Martha McManus's new wheel chair ramp was built by Veterans and Families of Seeley Lake and Seeley Lake Lions Club members. The ramp is 50 feet long with two landings. McManus said she enjoys taking her scooter out on the second landing and just enjoying being outside.
Volunteers Steve Bowen, John Kimble and Don Mondul securing the first landing to the porch with Pat White (front left) of R.A.M.P of Montana. White also donated his time for the project.
Volunteers John Kimble, Ken Kronsperger, Tim Berry and Elden Barbieri after completing the ramp and the rails.
SEELEY LAKE – Veterans & Families of Seeley Lake (VFSL) has reached out to help local veteran Gary Ikerd and his wife Martha McManus.
Thanks to volunteers, McManus now has a new handicap ramp and the freedom to get out of the house.
McManus had not been able to go any farther than her front porch for the past two months. She was confined to a wheelchair and her handicap ramp was too steep, dropping 53 inches in 16 feet. The maximum slope of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) handicap ramp is one inch of drop per foot.
VFSL wanted to help so they visited with her to see what she needed and offered to look into getting her a ramp.
The VFSL had $1,000 to put towards the project. When estimates from local contractors came in between $6,000-$7,000, VFSL member Tim Berry volunteered to help lead the project. He knew the standards for ramps, took the measurements and drew up the plans for a 50-foot ramp after adding three inches of fill to the base. Since Ikerd and McManus rent their home, owner Dan Johnson approved the new ramp before construction began.
After visiting with Linda Howard at Missoula Aging Services, Howard recommended Pat White with R.A.M.P. of Montana in Missoula. White volunteered his time to supervise the ramp construction and made up the materials list based on Berry's plan.
Timberline Building Materials provided the materials at a reduced price. Total cost of materials came to $1,370. This included all the lumber, 35 pounds of screws and 10 pounds of bolts.
"We were $370 short. I took it to the Lions Club board meeting and said we need $370 more," said Berry.
The Lions Club approved the request in October. Volunteers from the VFSL and Lions Club began construction Saturday, Oct. 22. Everyone who worked on the project were Lions and all, except Ken Kronsperger, were also a veteran.
By the end of Sunday, they had the ramp framed. Berry said McManus tested it out.
"Martha came out on her scooter and rode down to the end of it. Coming down she was going very, very slow. Boy when she went back up she went whoosh. She knew where to go."
"I was taking it slow because I didn't know and I hadn't been down the ramp," said McManus. "Then when I got to the bottom, there wasn't any problem so I just decided to floor it. I couldn't resist."
The following Wednesday, Oct 26 and Thursday, Oct. 27 the volunteers finished the balusters and put in gravel at the bottom.
"Now I can go," said McManus. "Sometimes I just go down and sit on the first landing and just enjoy sitting outside. The design is so convenient and beautiful."
"I'm so grateful. It was like someone just dropped a gift right in my lap," added McManus. "I'm just rejoicing every time I look outside."
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