their
inclusion amounts to building the group's continuity for the future.
Among the Guys one individual, Dan Reppert, is
most clearly entitled to wear the sign Harry Truman kept on his desk
throughout his Presidency -- "The buck stops here." Dan is the one who first comes to your house and
explains their program, which essentially is that they will build you a
ramp. The resident can pay for the materials or else
Pro-Action funds, to which Centenary contributes, will pay. All the labor
is free, a donation of time and skill by the Guys.
Next, Dan makes careful measurements of your
situation. With a confidence-building air-revealing, long experience with
such things, and with all due reference to the Building Code, he creates
with hand gestures alone, a model of your special ramp. If you like it, his next move is to make a Bill of
Materials (Which turns out to have an absolute minimum of waste) and
orders it delivered to your yard.
On the designated evening hour of the appointed
day you see the crew for this particular project arriving. As they come,
they break up into pairs and trios, who set about almost wordlessly, after
exchanging guy-type greetings, at various tasks which they know to be,
from much experience, (mine was the twenty-second ramp they'd built
together) the necessary order of work.
Dan Reppert lent a hand anywhere as he also moved
about his special task with steel square, level and tape, of laying out
and marking out the over-all plan as he went along so all would come out
right. While doing this he seemed to have eyes in the back of his head,
like the proverbial mother, as he turned to one pair working behind him
and said, "No, not there - a little more this way.
There, that's it." They gave no objection, they
knew he was right. Another time two components that needed to meet
properly were nearly an inch apart when put in place. Reppert was
consulted. Taking in the problem at a glance. he said "Hit that right
there," pointing. They did, and the two met as required. On my job he had
a couple of men with enough experience in building, to assist him in such
supervision, he gladly used their help. Bit by bit the lumber pile came to
look more and more like a ramp until it became a usable one. With a break
for a picnic meal my daughter set out, they dispersed when it was so dark
drop lights could no longer suffice, The next morning three men instead of
nine returned and, put 'on the finishing touches and cleaned up. They left
a ramp that is level where it needs to be, plumb where it needs to be that,
and handsome, with the gracefulness of practicality. There had been no hammering as nails were not used
- power-driven screws instead throughout.
The Guys ask that when the user no longer needs
the ramp it be given back to them: They will then rapidly disassemble it
into component sections by backing out certain key screws and store it
until they find a layout where the same dimensions will serve. Then that
ramp will go into place in sections with amazing speed!
This is a wonderful unique service they provide.
It amounts to expanding the horizons of the disabled, like locking a canal
boat from one level to another. I don't use a wheelchair much yet, but this ramp
lets me move an electric scooter from the house to the ground level where
I can move about my yard and garden and beyond.
Their work could also be a powerful bit of
evangelism, more effective than some that have been tried. Seeing their enjoyment as they work makes one
think of the joy the early Christians displayed, the joy that made
observers say, "That looks good--we want some for ourselves," and go from
there.
This all causes me to say "If you need a ramp or
know someone who does, the Ramp Guys want to know about it." They're
rolling-I can't imagine what could stop them. Just in case I still haven't
made this clear, they have my deep gratitude.
John Rezelman
Bath
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This site was last updated
10/24/08
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