Both of Stephanie and Cedric Logan's children, Naomi and Lazarus, use wheelchairs because of cerebral palsy, a fact that makes daily life more challenging because the family doesn't have a ramp entryway to their home.
Thanks to the Home Builders Foundation and its sixth annual Blitz Build, they do now.
The Logan family's home was one of four Lakewood addresses and 17 in the metro area to receive free ramps courtesy of the foundation from Aug. 25 through 27.
"We start recruiting volunteer teams and recipients in March," said Beth Forbes, executive director of the Home Builders Foundation. "The criteria for projects are that there must be an accessibility and financial need, the recipient must own the home, and it must be in the eight-county metro area."
The three other Lakewood locations to receive ramps were thenew headquarters of The Chanda Plan --; a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for those with disabilities --; and the homes of Marcie Little and Trish Riffe.
It takes about 27 crews with 200 volunteers to complete all 17 projects in three days, and according to information provided by the foundation, the retail value of the work is more than $65,000. All the materials were also donated, in large part by McStain Neighborhoods and Bluelinx.
"Our president is really big into supporting these kinds of projects, which is why we're here today," said Shane Hunt, construction manager with Larsen Development and crew manager for Logan's project. "We've got about a dozen employees volunteering to do this work, which reflects the kind of good family business we are. We were all willing to step up and help people."
The Logan family heard about the Home Builders Foundation and the Blitz Build through word of mouth and from parents' groups. Naomi and
"We went through the application process, and were pleasantly surprised how easy everything was to arrange," Stephanie said. "It's amazing to have these kinds of resources available to us."
Having the ramp will simplify the logistics of moving in and out of the house for the family, Stephanie went on to explain, especially because before the ramp, the children's wheelchairs didn't often come in the house.
"For our kids, this will make it simpler and easier to get out in the community --; and not just to school, but out with their peers," she said. "It will provide more independence, and the ability to interact with the world in a more typical way."
from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Opening-the-door-to-a-new-world,234733?branding=15
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