Rotary Club Builds 994th Ramp for the Smith Family
Thursday, September 11, 2025
By Bruce Gandy
The Madison County Rotary Club Ramp Crew constructed a 4-foot by 5-ft landing and a 16-ft handicap ramp on Thursday, 11 September 2025, for Faye Smith on Faith Valley Church Road. Faye and her husband Albert are longtime residents of Madison County where they have raised their two dutiful and loving sons, Bobby and Dale. Both Faye and Albert worked hard for many years at a variety of jobs. Faye worked as a seamstress for several different local firms and Albert drove commercial trucks, worked on pipelines, and worked at the Georgia Square mall in Athens. Although Faye is spirited, heart problems are slowing her down and she sometimes loses her balance. She and Albert joined the ramp crew in the accompanying photo where she thanked the ramp crew and confided that, because of the danger of falling, she had felt like a prisoner in her own home. The ramp crew received a much-appreciated ramp donation for Rotary from the Smith family. This week’s crewmembers consisted of Don Sullinger, Artry Bishop, Alan Phillips, Ed Brown, Danny Dills, Roy Nunnally, Dan Weiss, and Bruce Gandy.
Thursday, September 11, 2025
By Bruce Gandy
The Madison County Rotary Club Ramp Crew constructed a 4-foot by 5-ft landing and a 16-ft handicap ramp on Thursday, 11 September 2025, for Faye Smith on Faith Valley Church Road. Faye and her husband Albert are longtime residents of Madison County where they have raised their two dutiful and loving sons, Bobby and Dale. Both Faye and Albert worked hard for many years at a variety of jobs. Faye worked as a seamstress for several different local firms and Albert drove commercial trucks, worked on pipelines, and worked at the Georgia Square mall in Athens. Although Faye is spirited, heart problems are slowing her down and she sometimes loses her balance. She and Albert joined the ramp crew in the accompanying photo where she thanked the ramp crew and confided that, because of the danger of falling, she had felt like a prisoner in her own home. The ramp crew received a much-appreciated ramp donation for Rotary from the Smith family. This week’s crewmembers consisted of Don Sullinger, Artry Bishop, Alan Phillips, Ed Brown, Danny Dills, Roy Nunnally, Dan Weiss, and Bruce Gandy.
Rotary Constructs Ramp for Gaybreal Appling
Thursday, September 4, 2025
By Bruce Gandy
Members of the Rotary Club of Madison County and volunteers constructed their 993rd handicap ramp, a 28-foot access ramp on Thursday, 4 September 2025, for Gaybreal Appling who lives on Farm Road. Gaybreal is a lifelong resident of Madison County, where she has worked many years as a caregiver for several families. She has an only child, a daughter, Terri, but make no mistake about it, Gaybreal is surrounded by loving and supporting family members. In addition to a cousin, Larry Gantt, who assisted with the ramp, she has a niece, Tonnette, who provides Gaybreal continuing support. Unfortunately, Terri caught a virulent infection on her foot which progressed rapidly, and after amputating several toes, the infection claimed her leg. Gaybreal has two grandchildren, and she is a member of the Springfield Baptist Church. This week’s ramp crew consisted of Don Sullinger, Dan Weiss, Roy Nunnally, Walton Hill, Mitchell Hill, Johnny Minish, Ed Brown, Alan Phillips, Artry Bishop, and Bruce Gandy.
Thursday, September 4, 2025
By Bruce Gandy
Members of the Rotary Club of Madison County and volunteers constructed their 993rd handicap ramp, a 28-foot access ramp on Thursday, 4 September 2025, for Gaybreal Appling who lives on Farm Road. Gaybreal is a lifelong resident of Madison County, where she has worked many years as a caregiver for several families. She has an only child, a daughter, Terri, but make no mistake about it, Gaybreal is surrounded by loving and supporting family members. In addition to a cousin, Larry Gantt, who assisted with the ramp, she has a niece, Tonnette, who provides Gaybreal continuing support. Unfortunately, Terri caught a virulent infection on her foot which progressed rapidly, and after amputating several toes, the infection claimed her leg. Gaybreal has two grandchildren, and she is a member of the Springfield Baptist Church. This week’s ramp crew consisted of Don Sullinger, Dan Weiss, Roy Nunnally, Walton Hill, Mitchell Hill, Johnny Minish, Ed Brown, Alan Phillips, Artry Bishop, and Bruce Gandy.
