Firms ramp up volunteer work to help woman

By: Sam Tenney//June 9, 2017//

Firms ramp up volunteer work to help woman

Sam Tenney//June 9, 2017//

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Nancy Ross admires a newly-poured sidewalk after coming outside of her Southeast Portland home for the first time since February. Accessibility improvements made to Ross' home were installed last week by a team of volunteers working in conjunction with REACH's Community Builders Program, which focuses on providing free home repairs for senior or disabled homeowners living on a low-income. — Nancy Ross admires a newly-poured sidewalk after coming outside of her Southeast Portland home for the first time since February. Accessibility improvements made to Ross’ home were installed last week by a team of volunteers working in conjunction with REACH’s Community Builders Program, which focuses on providing free home repairs for senior or disabled homeowners living on a low-income.

鈥淥h, look how lovely this is!鈥� Nancy Ross said, as she ventured outside for the first time in months.

The Lents resident has been wheelchair-bound at home since February, making it impossible for her to traverse the steps outside her front and back doors. A newly-installed ramp and sidewalk built last week as part of REACH‘s Community Builders Program have enabled Ross to leave the house, allowing her to age in place in her home of more than 20 years.

Several local building industry firms donated time and materials to the project. Bremik Construction led the improvement effort, donating the labor of a team of carpenters and laborers over the course of the week. Cudahy Lumber contributed material for the build, LaRusso Concrete donated material and the services of a cement mason, and Duke Excavation provided labor.

The accessibility upgrades to Ross’ home were made as part of national NeighborWorks Week, which aims to engage volunteers, businesses and neighbors in community improvement projects. A lack of money to make accessibility upgrades can lead to residents leaving their homes, and REACH is working to help low-income households in the Lents neighborhood retain their homes.

Eddie Scott, a Bremik Construction employee and second-term apprentice carpenter with Local 1503, builds formwork for the concrete sidewalk.

Jon Peters, a general foreman with Bremik Construction and carpenter with Local 1503, clears dirt in preparation for installing formwork.

Mark Smidt, left, a laborer with Local 737, and fellow Bremik Construction employee Axel Bledsoe, a carpenter with Local 1503, fill one of approximately 120 wheelbarrow loads of concrete.

Dennis Brown, a cement mason with Local 555 and employee of LaRusso Concrete, finishes a sidewalk leading from the backyard to the driveway. Brown was the sole mason on the pour, which took ten cubic yards of concrete.

Eddie Scott, left, Jon Peters run concrete up a driveway while pouring a sidewalk.

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