Avoca United Methodist Church

Bath Centenary Methodist Church

Methodist Men Ramp Ministry

 

Ramp # 211, built in Corning on Sep 16, 2008

 

Ramp 205 Built on Jul 1, 2008 in Gibson, NY

Ramp 200!  Built in Corning Wed May 7, 2008.

Staci Lynn Honda and Photographer from WETM news!

This ramp was built seven years ago.  Most of the screws broke off, but the material was still good enough to use on Ramp 200!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ramp #198, built March 27, 2008, Dan R, Mike D, Ron, Bill S, Gordon D, and Gil P.

Dale took pic.

 

When people get a ramp they are free,and no longer bound inside their homes, 

and so the song, "Just a Closer Walk With Thee"

Seems appropriate for this page!

 

Dale's "new and improved" jig for framing ramp components.

The jigs are made of 2x6 stock and fastened to the saw

horses purchased at Bath Building Company.  Painted orange, of course.

The legs on the horses extend to 42" making them much more user friendly and 

easier on the backs as bending over to screw the sections together is 

eliminated!  The legs fold up for easy portability.  

Can't wait for our next new ramp to try them out!

 

 

 

Ramp 197, built in Corning Nov 28, 2007.

Bill, Dan, Denny, Bob.

Dale took pic.

Ramp 196, Nov 7, 2007

Dan, Al, Denny, John, Don, Bill, and Bob.

Dale took pic.

Built for J.M. who is a young man who recently broke his back as 

a result of falling off a ladder.

Dr.s will not let him come home unless he has a Wheel Chair Ramp!

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

Ramp 192 built in Hornell Oct 10, 2007.  New Ramp Guy, Bob Kenville, on right is

a very welcome addition  to the crew.  I asked Dan if he was my replacement

and Dan replied, the only way to retire was to present a death certificate

from the Funeral Director.  Dick added, and you also have to give two

weeks notice!

 

 

 

Ramp 191 built in Bath Sep 26, 2007.  It took quite a crew to figure out how to 

take down Bill's saw!  He had to leave early and was not in pic which Dale took!

 

Ramp 189 Built in Bath Sep 12, 2007

John, Denny, Don, Wayne, Dan, and Bill.

Dale took pic.

 

 

 

 

 

Ramp #188 in Lake Country Estates built on Aug 22.

This ramp had been coordinated with Paul Wilson, owner of

Lake Country Estates.  The day after the ramp was built,

Paul, was killed in an accident.

 

Ramp 187 8-8-07

John, Al, Jim (got ramp), Wayne, Don, Bill, Denny.  Dale took pic.

 

 

 

Ramp #186 constructed in Hornell, 8/1/07.  Gil, Al, and Bill.

Dale took pic.

   

 

Ramp 180, built in Hornell June 14, 07.  Lucky recipient in orange, her grandson to her left.

Ramp Crew:  Dan Reppert, John Coumbe, Bill Snyder, and Don MacIntire.  Dale English took pic

 

 

 

 

 

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 Mater1als (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 picn1c mea1 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 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