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Seminole Voice | Baldwin Park Living | Independence Lane |

Help neighbors in need

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• By Lisa Oakes

• April 24, 2013 2:53 p.m.

A few weeks ago, I went to a stranger’s house and worked up a sweat digging a dirt path in her front yard. While that sounds

far from glamorous, it’s actually one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. As a volunteer during the Center for

Independent Living’s RAMPAGE event, I joined hundreds of others across Central Florida to build wheelchair ramps for

people with disabilities.

My crew was made up of co-workers from R.C. Stevens Construction Company, along with other corporate teams. We built a

ramp for a woman named Jeanette, one of 15 RAMPAGE recipients this year. Though we had never met her before, when we

heard her story from CIL staff, we knew we wanted to help. A longtime volunteer at church and local nursing homes, Jeanette

has suffered heart attacks and strokes that reduced her mobility – but not her spirit. In fact, she wanted to keep volunteering.

But since she uses a wheelchair, she struggled to navigate the steps at her front door, and needed a safe way to come and go independently from her

home.

Within a matter of hours, our crew built exactly that. After clearing a path in her yard, we constructed a wooden frame. Then, the next crew poured

concrete to create a sturdy, permanent ramp. Everyone had a job to do – from experienced construction workers, to people who’d never picked up a

hammer in their lives.

The work was tiring and messy, but when Jeanette came outside to introduce herself, we saw just how much the ramp meant to her. Through tears, she

thanked us again and again for our time. Honestly, I wanted to thank her, because for all the ways to spend my Saturday morning, I can’t think of

anything else that would feel so satisfying. Helping someone less fortunate, especially someone with a generous spirit like Jeanette, makes you grateful

for what you have. I never realized before that being able to walk out your front door easily is a precious gift. Now, I’ll never forget.

What’s more, I really enjoyed rolling up my sleeves alongside my co-workers. We laughed together, got to know each other better, and ultimately

contributed to something bigger than ourselves. You might even say it was a bonding experience. And we’re already looking forward to our next

volunteering project.

These days, we’re all busy. But spending a few hours to help our neighbors in need can be incredibly rewarding. April is National Volunteer Month – a

great time to get involved. If you’re looking for a place to start, you can contact the Center for Independent Living, which provides a wide range of

services to empower people with disabilities. Call 407-623-1070 or visit cilorlando.org. Or visit Heart of Florida United Way’s Volunteer Resource

Center at hfuw.org for more opportunities in Central Florida. It doesn’t take much to help improve someone else’s life – and you might be surprised at

the difference it makes in yours.

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Page 2 of 4Help neighbors in need

4/25/2013http://www.wpmobserver.com/news/2013/apr/24/help-neighbors-need/