Goon Squad and Act Staff at ACT
Amazing what can happen when you bring together a bunch of young people with good hearts, strong backs and some summer free-time with a few old guys who really know what they’re doing. Throw in a project or two that will literally change the lives of others for the better and you have another Ability Center Ramp Build.
Just “another day at the office” for ACT’s Home Accessibility Manager, Charlie Martin, and his crew, can mean so many things but it usually means something good for someone in our service area. And it can be almost anywhere and with almost anyone.
Working Together:
This time, (our 4th year working together) it was with the self-proclaimed “Goon Squad”, a group of 11 young folks from the Catholic Heart Work Camp, a national organization that gathers kids from all over the country to do work projects needing to be done by area non-profits. The campers, totaling around 300, called Cardinal Stritch High School home for four days. Our group, from as far away as Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania & Cleveland, OH, were very ambitious and came ready to work.
and Getting It Done!
“These kids were industrious. They came in and, over the span of four days, helped us build and install two ramps and construct a third.” Charlie recalls, “They then helped us tear down a few old sheds that were ready to go, do some home repairs and painting, and some weeding in our wildflower garden. They waterproofed our picnic tables and still had energy to do a bit of landscaping. We now have a beautiful mulch heart around a copse of trees in our picnic area. Very cool.”
And on to Ramp Two
Also very cool: one of the ramp recipients came with his wife to the CHWC closing night festivities to tell the kids how thankful they were for the ramp they could never have afforded. This family had also provided lunch for the crew as their ramp was being built.
Using grant dollars from various agencies and public programs, the Ability Center completes, on average, around 60 ramp and home modifications a year. Including those we outsource to our building partners it is closer to 100. “We can certainly build and install these ramps by ourselves,” says Charlie, “but we can stretch our ramping dollars so much farther with help from volunteers like these compassionate and energetic young people. And while it makes the work a lot more interesting and fun for us, it is empowering, educational and rewarding for those who pitch in. It’s a powerful and meaningful opportunity for all involved.”
Making a Difference! Always Fun
The Ability Center does its very best work when it works together with its many Community Partners. If you or your organization would like to become a Partner; to be a part of our Volunteer efforts, please call Amy Kerchevall, our Adaptive Equipment and Events Coordinator at the number above or by email: akerchevall@abilitycenter.org
Kids Create A Heart at ACT
This year’s theme for the Catholic Heart Work Camp was “Cadence: Life With A New Rhythm.”
All we here at The Ability Center can say is, “Thank you, CHWC, for your energy, laughter, love and support. It was music for our soul.” Please visit CHWC’s website to find out more about their mission and efforts: www.heartworkcamp.com
ACT's New Heart and the Kids who gave it to us
