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ANGELS TAKE ACTION
Students build ramp to increase Belmont woman's mobility
By KIP DOYLE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

BELMONT - Marjorie Baldwin felt trapped in her own home.
Because of a disability, she uses a motorized scooter to get around the house, but her world ended at the steps of her front door. She couldn't get out or in without the help of another person.

She had enough money saved to buy the materials for a ramp, but she could not afford the labor. Desperate for help, Mrs. Baldwin contacted Dave Crowley, volunteer coordinator for the ACCORD Corp.'s Community Action Angels.

The Community Action Angels are a network of local people on call to provide support for those in need, Mr. Crowley said. He sent out an appeal for anyone willing to take the time to help Mrs.
Baldwin.

Before long, Jill Bennet, school counselor at the Elm Street Academy in Cuba, told academy teachers Frank Hunter and Charles Waterman about Mrs. Baldwin's dilemma. Earlier this month, the teachers turned the problem into a class activity involving several academy students interested in building trades.

Earlier this month, Elm Street Academy students Nate Sherlock, Mike Killingbeck and Joe Whitlocke put the final touches on a ramp they built for Marjorie Baldwin of Belmont who could not get down her steps on her motor­ized scooter. The students got involved in the project through the ACCORD Corporation's Community Action Angels network. Those not pictured but involved in the project were Stan McCarty and James Armstrong.

The students not only built the ramp, but designed it as well, Mr. Hunter said. He said helping Mrs. Baldwin was the perfect way for his students to apply their talents to something good in the community.

"Number one, (the students) got to learn some building application and design, but they also got a sense of pride for building something for someone who has a need," Mr. Hunter said. He said the students were elated the first time they got to see the very private Mrs. Baldwin take one of her first trips out of her home with the ramp.

"It was really kind of cute. We went out there to do some retrofitting for the final adjustments and a couple of the students wanted to make sure that when (Mrs. Baldwin) came down the ramp, we cheered as she made her way down.

"These opportunities are few and far between, but they are really worthwhile from our standpoint," Mr. Hunter said.

You don't have to be handy with a hammer and drill to be a Community Action Angel, Mr. Crowley said. If you can distribute food, contribute money, donate belongings, help with shopping or give your free time up for someone else's needs, you can be part of the network of helpers.

"There is need in this county that no one can imagine," Mr. Crowley said.

As the holiday season approaches, Mr. Crowley said ACCORD is running into the problem of having too many donated appliances and pieces of furniture for them to store.

"(ACCORD) is looking for a building or warehouse to store used fridges, beds, washers, dryers and cribs," he said. Many people in Allegany County need these items, but ACCORD won't be able to provide them if they don't have the storage capacity.

If anyone or any organization has a suitable space that they could donate, or wants to get involved with other Community Action Angels projects, they can contact Mr. Crowley at (585) 268­7605 Ext. 1038.

Corporate Office - 84 Schuyler Street, Belmont, NY 14813 Phone: (585)268-7605