A Ramp for Señora Olga

By Michael Bromka

Carlsbad Heights Lion and foreman of building wheelchair ramps, Tom Dugger, faced a daunting task for a delightful client. Olga de los Santos lives south of Center Street (east of Walmart), with a concrete ramp so steep it’s perilous. Descending, she’s taken a tumble from it.

With limited space, the conundrum was to marry a new square wooden half-deck to the prior round brick-and-mortar stoop. Tom envisioned an understructure of horizontal 2”X4” plus vertical 4”X4” supports.

Jay Francis drilled bolt holes into the masonry. He also jigsawed curves into the planking. Others used the chop saw to prep specified pieces. Downtown Lion Vishal Kholwadwala helped with this phase.

Olga greeted the Heights Lions with breakfast burritos wrapped in homemade tortillas. While Tom and Jay are builders, Olga’s an ace cook. If you take a break by her, Olga will relate her recipe for salsa. Tom, Jay, plus Lions Michael Bromka, Bernie Sanchez, and Rick Wiedenmann enjoyed their unexpected meal.

Although its terminus runs forward, the ramp’s upper incline headed back, U-turned at a mid-deck, and finalized forward to optimize the allotted space. Olga watched every step.

Bernie and Rick ran the chop saw. We took up tasks assigned by foreman Tom. Guided by Jay, Olga herself used our Quik-Drive vertical screw gun to secure a decking plank at one point.

Folks ask how to apply for a ramp. Online, go to nmramp.org, and use the form to enter specifics for qualifying: address, income, utility expenses, etc.

In Carlsbad, Lion Tom will visit to snap photos and measure the space. He calculates materials, notifies volunteers, and schedules the build.

Says Olga, “The gentlemen are doing a good job. I’ll ask my son Jacob to paint the finished ramp. I’m proud, and I’m happy with this safer way down.”