Volunteers Relocate Ramp to Aid Bethel Township Patient
Parishioners from four local churches volunteered about three hours Thursday morning, October 1, to install a handicapped-accessible ramp for a Bethel Township man before coming home from the hospital.
by Jonathan Weaver
About a half-dozen parishioners from four local churches welcomed home a Bethel Township man late last week.
Volunteering through one of the two local “Ramps of Home” ministry teams, Team Leader Tim Scaife and six other men collaborated for three hours Thursday morning to build a ramp for Raymond Long – a Campbell Run Road resident that has been hospitalized but who was set to come home disabled late last week.
Scaife – who formerly worked with his father and uncles building houses throughout Kittanning before working as a teacher - found out about the newest ramp recipient from Armstrong County Program Coordinator Lynn Sibley September 25. Last week was his 19th ramp project.
“In this area, we have the Allegheny River Charge and the First United Methodist Church working together on this project,” Scaife said. “(Long) is currently in the hospital and needs a ramp to come home.”
Though he never met Long, Scaife estimated the amount of material needed and designed for the build before contacting other volunteers for help. The ramp leads to the back door from Long’s 30-inch wide brick walkway rather than having Long walk up a few steps.
Officials from the Indiana District of the United Methodist Church provided up to $500 for the ramp project, with the rest via donations.
“There’s really no specific cost to (Long) – it’s just whatever he can donate,” Scaife said.
“The ramp’s here as long as he needs it,” he added. “When he’s done, it’ll be taken apart, and the pieces will be used for someone else – that helps keep the cost reasonable.”
Volunteers utilized six four-foot by six-foot long removable platforms that were already built, painted and used at a different site.
Scaife also cut more than a dozen 1-foot by 6-foot decking boards at various lengths to create a railing for Long.
Joe Heckert, who lives near Walkchalk, attends First United Methodist Church in Kittanning with Scaife. Even though he retired from construction, he said he has volunteered to build and disassemble ramps since the beginning.
While other volunteers worked on the decking boards, Heckert made sure a smaller ramp under the back door was the correct height to make for easy access.
Last week’s ramp was the fifth Tom Bernot - a parishioner at Ford Memorial United Methodist Church in Ford City – has helped with. He was joined by fellow parishioner Tom Frantz, of Boggsville – a volunteer for more than a year.
“I just retired in April and got involved – it’s a good thing,” Bernot said. “You give up a day or two, but it’s well worth it. That’s what we should be doing – that’s what church should be about.
“We’re just two hands doing God’s work – that’s what we’re here for,” he added. “It’s a win-win situation for everybody.”
Bernot retired from Penn United in Cabot, where he worked for 10 ½ years in the calibration lab. He also worked at Eljer in Ford City for more than 30 years.
But, instead of sleeping late Thursday morning, Bernot would have been restoring vintage travel trailers.
“I should be working on a travel trailer for a client, but I’m here. I need to be here doing this helping the guys,” Bernot said. “I enjoy it.”
JB Boarts attends Manorville United Methodist, and said up to a dozen volunteers have helped build the ramps in the past.
“It’s a worthwhile project – it really helps a lot of people out,” Boarts said.
Ed Hollenbaugh referred to himself as the “oddball” of Friday’s volunteers since he attends Dayton Glade Run Presbyterian Church, but the comradery between the men while they worked made him anything but.
Scaife even built Hollenbaugh’s house.
“(Scaife) and I have been friends since high school, so that’s how I got involved,” Hollenbaugh said.
A semi-retired respiratory therapist at Punxsutawney Hospital, Hollenbaugh started volunteering with the group in the Spring and has even met some residents the ramps have benefited.
“They always seem very grateful,” Hollenbaugh said. “You feel good that you’re helping somebody out.”
Earl Hooks, who rents the trailer to Long, didn’t expect his tenant to come back home so soon. Hooks said Long and his two sons have rented the home for about two years.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better neighbor – I hated to lose him,” Hooks said. “He’s the best one I’ve had yet.”
Hooks and Scaife both praised the volunteers before leaving the project.
“They always do a wonderful job,” Scaife concluded.
‘Ramps of Hope’ is modeled after a similar project in the Erie District of the United Methodist Church. Another local ‘Ramps of Hope’ team volunteers in the Dayton area.
The men pull one of the six wooden platforms into place before nailing a decker board in-between.
Local News | jweaver October 5, 2015