Rotary Club Builds Its 992nd Ramp for Pam Harper
Thursday, August 28, 2025
By Bruce Gandy
The Madison County Rotary Club Ramp Crew constructed a 31ft handicap ramp with a 4 X 5 landing on Thursday, 28 August 2025, for Pam Harper on Neese-Commerce Road. Pam is a lifelong resident of Madison County and a proud graduate of Madison County High School’s Class of ’79. She works at the Ila Restaurant and, although her son, Joe, lives in Athens, he visits often. Unfortunately, after years on her feet in the kitchen, Pam’s knees are failing her, and she is unsteady on her feet. Pam worships at Roger’s Chapel Baptist Church. The ramp crew is grateful to Pam for joining in the accompanying photograph and Rotary gratefully acknowledges her donation to the ongoing program. The Rotarians and volunteers of this week’s ramp crew consisted of Bruce Gandy, Floyd Phillips, Danny Dills, Mitchell Hill, Walton Hill, Ed Brown, Alan Phillips, Artry Bishop, Don Sullinger and not pictured are Roy Nunnally and Dan Weiss.
Thursday, August 28, 2025
By Bruce Gandy
The Madison County Rotary Club Ramp Crew constructed a 31ft handicap ramp with a 4 X 5 landing on Thursday, 28 August 2025, for Pam Harper on Neese-Commerce Road. Pam is a lifelong resident of Madison County and a proud graduate of Madison County High School’s Class of ’79. She works at the Ila Restaurant and, although her son, Joe, lives in Athens, he visits often. Unfortunately, after years on her feet in the kitchen, Pam’s knees are failing her, and she is unsteady on her feet. Pam worships at Roger’s Chapel Baptist Church. The ramp crew is grateful to Pam for joining in the accompanying photograph and Rotary gratefully acknowledges her donation to the ongoing program. The Rotarians and volunteers of this week’s ramp crew consisted of Bruce Gandy, Floyd Phillips, Danny Dills, Mitchell Hill, Walton Hill, Ed Brown, Alan Phillips, Artry Bishop, Don Sullinger and not pictured are Roy Nunnally and Dan Weiss.
Rotary Constructs Ramp for the Sanders Family
Thursday, August 14, 2025
By Bruce Gandy
Members of the Rotary Club of Madison County and volunteers constructed their 991st handicap ramp, a 24-foot access ramp with an 8 by 8-foot landing on Thursday, 14 August 2025, for Adam Sanders, who lives on Davis Street in Hull. Adam worked as a welder with the Dye Sheet Metal Company and coached sports at Camp Maranatha for many years until he was disabled by Diabetes and a spider bite that developed into Lymphedema of the legs. Luckily, Adam has Jeanelle, his loving wife, and his large family surrounding him to provide support. Adam and Jeanelle have 5 children and 4 grandchildren who help out since Jeanelle is still working on the support staff at Manor Lake Assisted Care. The volunteers and Rotarians on this week’s ramp crew were Bruce Gandy, Johnny Minish, Don Sullinger, Nevin Belsen, Gerry Carroll, Alan Phillips, Artry Bishop, Walton Hill, Roy Nunnally, Bobby Gower, Floyd Phillips, and Ed Brown.
Thursday, August 14, 2025
By Bruce Gandy
Members of the Rotary Club of Madison County and volunteers constructed their 991st handicap ramp, a 24-foot access ramp with an 8 by 8-foot landing on Thursday, 14 August 2025, for Adam Sanders, who lives on Davis Street in Hull. Adam worked as a welder with the Dye Sheet Metal Company and coached sports at Camp Maranatha for many years until he was disabled by Diabetes and a spider bite that developed into Lymphedema of the legs. Luckily, Adam has Jeanelle, his loving wife, and his large family surrounding him to provide support. Adam and Jeanelle have 5 children and 4 grandchildren who help out since Jeanelle is still working on the support staff at Manor Lake Assisted Care. The volunteers and Rotarians on this week’s ramp crew were Bruce Gandy, Johnny Minish, Don Sullinger, Nevin Belsen, Gerry Carroll, Alan Phillips, Artry Bishop, Walton Hill, Roy Nunnally, Bobby Gower, Floyd Phillips, and Ed Brown.
Rotary Club Builds the 990th Ramp for the Nash Family
Thursday, August 7, 2025
By Bruce Gandy
The Madison County Rotary Club Ramp Crew constructed a 10-foot-handicap ramp on Thursday, 7 August 2025, on Madison Street in Danielsville. The residents, Gary Nash and his wife, Sybil, are life-long residents who built a life and family in Madison County. After many years, Gary retired from working with Georgia Power. But as they age, mobility becomes an issue, and this ramp provides safety and convenience in entering and leaving the home. Also, they are blessed to have their daughter living nearby and providing love and support. Gary joined the ramp crew in the accompanying photograph and presented a much-appreciated donation to Rotary. The volunteers and Rotarians on this week’s ramp crew roster consisted of John Taylor, Alan Phillips, Don Sullinger, Ed Brown, Walton Hill, Johnny Minish, Bruce Gandy, and Artry Bishop. Not pictured: Mitchell Hill and Roy Nunnally.
