February 2022 Newsletter
Volume 4, Issue 2
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A Record Year for Fundraising
The Texas Ramp Project ended the year 2021 by smashing all previous revenue records. Income rose over 85% from the prior year, to nearly $1.9 million. Preliminary figures show just over $1 million in foundation grants, $154,000 from businesses, $130,000 from churches, and $110,000 from civic organizations.
But the most awesome figure of all was the $341,000 that TRP picked up from individuals. This means that thousands of donors—volunteers, their friends and families, and others in the community see what we are doing and are moved to give. Even clients often send a check or hand the team leader cash. It may be as little as $10, but it is always from a grateful heart.
We can all be proud of this record intake. It allows TRP to enter 2022 in a much stronger financial position than at the beginning of last year, when donations were seriously depressed because of COVID. How great it is to be rewarded for the good work YOU do every day.
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Introducing TRP's New YouTube Channel
By Madison Lopez, Social Media Editor
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January has come and gone, and with it came a fresh start for social media. We want to officially introduce you to our new YouTube channel. We rolled this account out at the end of 2021, and we are excited to utilize it much more this coming year. Please subscribe to our channel so you can see updates for when we post a new video. The Texas Ramp Project YouTube channel will be a great place to view newscasts that feature TRP and our volunteers, special "thank you" videos, as well as potential updates.
Along with the exiting news about our YouTube channel, TRP's interactions on Facebook and Instagram continued to do well this past month. We added over a dozen new followers and reached over 1,200 individuals with our posts.
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Remember to snap those pictures and send them our way on social media. Your bright smiles speak volumes to those who see and share our photos online. A picture is worth a thousand words, and in our case, a thousand kind and servant-hearted words.
Check out our most popular post from last month, featuring the Houston Christ Memorial Lutheran Church volunteers. Click on picture to open.
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Remember, you can use the hashtags #TexasRampProject or #TRP to share with our community. Tag us in your photos, and follow us here:
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Donating just got easier with the new QR Code - Try it, it's so easy.
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The Texas Ramp Project received over 4,800 referrals in 2021—nearly back to pre-pandemic levels. But we have heard from several coordinators that their referrals are lagging. This is not a good situation, because if funding is available but volunteers can’t build due to lack of referrals, they are likely to look elsewhere to donate their time. Once lost, they may not return.
The best approach is to be proactive. One suggestion is to contact the social workers who have been making referrals and remind them to watch for clients who would benefit. Another is to be visible in the local health care community, so referral sources know about our work. Another is to secure media coverage that lets the entire community know we are there to help.
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One effect of the pandemic, we are finding, is turnover among health care providers and social workers. Whether pandemic-related or not, when these sources move on, they take their knowledge about TRP with them. If you find your sources are no longer there, you may have to go higher in the organization to regain their attention. Keep in mind that TRP has brochures and calling cards that can be left with potential referral sources. We are happy to provide them.
There are 1.6 million people in Texas with a disability. Between the aging population and the long-term effects of COVID, that number is likely to rise. TRP can help, but only if providers know we are here.
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Statewide Conference Coming Up
Region coordinators and key volunteers from across the state will be attending the Texas Ramp Project’s 2022 conference in Austin on February 18–19. The meeting will focus on nuts and bolts issues to include creating healthy regions, finding funding, optimizing the organization, and building better ramps. If you have any questions or issues you would like to have discussed, be sure to contact your region or county coordinator so they can be brought to the meeting.
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Volunteer Spotlight
Jerry Halpain: Coordinator,
East Texas Jacksonville Region
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Jerry Halpain retired in 2008 to enjoy a life of fishing and his place on Lake Striker. But in 2013, the Texas Ramp Project came knocking. John Laine invited Jerry and two other members of First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville to build a ramp. It took a hot Friday afternoon and part of Saturday to finish. A tough way to build his first ramp.
But, as Jerry says, “Seeing our first client roll down the ramp in his wheelchair, we were hooked.” Jerry and his teams have been building ramps in Anderson, Cherokee and Rusk counties ever since—nearly 160 at last count. “It’s a lot of work, but all our volunteers say it is their best area of service.”
Jerry grew up in Leola, a town of 321 souls in central Arkansas. He attended Henderson State University, earning a degree in business administration. A management training job with K-Mart brought him to Texas, where he has been for the last 50 years. He eventually took a job with Texas Health and Human Services and ended up in Jacksonville.
As region coordinator, Jerry assigns referrals, orders lumber, manages the warehouse in Jacksonville, and builds modules. Like most other coordinators, his favorite part is building ramps. More challenging issues are maintaining an active volunteer force and fundraising. “However,” he says, “we always manage to complete the build because of our servant hearts.”
Jerry and his wife, Elizabeth, have been married 31 years and have four children, seven grandchildren and a year-old great-grandson. They attend First UMC in Jacksonville, where they work with the food pantry. Jerry goes on church mission trips and works summers with the U.M. ARMY, a youth mission program. He also participates in Lions Club service activities that aid people with vision issues, diabetes and childhood cancer.
