by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
The Jacksonville Women’s Council of Realtors met early one morning last month at 256 E. 1st St. in Springfield to build a ramp for an elderly man, Henry McDuffy, who is wheelchair-bound and has not been able to leave his home for some time.
The new ramp will give McDuffey the ability to leave his home and get back out into the world again.
Chris Petipus of the Housing Partnership of Northeast Florida was directing the build and Sandy Holdren of Realty Executives of Jacksonville brought volunteers and organized the manpower.
“We get a list from the city of those who need ramps built,” said Petipus. “Our waiting list used to be at least three months but, with the help of the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors and the Women’s Council of Realtors, we have it down to about one month now.”
Currently, The Housing Partnership of Northeast Florida builds about 60 ramps a year.
“WCR asked me to lead their ramp build,” said Holdren. “I asked for volunteers and we had so many that I asked Eric Sommers if he needed volunteers for his build in Oceanway.”
The second group of WCR members built a 65-foot ramp at 489 Starratt Rd. that same day.
“I had 20 volunteers so we were able to provide volunteers for both ramps,” said Holdren. “So basically all I had to do was get enough volunteers and get sponsors for the lunches. Everyone was so willing to help.”
Holdren said McDuffey was happy to see the finished product.
“They were thrilled,” said Holdren. “The gentleman cannot speak but his wife, Georgann, cried with joy and said the gentleman was very, very happy. She said she had been carrying him down the steps for nine years and this was a blessing for them. Five years ago she started contacting different agencies for assistance in building a ramp but no agency ever came through for her. In January, a neighbor in an electric wheelchair rode by and saw her carrying McDuffey down the stairs and told her about the Housing Partnership of Northeast Florida. She contacted them and in less than one month the ramp was built.”