Despite Uncooperative Weather, Ramp Up MC Volunteers Launch 2025 Season with Success

The weather wasn’t on our side, but that didn’t stop our dedicated Ramp Up MC volunteers from completing their first ramp project of the 2025 season last week. Located on the northwest side of the City of Wausau, the project was completed in just three days, thanks to the skill and efficiency of our volunteer builders.

The recipient, who was incredibly grateful, was thrilled to finally have safe and easy access in and out of her home. A huge thank you to our volunteers for their commitment and perseverance in making a difference—rain or shine!

Ramp Up MC completes the final project of the 2024 build season

 

The weather was superb last week and Ramp Up volunteers completed the final ramp project of the 2024 build season on the west side of the City of Wausau. 

As another successful season comes to an end we reflect on all who make this program possible, the Greenheck Foundation, the Community Foundation, the Aging and Disabilities Resource Center, Corporate and Individual donors and our new partners, Habitat for Humanity of Wausau! Thank You.

Ramp gives Marathon County man his life back

A Marathon County man has seen his life improved vastly since an area organization built a ramp at his home.

Click on the link below to view the WAOW's story on one of our ramp recipients we built a ramp for earlier this summer on Wausau's north side. Many thanks to WAOW and Brad Hanson for helping us tell the community what we do.

Link to WAOW Story

Ramp Up Marathon County crew completes Project in Colby

After dealing with two days of rain delay, Ramp Up volunteers completed a ramp project on the far end of the county last week. A big shout to Crew Chief Dick Keding and the great volunteers that responded to the call. The recipient was thrilled with the ramp and appreciated all the hard work put in.

 

A Special Thanks to WAOW and WSAW for their media coverage of our latest Ramp Build!

Getting the word out about Ramp Up Marathon County and the services we provide to the community is always a challenge for us. We are very grateful to our local television stations who came and covered our latest project build. Please click and view the videos.

https://www.waow.com/video/ramp-up-marathon-county-helps-people-get-around-their-homes-freely/video_0e044b83-7e1d-5ff1-b2de-48ac486fcda8.html 

https://www.wsaw.com/2024/06/13/ramp-up-marathon-county-kicks-off-2024-season/

Ramp Up Marathon County crew completes first build of the 2024 season

The weather co-operated and our crew of Ramp Up MC volunteers completed their first ramp project of the 2024 season on June 13th.  The ramp project was located on the northeast side of the City of Wausau and was completed in just two days thanks to the efficient work of the volunteer builders. The very thankful recipient was thrilled with is new ability to get in and out of his house with ease.

To find out how you can volunteer, donate, or make a referral, call the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin toll-free at 1-888-486-9545. Please ask to talk to a resource specialist.

Congratulations to Ramp Up MC's Ray Nowaczyk!!!

Click here to view WAOW's Video

Congratulations to Ray Nowaczyk for receiving the Jefferson Award this February. Ray has been part of the group, "Ramp-Up Marathon County", since its inception 10 years ago! He has been the onsite construction coordinator at almost every single "build" over those past ten years! "Ramp Up" is a group of volunteers that build wheel chair ramps and steps for qualified individuals who otherwise would have to move from their homes due to accessibility issues in getting in and out of their homes! This group will normally build anywhere from 4-6 ramps or more in a season! Thanks Ray for your dedications and your service to the community! You are a great leader! Thank you Melissa Langbehn and Channel 9 for bestowing this honor on Ray! Also a big thank you to Gerold Swope for his help in bestowing this honor on Ray! You have a wonderful personality and great sense of humor---so glad that the indoor ramp is working out so well for you!

Ramp Up Completes Final Ramp Project of 2023

Ramp Up Marathon County volunteers completed their final ramp project of the 2003 build season on October 16-17, in beautiful fall weather and perfect working conditions. The last project was located on the southwest side of the City of Wausau. A big thank you goes out to all involved, the crews, the designers, and the folks at ADRC that handle the referrals, screening and application processing, for making 2023 another successful year!

"This is the first time I've been out of my house since April"

Ramp Up Marathon County volunteers got a quick reminder of why they do what they do this week. The crew completed a ramp build on Wausau's northwest side on Tuesday, July 25. After completing the ramp project, they asked the recipient to come out for "team" picture with the volunteers. Her first statement was that this was the "first time she had been out of her house since April".

If you, or anyone you know of, is in a similar situation, please contact the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 715-261-6070 or 1-888-486-9545 or Midstate Independent Living Choices (MILC) at 1-800-382-8484. Just ask to talk to a "resource specialist" and they will explain the requirements and options available to you. Our goal is to help lower income Marathon County residents gain safe access to and from their homes.

Got Extra Space?? We need your help...

As the build season winds down Ramp Up Marathon County volunteers are in dire need of some storage space. We need somewhere to store our temporary aluminum ramps we use to provide applicants temporary access if we cant get a permanent ramp built for them before they are released from rehab etc.. The space will also allow us to store re-purposed ramp sections from ramps that are no longer needed by the original recipients and can be used in future projects.

Ideally the space needed would be approximately an area the size of a two car garage but one car size will also be of great help. So if you have a garage, corner of a shed or barn that we could have access to please contact us. Your generosity will be much appreciated.

If you can help please contact: 

Ray Nowaczyk (Crew Leader) at 715-571-0468 
nowaczyk.ray@gmail.com
OR
Tracey Baken (Co-Chair)
Aging and Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin
1-888-486-9545

Ramp Up Marathon County Completes Ramp Project

Ramp Up Marathon County volunteers completed the final ramp build of the 2022 build season. The build was completed on September 19 on Wausau's northwest side. The crew completed the build all in one day. Hats off to the volunteers who worked so efficiently to build this ramp providing the very thankful recipient with safe and easy access to and from her home!