Jerry and his teams love helping their Texas neighbors in need. In addition, he says, “We get a great feeling of self-worth to help others. We enjoy ourselves, get to know each other and serve our fellow man.” What more could you ask?
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Hilti tools are now available at no cost and can be shipped directly to your location. Gary Stopani has a list of available tools you can order. They include impact drivers, circular saws, reciprocating saws, drills, hammer drills and angle grinders. They can be corded or cordless. The cordless tools come with two batteries and a charger. Contact Gary at glstopani@verizon.net for the order form and other information.
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January Grants and Donations |
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The IBP Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the nationwide company Installed Building Products, has awarded TRP a $40,000 grant for use in six major cities across Texas. The cities are Austin, Beaumont, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, where IBP has offices. We are hopeful that IBP employees will decide to work along with us as volunteers.
TRP’s corporate partner State Farm has awarded $20,000 to be split between Dallas and central/South Texas. State Farm employees and agents will be building ramps as part of their service days. TRP also received a $19,000 grant from the LGR Foundation Community Fund of Austin Community Foundation. This grant will be applied in Travis, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays and Williamson counties.
Other grants and donations received in January include the following:
- $12,000 for San Antonio Northeast from the San Antonio Council on Alcohol & Drug Awareness (to be paid as ramps are built).
- $5,000 for Texarkana North from the Martha, David and Bagby Lennox Foundation.
- $5,000 for Permian Basin from Gibson Energy.
- $5,000 for Statewide from Vistra Corporate Services Company.
- $2,085 for Austin West from Hill Country Fellowship.
- $2,000 for East Texas Tyler from Tyson Properties, Inc.
- $1,500 for Amarillo from Big Country Electric Cooperative Trust.
- $1,167 for the Abilene region from the Rotary Club of Abilene.
- $1,000 for San Antonio South from the San Miguel Electric Cooperative.
- $750 for San Angelo from Menard Mission Fund.
- $750 for Victoria from South Texas Electric Cooperative.
- $500 for East Texas Jacksonville from United Way of Rusk County.
- $500 for East Texas Tyler from the Altra Federal Credit Union.
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Do you have mobility challenges? Do you or someone you know use a walker, wheelchair or motorized scooter and have difficulty getting in and out of your home? If your answer is yes, then perhaps you should consider a ramp to give you easier access in and out of your home. The Texas Ramp Project, a nonprofit, may be able to help. They construct ramps for individuals in order for them to gain easier access in and out of the house.
The Texas Ramp Project began in 1984, when a group met to build a ramp for someone who couldn't afford it. Since starting up locally in 2014 as an outreach of the United Methodist Church, the group has built 40 ramps in Kerr and Gillespie counties. However, they go where the need is and build ramps all over Texas.
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Building Basics
Module Holder Jigs and
Tired of losing your 4” level block?
by Roy Harrington
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Building Basics
This month’s column highlights more jigs that can make things easier for the build team. You may also be interested to learn that many of the jigs highlighted over the last few months will be available for demonstration at the conference later this month.
Module Holder Jigs
Two variations of a jig to support the lower end of a module during installation have been developed in two different areas of the state. The first one was created by Luke Crain and submitted by Richard Riehm, who leads our Parker County crew.
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Do you have other tips or suggestions to share?
Please let me know if you have found a way to build ramps better, stronger or faster that might help other teams in the state. Send your comments, suggestions or other ideas to royh85@verizon.net.
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The jig has a slotted vertical support and a simple tightening knob on the back that will hold its ~2’ wide horizontal support bar in position while the module is attached on the upper end and the 4x4 posts are installed. |
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RAMP OF THE MONTH: Coke County
San Angelo Region
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It was a cold day, but warm hands and hearts gave Ms. Alice H., 62, a new and very safe ramp. Alice's old ramp was totally unsafe and falling apart. She was at risk every time she used the old ramp. The team of 6 volunteers from Sierra Vista United Methodist Church built Alice's new 39 foot ramp by donating 24 hours of labor. The referral for the ramp was made by Alice's' social worker as she too, was concerned about Alice using the old ramp. |
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Even the picture looks cold. |
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Pass the Newsletter On to Others |
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We hope you enjoy having the newsletter sent to you directly, as it is filled with useful information, building hints and tips, data collection updates and processes, client stories, special announcements and recognitions.
The newsletter only does its job when it is dispersed and shared with all who might be interested. We encourage you to liberally pass it on to others in your region.
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Also, do send email addresses of people in your region who should be receiving it, along with their name and TRP region, to Sandy Knutson at sjkbits@aol.com.
If you prefer to NOT receive the newsletter, you can unsubscribe by emailing sjkbits@aol.com and asking for your name to be removed or use the "Unsubscribe" link below.
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