This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
02/23/2016 07:48 AMWhen a community comes together, good things happen. Non-profit Matt's Mission founder Lynn Riordan shares a feel-good story that took place in North Branford over the weekend and has made a huge difference in the life of a service veteran and amputee.
Like Riordan, the group of residents who pitched in to help their neighbor in need had never met "Frank" until they heard of his plight and showed up to help.
The U.S. Marine veteran and bi-lateral amputee had recently moved to North Branford and hired a person to build a ramp beside his mobile home for wheelchair access. He reportedly paid $1500 for the job. However, the finished ramp was too steep and of questionable durability.
With the veteran's savings exhausted on the job, he was stuck with the result – until news of his situation reached Riordan, who reached out to the North Branford community for help.
"I got a call from (Sgt.) Jim Lovelace (of North Branford Police) who asked if there was anything Matt's Mission could do to help this gentleman," said Riordan.
Complicating matters for the veteran was his only means of ambulation; a manual wheelchair.
"So not only would he go down the ramp too fast; he couldn't get back up. So he would have to call the police department and wait for help to get back in his house," said Riordan, adding Tony Catapano from Walt's Auto Repair had also responded to help the man, when police manpower wasn't available.
"This man has health issues and lost his leg. Somebody who served in this country shouldn't be living like that," said Riordan.
Riordan knew non-profit Matt's Mission could help fund the cost of materials, but the question was, who would step up to help build the new ramp, and when? Riordan posted the call for help on the fund's Facebook page last week and the response was instantaneous, she said.
"Immediately, two people, Ken Ash and Steve Olsen, came forward and said, 'We'll build the ramp,'" said Riordan.
Materials and manpower, including some additional help, arrived on Sat. Feb. 20. By Sun. Feb 21, the new ramp was completed and installed.
Ash, Olsen and Ash's son, Nicholas Ash, "...worked nine-hour days, both days, on their weekend," said Riordan. "I thought that was unbelievable. It was really nice to do and they did an excellent job."
But, as Riordan reports, "...the story gets better."
In process of posting photo updates and news of the ramp construction underway, Riordan was contacted by another resident via social media.
"She wanted to donate an $8,000 electric wheelchair," said Riordan.
On Feb. 21, Northford resident Debbie DeLillo and her husband, Dennis DeLillo donated a new electric wheelchair the couple had previously purchased. The chair's motor was barely used, with just 20 hours logged. As Riordan shared, DeLillo told her, "There is a story behind it, and a veteran is where it should go next."
Riordan checked in with "Frank" on Feb. 22, telling Zip06, "I went by there today and he was out walking his dog; he's going up and down the ramp and getting around outside beautifully."
Riordan adds this feel-good story is still unfolding, as another local, Larry Farrell of Absolute Interiors (Northford), is generously replacing the mobile home's carpet with flooring that will make the space easier to negotiate by wheelchair.
"That's the way North Branford does it," said Riordan. "People are good."