Ramps of Hope Install New Ramp

by Ryan McLaughlin

Ramps of Hope installed a new wheelchair ramp for Wayne Smith and his wife on Saturday.

Ramps of Hope is an organization that installs wheel chair ramps for those that need one. They are an organization that is formed from an alliance of the United Methodist Churches in Clearfield, Jefferson, Indiana, and Armstrong Counties. They also work with the Area for the Aging to receive the calls from possible recipients.

Steve Williams is the Team Leader for the Armstrong County Team. Most of his teammates are members of the Dayton United Methodist Church. His team is made up of multiple people from different walks of life. Some of them have carpentry experience, and some of them have even performed builds with mission trips to other countries. He said that they are used to working together.

Williams also said that there are about 30 people that have worked on his team. He explained that this helps when a ramp request comes in.

“That really helps if people have vacations and other things planned for the weekend,” he said.

Once a call is made to Ramps of Hope, Williams explained that a site evaluation must be done. They have to ensure there will be no barriers for the ramp, once installation begins. They also perform an interview with the recipient and any of their family members present.

Following this, the recipient will have to fill out some administrative paperwork and medical evaluations, to validate that the ramp is necessary. Ramps of Hope will also present them with release forms, to allow the team to work on the site. Williams said that some of the forms must be notarized.

The team also measures everything ahead of time. On the scheduled day, they arrive with some sections pre-assembled. It makes assembly easier, as everything just has to be bolted together. This is also because the ramps are temporary.

“The recipients can keep them as long as the need is there,” Williams explained.

The ramps can also be moved if the recipient moves or removed if the need is no longer there. All of the materials are recycled for other homes, so nothing goes to waste.

Once construction is done, Williams explained that they follow up. They come with a pastor to pray with the recipients, for those that don’t have a pastor.

“It’s important that we build that relationship,” said Williams, “Not just come and build a ramp and leave.”

Wayne Smith and his wife were the recipients of the ramp on Saturday. Smith owns and operates Smith’s Arrows & Archery Supplies out of his home. He contacted the Area for the Aging, which gave him the number for Ramps of Hope. He needed the ramp for his wife, to help get her to and from the car.

Ramps for Hope doesn’t charge for any of their installations. They are funded by churches, donations, and fundraisers. All materials are recycled once the ramp is no longer needed.