The Wheelchair Ramp Team of Messiah Lutheran Church conducted another successful ramp build today. This ongoing ministry of Messiah Lutheran Church is conducted in partnership with CASA of Madison County to build fully functional and safe ramps for those in need. This was the 35th ramp built by the Messiah Team.
Here are some additional photos from today’s build.
The drop from the door to the ground of this house was only 14 inches tall, but as stated by the owner, “It might as well be a hundred feet tall when you are in a wheelchair.” That is why we support this ministry. We want to make it possible for all of our neighbors to be able to safely enter and exit their homes.
The materials for these ramps are provided by CASA which stands for Care Assurance System for the Aging and Homebound. CASA is a non-profit agency located in Huntsville, Alabama that provides services to individuals age 60 and older and to the homebound (wheelchair and bed bound) of all ages since 1979. CASA’s mission is to provide needed services to aging/homebound individuals that allow them to remain at home and age in place. Our programs are designed to enable the elderly and homebound to maintain their independence, dignity, health and safety by providing services that specifically address their special physical and emotional needs.
Everyone on the team has a job. Measuring, Carrying, Cutting, Assembling, and Inspecting. There are plenty of jobs to do and the team is always looking for new members who enjoy spending a Saturday morning in fellowship while helping out members of our community. No special skills are needed.
CASA builds wheelchair ramps for needy individuals regardless of income or age and at no cost to the client. Wheelchair ramps provide CASA clients the mobility necessary for safely entering and leaving their homes, while promoting a sense of independence and freedom and access to the outside world. Each ramp is custom designed for each client and built by CASA volunteers. By providing wheelchair ramps, we are providing our clients with the knowledge that there are people in the community who truly care about their well-being.
The Messiah Lutheran Church ramp team is one of the many teams in the greater Huntsville area that support CASA by providing teams to assemble the ramps at the client’s homes. If you would like to participate in a future wheelchair ramp build, please contact the Messiah Lutheran Church Office at 256-721-0041.
It is always exciting when the last piece of the frame is assembled. At that point you can see that all of the preparation and measuring actually worked out and gives an idea of what the final product will look like.
Sometimes it takes a little bit of work to make the ramp adapt to the specific conditions of the home including sidewalks, plants and trees, and soil conditions. After 35 ramp builds though, we have become pretty adapt at getting the job done.
The team performed like a well oiled machine today. It only took about 3 hours on the work site to complete the wheelchair ramp. The owner and her family were very happy with the finished result. After the build was complete, the team headed off for pizza and fellowship.
Here are some additional photos from today’s build.