Building Ramps to Freedom Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Makes a Difference in Kay County

Story by Chelsea McConnell / Staff Writer

All photos provided by Bill Thomason c/o The Ramp Ministry/RSVP.

Imagine for a moment being confined to your home – unable to leave to go to the store, the bank or run other errands essential to everyday life. Imagine being unable to cross the threshold of your home and enter the outside world. Consider how incredibly difficult it would be to feel stuck and isolated all the time. What if all that was needed was a wheelchair ramp? Volunteers from St. Paul’s United Methodist Church started The Ramp Ministry to see to this need in our community.

RSVP Director Lilly Freeman explains the need for ramps in our community. “People suffering from a disability or mobility issues often find independent living to be complicated and at times it can be impossible given the extent of the disability.” Not having a ramp could mean the difference between staying in your home and seeking placement at a costly healthcare facility. Ramps make life more feasible for disabled citizens and are crucial to their safety in the event of an emergency. Access to a ramp can also improve quality of life, according to www. payingforseniorcare. com. “Wheelchairbound seniors with easy access to a handicap ramp will likely interact more socially, access social services more and generally age in place more easily. Ramps also serve an important function in emergencies should medical staff need to enter and exit the senior’s home.”

The major obstacle in our community is that many citizens can’t afford to have a ramp installed. One of the goals of RSVP is to help the citizens of Kay County “age in place with safety and dignity.” This goal makes their partnership with the Ramp Ministry a perfect fit.

The Ramp Ministry is granting more freedom in our community one ramp at a time. The Ministry started in 2007 with volunteers from St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and has since partnered with RSVP of Ponca City to make their efforts more effective. The group was led by Burton Casad from

2007-16 and is now led by Bill Thomason. Over that time, they’ve grown from having 3-5 volunteers to 18 volunteers. These individuals give selflessly of their time and talents to help local citizens.

The group initially got together to rebuild a porch for a citizen in need in 2007. This led to another porch rebuild in 2008 that included a ramp. In 2009 they partnered with RSVP and began applying for grants in order to build ramps and handrails at no cost to their recipients. For the first several years they built an average of 10 ramps or railings each year. Referrals are made to the group by RSVP, local health agencies and St. Paul’s. Fortunately, as need for ramps has increased, volunteer numbers have increased as well. In 2015 the group built 18 ramps. The number jumped to 28 ramps built in 2016. Beginning in 2017 and every year since, the volunteer team has built over 50 ramps per year, as well as installed many handrails. Currently the group has built 442 ramps in our community. That is 442 lives that were changed by this caring group of volunteers.

The majority of the ramps and handrails are built for senior citizens, though the group has built four for school-age youth and six for young adults under 30. Their coverage spans our area with the group having built ramps in Ponca City, Newkirk, Blackwell, Tonkawa, Marland, Kaw City, White Eagle, Red Rock, Burbank and Shidler. Ramps are built with treated lumber, and supplies are purchased locally. The group aims to follow ADA guidelines for ramps as far as slope, width and rail heights are concerned. Through their many years of working together, the team has become more efficient. Equipment has been donated over the years, and a trailer has been fabricated to store everything the team needs. The system they’ve created allows them to be ready to go at the beginning of each week.

Despite growing efficiencies, the team has a backlog of ramps to be built due to the outstanding needs in our community. Thomason explains, “We now plan our building by giving first priority to those who cannot leave their home due to inability to negotiate their stairs. This work has been a blessing to our team in that there is a great joy in seeing someone come down the just-finished ramp in their wheelchair or walker to get out of their home on their own for the first time since they lost their mobility.” The group also has five portable ramps donated to them by Joe Dempewolf. These are incredibly helpful as they can be deployed quickly to serve citizens with temporary needs.

One recipient described the ramp built for her as “freedom.” The ramp gave her the freedom to get out of her home, see her family again and become more independent. What can seem like a small thing to someone who is able-bodied, can mean the whole world to the disabled person who’s stuck inside his/her home.

Ramp costs are an obstacle the team must continue to overcome each year. In 2017 the average cost of materials to build a ramp was $370. In 2022, the cost was $670. Ramp funds are currently procured through individual and team grants from ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66, as well as donations from area foundations, businesses and individuals. If you’re interested in supporting this effort, donations can be made to the RSVP Ramp Fund. The group is grateful for all donations they’ve received to date that allow them to do this much-needed work in our community.

During their many years of building ramps, this team of volunteers has also been busy building a fellowship with each other. This fellowship is the glue that sustains them. Fred Rogers is famously quoted as reminding us to “Look for the helpers.” This group is just that – a group of helpers serving our community.

2022 Ramp Team Members are Bill Thomason, Francis Bartley, Brad Blakeburn, Lowry Blakeburn, Ken Cantrell, Robin Drumm, Don Fore, Mike Gaheb, Mike Goodall, Dick Jacobson, Stan Jones, Chris Martens, Darrell Salley, Gary Sibley, Kevin Smith, Cecil Sparks and John Varee. Bill Bridwell was also an active member until his passing this year.

RSVP is a United Way Agency and qualifies for 501(c)(3) tax status. Address is RSVP, 445 Fairview, Ponca City, OK 74601.

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