Recently, Lee BIA Builders Care and community partners provided a much-needed wheelchair ramp for a disabled Veteran.
Fran Gersic, 78, has lived in his Bokeelia home for most of his life. Fran suffers from neuropathy and heart disease, but this has never gotten in the way of his kind-hearted spirit. He is well known in his tight-knit community for his ingenuity and resourcefulness and his kindness is evident in having helped many of his neighbors with a variety of home projects over the years.
In May 2020, Fran’s life quickly became different than it once was. He suffered an unexpected stroke, effecting the use of his legs and right arm. Fran now relies on a wheelchair and is unable to perform daily activities independently. Living alone, these unexpected circumstances created a major challenge, as the only access to the home was his front steps in which he could no longer navigate. Subsequently, he was confined to his home for many weeks.
During these difficult times, it’s more important than ever to help our neighbors and serve the community in which we live and work. Thanks to a caring neighbor and fellow Lee Building Industry Member, Builders Care learned of Mr. Gersic and his urgent need for an accessible wheelchair ramp. Quickly and without hesitation, Builders Care and generous community partners stepped in to help this deserving Veteran.
In a matter of 2 days, Builders Care and their team of rockstar volunteers came together, enduring the intense summer heat, to provide Mr. Gersic with the life-changing gift of an accessible wheelchair ramp. Thanks to the support and passionate efforts put forth by all, Fran now has the freedom to enter and exit his home safely and with ease.
On behalf of Lee BIA Builders Care and the community, we extend our sincerest thank you to Mr. Gersic for serving our country and hope this new ramp provides him with much comfort and ease.
This ramp project was also featured in the Pine Island Eagle Newspaper. The article can be found here – http://www.pineisland-eagle.com/page/content.detail/id/559631/Lee-Builders-Care-builds-ramp-for-Pine-Island-Navy-veteran.html?nav=5047
Special Thank you to our Project Partners for making this possible! Nilles Design Group, Inc., Westcoast Structural Concrete & Masonry, Thread Source, Inc., Grabber Fort Myers, Southwest Builders, and all of our volunteers, Mike Nilles, Dan Pickard, Trevor Taulman, Richard Ellis and Ryan LaPointe
About Lee BIA Builders Care
The mission of Lee BIA Builders Care is to provide emergency construction services at no cost to needy and deserving elderly and/or disabled homeowners, and their families, who cannot obtain repairs through traditional means. Lee BIA Builders Care offers a full range of no-cost emergency construction services to improve the safety and health for needy seniors and disabled individuals of all ages by enlisting the expertise and donated services and materials of contractors, sub-contractors and businesses. To date, Lee BIA Builders Care has put more than $4.75 million in construction services back into the community at no cost to homeowners in need. Builders Care is funded through financial donations, grants and donated services and materials to provide emergency construction services to qualified homeowners throughout the community. Lee BIA Builders Care is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization under the charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association. Lee BIA Builders Care is headquartered at 6835 International Center Blvd. #4 in Fort Myers. Donations can be made online at www.LeeBuildersCare.org. More information is available by calling 239-938-0056, and by following Builders Care at www.Facebook.com/LeeBuildersCare.
