Those involved in the Mission Salem Project of installing a new porch and ramp at rural Salem home. Left to Right: William East from Mission Salem, Kevin Braddy SCHS Building Trades Instructor, Tyler Gillett, Alex Smith, Cavan Lusch, Harley Carter, Randy Donoho from Mission Salem, Micah Slater, Patrick Ratts, Brighton Lucas, Dylan Kenshalo, Seth Tate snd Keagan Powell. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Eleven Salem Community High School construction students and their instructor joined Mission Salem Friday morning to build a new ramp and front porch at the home of a disabled Vietnam Veteran.
Mission Salem’s Randy Donoho says this is the first time they have been able to team up with Salem High School.
“It’s really about doing what God has called us to do and that is finding time to go out in the community and help people. That’s the big thing right now is getting the resources and the help to do it. I’ve been so blessed. Mission Salem is doing really well. And this is awesome. There is no other word for having all these high school kids out here doing this.”
Donoho says talks about the construction students helping began a year and a half ago, but COVID restrictions kept them from being able to participate on-site at a project until now.
Salem High building trades teacher Kevin Braddy is also excited about getting the students involved in the community.
“Building an 8×16 front porch and putting in a 24-foot wheelchair ramp access for it. It’s a really good project. We are going to reuse some lumber currently being disassembled from the existing porch. And we are going to square up and put together a really nice, brand new structure.”
One of the students is Brighton Lucas who has earned a scholarship from Mission Salem and plans to pursue a career in carpentry after completing the carpentry program at Kaskaskia College.
“The finished project is the most satisfaction you will get from building and assembling this kind of stuff. I just like being out here, hands-on and being away from school.”
The work is being done at the home of Roy and Sherry Brown on the England Road south of Salem. Sherry was impressed to see the Salem High School students working on the project.
“The VA told him that his bones in his ankles have deteriorated when he was hurt in Vietnam and they could snap at any time. He needed the ramp. They said for him to have a ramp he would need to be in a wheelchair and he’s not at that point yet.”
Donoho says this isn’t the only project Salem High School building trades students are helping. They are currently working on building two other ramp projects in class and he’s hopeful they will be able to go to the homes to install them as well.
Donoho also is praising Modern Woodmen for providing the funding to purchase the lumber for the projects.
Salem High School students work on new front porch and ramp. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
