Since 2017, St David’s Ramp Builders have been building ramps to provide access to homes with mobility challenged residences. Even with a two-year hiatus due to covid, we are approaching our 50th ramp built.
Our work is fun but challenging, hard but joyful because we make an impact on people’s lives. I remember that in 2023, we built a ramp for a family who had just moved in. For the prior three weeks they had been living there, their daughter who was in second grade had not been able to go to school because she couldn’t get in and out of the house. Her first day at her new school was the Monday after we finished because she could get in and out of the house. It is hard to imagine not being able to be in school learning and being with your friends.
Every client has a story, and every ramp has an impact. Another ramp we built was for an elderly person who was in rehab for a month after having a stroke. She was not able to move back home because there was no wheelchair access to get her inside her house. Once we finished the ramp for her house, she was released from rehab and was able to go home and sleep in her own bed after more than a month away from home. Think about that.
Why would someone want to be part of a ramp building team? It goes well beyond earning volunteer hours and staying out of trouble on a Saturday (both of which are good reasons). You will learn important skills, like working as part of team, learning how to use a power drill, a chop saw, realize things like that it is better to measure twice so you will cut only once, develop your problem-solving skills and job site safety skills and hopefully make a new friend or two. There are many reasons why people volunteer, whatever it may be, it may very well be something you will identify yourself with.
The St David’s Ramp Builders are made parishioners, non-parishioners, friends and families. We are intergenerational. We have volunteers from 15 years to 75 years (and then some). We need help on the Saturdays of the build, as well as Thursday module building and Friday load out and delivery. No tools or skill is required. Just a desire to make a difference in someone’s life.
We typically build one Saturday a month, with pre-building at the warehouse on the Thursday before and a load out and delivery on Friday. All three components are important and vital to each ramp's success.
If you are interested or have questions, please contact me at .
We would love to have you join us at our next build!
48th Ramp Build
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