Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity (BBAHFH) is seeking metal wheelchair ramp donations for Ramp Donation Program. According to Executive Director Christine Lacourse, “When we introduced our ramp loan program, we suspected there would be a need in the community, but we had no idea how many phone calls we would be getting.”
Earlier this year, BBAHH formally introduced their Ramp Donation program to give low-income homeowners the accessibility they needed to remain in their homes. Through ramp donations and purchases, BBAHFH has built an inventory available that can be loaned out and installed by volunteers when needed by a family. BBAHFH is running this program throughout Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Rochester, Wareham and Westport.
Ramps are expensive, often needed on short notice and frequently needed only temporarily. When a family no longer requires the ramp, it is picked up by BBAHFH, and then loaned to another low-income family in need. The Ramp Donation Program helps those with existing accessibility issues, temporary injury, or those who are checking out of a rehabilitation facility.
Lacourse added, “We have helped people who could not leave their home due to the stairs being a safety issue. A ramp provides freedom and a huge boost in quality of life, but our ramp inventory is running low, and we need the community’s help to keep serving families needing assistance with accessibility to their homes.”
BBAHFH is currently both looking for ramps to help additional families, as well as low-income applicants in need of a ramp. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, ramp donations are tax deductible per IRS code. In addition to tax deductions, donors benefit from the removal of unwanted ramps and can feel good about helping another in need.
In addition to providing ramps, BBAHFH’s Brush with Kindness program also helps low-income homeowners with critical home repairs such as painting, minor exterior repairs, weatherization, exterior cleanup and other Aging-in-Place renovations. BBAHFH can often keep repair costs to a minimum due to discounted materials and volunteer labor and may even provide the family with a no-interest loan to cover any expenses.
The organization collaborates with other nonprofits and groups in the region, including the Councils of Aging, Veteran Service Officers, Coastal Neighbors Network, Association for the Relief of Aged Women (ARAW), Coastline Elderly Services and a numerous churches and faith organizations.
For more information on donating or requesting ramps, email Christine Lacourse at BuzzardsBayAreaHabitat@yahoo.com or call (508) 758-4517.