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Builders Care recently partnered with local nonprofit organizations to provide multiple wheelchair ramps in Southwest Florida as part of the 6 Days 6 Ramps Community Service Project.  This state-wide initiative was part of National AmeriCorps Week.  The 2010 6 Days 6 Ramps Community Service Project took place in Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Kissimmee, Sarasota and Winter Park. 6 Days 6 Ramps began as a joint project between Volunteer Florida and AmeriCorps Florida State Parks.  The project, originally known as the St. Andrews Inclusion Project, evolved from a single agency community service project to a yearly six-day, multi-site community strengthening event encouraging people with disabilities to serve in AmeriCorps programs across the state. 

As part of 6 Days 6 Ramps Community Service state-wide project, volunteers sponsored by Builders Care, the charitable agency of the Lee Building Industry Association, constructed the two wheelchair ramps for Carolina Rondan of Lehigh Acres.

Rondan, 12, has multiple medical issues including congenital muscular dystrophy.  She is bound to a wheelchair and most recently underwent tracheotomy surgery for a ventilator that runs 24 hours a day to help her breathe. Rondan attends school and lives with her family in Lehigh Acres, where she spends time on the computer and doing schoolwork.

Harbor Springs Building Company provided all of the labor to install two ramps on Rondan’s home.  The ramps were built in just eight hours.  Materials were provided by Raymond Building Supply as a part of a grant awarded by 6 Days 6 Ramps Community Service state-wide program to the Center for Independent Living in partnership with several local nonprofit organizations including the Salvation Army.

“We are happy to partner with other local non-profits to reach a common goal,” said Heidi Taulman, Builders Care executive director.  “We hope that this grant award will continue to provide funds to offer these critical services to our community for years to come.”

Builders Care is the nonprofit charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association (BIA). Its objective is to provide emergency repairs and construction services to elderly, disabled and economically disadvantaged people who are unable to obtain home repairs through traditional means. Builder’s Care enlists the volunteer services of Lee BIA members and leverages grants and donated materials to provide construction and remodeling services to qualified homeowners throughout Lee County. Most recent top corporate sponsors include Armadillo Underground and Real Estate Investment Society. Builders Care is headquartered at the Lee BIA offices at 4210 Metro Parkway, Suite 100, Fort Myers FL 33916. Donations can be made online at http://www.leebuilderscare.org/, or to the Builders Care general fund at BB&T (formerly Colonial Bank) Page Field branch at 4959 South Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers. More information is available by calling 239-938-0056.