Hometown Missions and Habitat ramp up volunteer construction

Violet Thyen's grandson Blayton Durcholz, 9, watched Habitat for Humanity volunteer Jeremy Foxen work on the post for the new ramp at Thyen's Willams Street home. — Violet Thyen’s great-grandson Blayton Durcholz, 9, watched Habitat for Humanity volunteer Jeremy Foxen work on a post for the new ramp at Thyen’s Willams Street home.

Two local community action groups teamed up last Saturday to provide Violet Thyen with a wheelchair ramp to her Huntingburg home.

Violet is wheelchair bound and has been staying at a local physical therapy facility. She was expected to return home this past week and according to her daughter Lisa Durcholz, the family was having difficulty bringing her up and down the steep stairs to the house.

Lisa reached out to Hometown Missions for assistance in building a ramp to the home.

Irvin Blemker (left) and Randy Leistner checked the post as they set them to build the ramp to Violet's home. — Irvin Blemker (left) and Randy Leistner checked one of the posts for the ramp as they constructed it Saturday.

Hometown Missions is a Huntingburg-based group formed by three churches — Huntingburg United Methodist, Salem United and Church of the Nazarene — who’s ministers were meeting regularly to pray for the community.

Around Labor Day last year, they formed a group of about 20 volunteers who teamed up with Habitat for Humanity on several projects for needy families. Since then they have continued to team up with Habitat for several local projects.

When Lisa contacted Hometown Missions, they suggested she apply for the “A Brush with Kindness Ministry” through Habitat for Humanity to assist with funding and building the ramp.

To receive the funding and assistance from Habitat, the family agreed to do 14 hours of sweat equity through volunteer work or work on the home. They also agree to repay Habitat for the materials involved in the construction of the ramp.

Irvin Blemker looked on as the frame and posts were being set for the ramp to Thyen's home. — Irvin Blemker looked on as the frame and posts were being set for the ramp to Thyen’s home.

Saturday, Mark Traylor and Jeremy Foxen reported to Violet’s home on Williams Street with a group of volunteers that included members of the Christian Church of Jasper and Hometown Missions.

Traylor and Foxen lead many of the Habitat home projects and by the end of the day, the group had braved the rain and mud to build a two-tiered ramp for Violet to use to enter and exit her home.