Thursday, August 7, 2025
By Bruce Gandy
The Madison County Rotary Club Ramp Crew constructed a 10-foot-handicap ramp on Thursday, 7 August 2025, on Madison Street in Danielsville. The residents, Gary Nash and his wife, Sybil, are life-long residents who built a life and family in Madison County. After many years, Gary retired from working with Georgia Power. But as they age, mobility becomes an issue, and this ramp provides safety and convenience in entering and leaving the home. Also, they are blessed to have their daughter living nearby and providing love and support. Gary joined the ramp crew in the accompanying photograph and presented a much-appreciated donation to Rotary. The volunteers and Rotarians on this week’s ramp crew roster consisted of John Taylor, Alan Phillips, Don Sullinger, Ed Brown, Walton Hill, Johnny Minish, Bruce Gandy, and Artry Bishop. Not pictured: Mitchell Hill and Roy Nunnally.
Rotary Club of Madison County Handicap Ramp Program
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
By Edward A. Brown
The Rotary Club of Madison County started building ramps for disabled individuals in 1995. In 1995, while making a "Meals on Wheels" delivery to Mr. Harold McCarty, who had polio, a club member noticed that he was having great difficulty getting in and out of his house. The club came back and built him a handicap ramp that took most of the day.
These ramps are built at no cost to the ramp recipient. If they can afford a donation to the Ramp Program, it is welcomed but is not mandatory. The club has built ramps for diabetics, stroke victims, heart attacks victims, accidents, polio, birth defects, amputations, and many other disabilities. There are no Federal, State or local funds available for handicapped ramps other than through the Veterans Administration. This is an example of a service organization recognizing a need and doing something about it. Most of our ramps are in Madison County but we have gone to surrounding counties when the need is great. Other counties include Greene, Oconee, Clarke, Jackson, Barrow. Habersham, Oglethorpe, Walton, Hall and Franklin. We helped the Rotary Club of Royston-Franklin Springs (now Franklin County Rotary Club) and the Gainesville Rotary Club develop a successful ramp building program.
Financial support for the ramps comes from club fund-raising projects, and donations from the community and organizations. We have received grants and donations from the Francis Wood Foundation, Jackson EMC Foundation, and from other local organizations. Depending on the size of the ramp, it may take from 20 to 35 manhours or more to plan and construct. The materials for each ramp can run between $500 and $1250 or more. Rotary Club members and community volunteers give freely of their time to plan and construct the ramps and provide all the labor.
If you want to be part of this very successful program and financially support the Ramp Program effort, you can send your financial contribution with a note indicating it is for the "Handicap Ramp Program" made out to “Madison County Rotary Foundation” and mailed to:
Rotary Club of Madison County
P.O. Box 596
Danielsville, GA 30633
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
By Edward A. Brown
The Rotary Club of Madison County started building ramps for disabled individuals in 1995. In 1995, while making a "Meals on Wheels" delivery to Mr. Harold McCarty, who had polio, a club member noticed that he was having great difficulty getting in and out of his house. The club came back and built him a handicap ramp that took most of the day.
These ramps are built at no cost to the ramp recipient. If they can afford a donation to the Ramp Program, it is welcomed but is not mandatory. The club has built ramps for diabetics, stroke victims, heart attacks victims, accidents, polio, birth defects, amputations, and many other disabilities. There are no Federal, State or local funds available for handicapped ramps other than through the Veterans Administration. This is an example of a service organization recognizing a need and doing something about it. Most of our ramps are in Madison County but we have gone to surrounding counties when the need is great. Other counties include Greene, Oconee, Clarke, Jackson, Barrow. Habersham, Oglethorpe, Walton, Hall and Franklin. We helped the Rotary Club of Royston-Franklin Springs (now Franklin County Rotary Club) and the Gainesville Rotary Club develop a successful ramp building program.
Financial support for the ramps comes from club fund-raising projects, and donations from the community and organizations. We have received grants and donations from the Francis Wood Foundation, Jackson EMC Foundation, and from other local organizations. Depending on the size of the ramp, it may take from 20 to 35 manhours or more to plan and construct. The materials for each ramp can run between $500 and $1250 or more. Rotary Club members and community volunteers give freely of their time to plan and construct the ramps and provide all the labor.
If you want to be part of this very successful program and financially support the Ramp Program effort, you can send your financial contribution with a note indicating it is for the "Handicap Ramp Program" made out to “Madison County Rotary Foundation” and mailed to:
Rotary Club of Madison County
P.O. Box 596
Danielsville, GA 30633