CoServ Employees build ramp for Member in Little Elm

By Nicholas Sakelaris | March 21, 2023

CoServ Employees volunteered to build a ramp at a CoServ Member's home in Little Elm. Photos by NICHOLAS SAKELARIS/CoServ (Except where noted)
CoServ Employees volunteered to build a ramp at a CoServ Member's home in Little Elm. Photos by NICHOLAS SAKELARIS/CoServ (Except where noted)

Little Elm resident Delia Stone has struggled to get down the stairs at her home recently, especially when walking her dogs.

“I just have those five steps and I’ve fallen down just those because I’m really shaky. I’m lucky I didn’t get hurt,” said Delia, who is also a CoServ Member. “I have multiple health issues and I normally walk with a cane. And the doctors told me to walk with a walker. I may have surgery soon and I don’t know what that’s going to do to me.”

A permanent solution was needed so she could safely come and go from her home. A social worker contacted the Texas Ramp Project, a Richardson-based non-profit that builds ramps to help people with mobility issues. When the Texas Ramp Project learned she was a CoServ Member, they reached out to Conan Tearney, CoServ’s Information Technology Services Manager, and lead on CoServ ramp build volunteer projects.

As he has for the last six years, Conan rallied CoServ Employees to volunteer to build a wheelchair ramp. The team included Employees from Accounting, Information Technology and Communications. They showed up at Delia’s home at 8 a.m. March 11 ready to work.

“It is always good to see the camaraderie of CoServ in action, and this most recent build for Delia was another example of that," Conan said. “Employees came together to give back to the community and help a Member.”

The Employees started by building the frame for the ramp sections, securing them into place and then tacking on the plywood board on top. Others worked on the handrails or cut the wood to fit.

The patio is 36 inches off the ground and the ramp had to wind around the back of patio and extend to the driveway – a total of 52 feet. For safety reasons, the ramp can only descend at a 5-degree angle.

By 2:30 p.m., the crew had finished the job and Delia could safely walk herself and her dogs on the ramp.

“It’s just wonderful. I can’t express. You all have been so nice,” Delia said. “This will really help me out and I really appreciate it.”

To learn more about CoServ’s Community Impact initiatives, visit CoServ.com/Community.

CoServ Member Delia Stone poses on her new ramp at her Little Elm home. Photo by CONAN TEARNEY/CoServ
CoServ Member Delia Stone poses on her new ramp at her Little Elm home. Photo by CONAN TEARNEY/CoServ
The final step is to build the handrails along the entire ramp.
The final step is to build the handrails along the entire ramp.
CoServ Employees build the frame for the ramp.
CoServ Employees build the frame for the ramp.