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SERVICE SCENE
Easy Access—The vision of one builder allows others to ramp up their freedom.
 Most of us don’t give a second thought to the many stairs we climb in a day. But for those who rely on wheelchairs to get around, a church or home with a step up can mean the difference between freedom and isolation.
Arnold Park, a retired financial representative and a member of the La Salle County, Illinois, Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, saw a need for ramps in Streator, Illinois, back in 1987. He organized a small group of builders to fill this gap.
Supported, in part, by the Thrivent Financial Care Abounds in Communities® program and the LaSalle County Chapter of Thrivent Financial, Park’s team consists of 15 retirees who work on ramp projects throughout the county. Over the last 20 years, Park’s team has constructed 522 ramps for churches, community centers and individual homes. And the ramps often do double or triple duty in their lifetimes. Park has perfected a reusable design so that each ramp can be taken down once it is no longer needed and rebuilt at a different location.
Others in the area have taken a cue from Park’s group. Chuck Holz, a member of the Marshall-Putnam County Chapter of Thrivent Financial, got on board eight years ago. “Arnold said, ‘I need to start a group over there because we’re so busy, so get yourself some guys to help.’” The ramp-building groups, which include a third group, also from the LaSalle County Chapter of Thrivent Financial, get many of their leads from the Illinois Department of Human Services and share resources.
“I never expected it to happen this way,” says Park. “But I’m thankful for it, because it gives me an outlet to do something for the people in the area and for the community.”
—Sarah Asp
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