The nonprofit EmmanuWheel was built upon faith and fellowship to provide free wheelchair access ramps to mobility-impaired Midlands residents.

Its goal of providing accessibility for all has become a lifeline for more than 800 people.

The project came from humble beginnings. What started as a group of volunteers from the Lexington Church of Christ doing home repairs and yard work quickly grew along with the number of requests. With demand rising, Jeff Kirby established a 501(c)(3) ministry in 2009 to help meet mobility needs for as many people as possible.

EmmanuWheel operates with 26 volunteer teams and receives referrals from nurses, hospitals, churches, social workers and family members. The need is constant.

Right now, they have 25 people on their waitlist, but executive director and team leader Chris Sharpe says the balance of volunteers, funding and requests has always worked out. The organization completed 90 ramps last year, and they hope to reach 150 ramps annually within the next five years.

That mission played out on Saturday morning in the front yard of Linda Ford’s home. Saws buzzed as volunteers measured, drilled and cut boards for a new ramp that would give Ford a new, safe way in and out of her house.

Kathy Williams, who usually helps with cutting the wood, worked quickly through a stack of lumber.

“It’s going by very fast today,” she said. “It usually depends if they need a cut-back or not.”

Nearby, Gail Sanders, Nancy Taylor and Jackie Davis, known affectionately as the “screw crew,” worked together as they secured boards into place with their drills, one-by-one. It was work.

“We love it though,” they said, laughing.

Another volunteer paused and stepped back to take in the progress.

“This is the highlight of my week right here,” he said.

The ramp is more than just a convenience for Ford: It’s a necessity.

“I’ve been having trouble walking for a while now,” she said. “I finally got my chair last week.”

Without a ramp, even simple movements had become difficult and dangerous.

“It gets to a point where she’s had to scoot that chair up under me to give me something to fall into,” Ford said, pointing to her caretaker. “It’s benefiting all of us, really. Her knees are bad, she’s had surgery on one of them, so getting up and down the steps is getting difficult for her.”

Ford wasn’t clear on how her name reached EmmanuWheel, but she’s grateful it did.

Sharpe said that kind of impact is what has guided EmmanuWheel since its start. He said the mission has stayed the same: help as many people as possible and represent Jesus well. Sharpe arrives at each build site at sunrise to set up the job, double-check measurements and make sure volunteers feel supported.

“Their time is very valuable,” he said. “I don’t take for granted that they chose to be here.”

The work is as meaningful as the mission for volunteer Kathy Beatty.

“We’re glad to do something for somebody that needs it,” Beatty said. “It’s an opportunity for us to get together, have a little fellowship, have a meal together and do something good.”

The final boards were nailed as the ramp stretched from Ford’s doorway by early afternoon. Volunteers watched as she saw it for herself the first time in shock.

“Y’all are such a blessing. God bless all of you,” Ford said.