BEDFORD – What began in 1989 as a single act of kindness for a local woman confined to a wheelchair has blossomed into one of the most impactful and satisfying projects for the Bedford Lions Club: building wheelchair ramps for community members in need. Celebrating 35 years of this vital service, the Lions have now constructed an impressive 350 wheelchair ramps and 50 handrails, logging over 13,500 volunteer hours.
The initiative’s origins date back to July 1989, when the Lions learned of a local woman who had been unable to leave her home for six years. They saw an opportunity to make a tangible difference, constructing an 18-foot wooden ramp from her porch to the ground. This initial ramp, made from plywood and carpet donated by Armstrong Carpets (later Axsom’s Flooring), marked the beginning of a legacy. In 2004, the construction method evolved, switching to more durable 5/4 deck boards without carpeting, a practice that continues to this day.
Remarkably, the dedicated team of ramp builders, many of whom are senior citizens themselves, accomplish this complex work without professional carpentry backgrounds. Their commitment to aiding fellow seniors and others in the community shines through in the quality of their craftsmanship.
In the last decade alone, the Lions have averaged 16 ramps per year, having already completed 12 ramps this year. The club consistently donates all labor, and its ramp-building fund contributes to material costs for families who cannot afford them. This fund has been bolstered over the years by generous support from individuals, local churches, and community organizations, including the Bedford Urban Enterprise Association, American Legion Gillen Post 33, Walmart Community Grants, Southern Indiana Center for Independent Living, Disabled Veterans Wish Foundation, Lawrence County Cancer Patients Services, Hoosier Uplands, and the Lawrence County Community Foundation Pennington Grant.
Ramp lengths have varied significantly, from a compact 8 feet to an expansive 86 feet, often incorporating platforms, direction changes, and sturdy handrails. Most ramps are completed within a single day, with an average of 6 to 10 Lions working 4 to 6 hours each. A notable exception was an 86-foot ramp built in 2015, which required two days and 164 man-hours to finish.
The Bedford Lions Club’s ramp building project stands as a testament to the sustained dedication of the community, significantly improving the quality of life for hundreds of individuals in the Bedford area.
