Broad Street Church of Christ in Mineola has many service projects, and through its partnership with Texas Ramp Project (TRP) recently completed its 100th project.

For over three years, a volunteer group of 15 members has been building wheelchair ramps for the elderly and disabled at no cost to them. They cover part of Rains County and share Wood County with the Kiwanis Club of Holly Lake.

The team built its 99th ramp Jan. 7 for a disabled Mineola resident, Betty Gasca. She suffers from stiff-limb syndrome in her legs and has recently been diagnosed with cervical cancer. 

After a visit from her home health nurse, an application was submitted to the Texas Ramp Project on her behalf. Gasca pointed out that within a week, someone was at her home to measure for the ramp. 

Ten volunteers worked on Gasca’s ramp including Terry Miller, Richard Vis, Richard Graves, Bill Welsh, Mike Noell, Mike Barnett, Tim Timmons, Robert Hawley, Roger Lennon and Delton Gibson.

Amidst jokes and laughter, they made quick work of a hefty project. In only three hours, they built a 42-foot long ramp and cleaned up.

Gasca was impressed with how quickly the team built her such a sturdy new home entry.

She confessed that she has wanted a ramp for a long time because it is often agonizing to go up and down the stairs. The ramp greatly reduces her stress and gives her much more freedom.

“I have a whole new lease on life,” exclaimed Gasca as she admired her new ramp.

Bill Welsh has been with the Church of Christ TRP team since the beginning. He revealed that he enjoys the camaraderie and fellowship while working and says it gives him great joy to help people who can’t get out of their homes. 

“At least 99 people have a better life now,” he said.

On Jan. 14 in Yantis, the group was building its 100th ramp. They are also in the planning stages of a 60-foot ramp, the longest they’ve done. Because it will be located in the flood plain of the Sabine River, they are still awaiting approval.

Since ministry leader Gene Strause began this specialized ministry at the church, they have built over 2,722 feet of ramps, with an average of eight volunteers at a time, bringing their total man hours volunteered to 2,964. 

In addition to the volunteers who worked on Gasca’s ramp, the ministry team also includes Wayne Williams who serves as record keeper and coordinator, Becki Kelly, Brooks Rogers, Jay Sharp and Tony Morrison.

Texas Ramp Project is a volunteer-staffed 501c3 nonprofit, nondenominational, nongovernmental organization. Since getting established in June 2006, the project has expanded to 36 Texas regions, and over 17,700 ramps have been built.

TRP does not accept direct referrals from clients or families. Referrals must come from third party health care providers via www.texasramps.org.  The online referral form is sent to a region coordinator who then sends a trained surveyor to the client’s home. 

The surveyor designs the ramp based on ADA standards of one foot slope for every inch of elevation. It must also be 48” wide, have 3 1/2” kick boards, have handrails to prevent tipping and be built with pressure treated lumber.

Texas Ramp Project provides all the money needed for building supplies. Broad Street Church of Christ gets its supplies locally from Higginbotham Brothers which also gives them a discount and delivers the supplies for free.

A volunteer construction crew led by a trained leader implements the ramp design, and the ramp is usually built in one day.