Women from across Maryland’s Eastern Shore came together to give the gift of accessibility

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – What started as a mission for better mobility turned into something bigger than just that. Women from across Maryland’s Eastern Shore came to Princess Anne, to give a resident the gift of accessibility.

“Chesapeake housing is a nonprofit, faith-based organization, that builds wheelchair ramps, for those critically in need,” executive director of Chesapeake Housing Mission, Lachelle Scarlato, said.

The idea is for women to support other women. Scarlato said for the volunteers, they’re simply doing a good deed. But to the people they serve, the new addition to their homes makes a world of a difference.

“Folks are able to get to their medical appointments,” Scarlato said. “We have individuals who sadly have not been out of their house for extended periods of time. In many instances, that the day we build the ramp is quite joyous.”

And this build is big. It took over a dozen women to bring the ramp to life, in just under eight hours.

Maureen Williams, the chair of the Chesapeake Housing Mission, said the volunteers are able to make roughly 100 builds possible, every year, with money from the Women’s Fund.

“Most of our money goes towards helping people in need,” Williams said. “Whether it’s a ramp, whether it’s handrails, whether it’s a storm door that’s leaking water, or grab bars in the bathrooms.”

As the volunteers near the end of their project, Williams is looking forward to wheeling the homeowner down her brand-new ramp, and seeing the difference that the build makes.

“At the end of the day, somebody that’s living by themselves, or elderly people that don’t have a lot of help, [we’re] providing hope for them- for an easier and better life, and safety for them- to get in and out of their homes, easily,” Williams said.