Project Access – building ramps for Frederick County Residents

It has been a little busy around here lately.  I have taken on quite a few extra task/projects lately.  I have been recently accepted to the Maryland Association of REALTORS® Leadership Academy while also attending the Long & Foster REALTORS® Management Training Academy.  Of course these items are more for self development.  I am a firm believer that you should be learning something everyday, no matter what it is.  Fortunately, the real estate market slows down during the winter months to afford me the time to do all of these other projects.

A couple other places that I volunteer my time are with the American Cancer Society for the Frederick Relay for Life in May and with various committees at the Frederick County Association of REALTORS®.

One of the bigger tasks that is now in the works; Project Access. I first introduced it to you back in January.  A small group of us (Beto Benetiz, Kenny Meeks, Jan Reynolds and Judy Thompson) have been working together on ideas and procedures to get the job done.  The whole process has been a learning experience for all of us.  At first we didn’t know where to find a qualified candidate for us to build a ramp.  The time line we created had ended and then we receive a late entry from the Frederick County ARC House.

Jimmy King sporting his new wheels

They put us in touch with the Darr family of Brunswick.  They have been taking care of their eight year old grandson that has been diagnosised with Duchennes Muscular Dystropy.  This bright eyed boy is a pleasure to be around and it is even more evident when you talk to his grandparents.   Until recently, they would carry Jimmy up and down steps to get him to school.  Mr. Darr would carry Jimmy’s 120 lb body up the steps while Mrs. Darr would carry the wheel chair into the house.  Fortunately, they received a new motorized wheel chair so he is able to function a little easier with all of his friends at school and home.   However, this still doesn’t solve the problem at getting Jimmy in the house from street level.  They have been using a gracious neighbors back yard to wheel Jimmy down to the house from the alley.  Soon to be an impossible task as the weather gets worse.  Mr. Darr recognized this early on and has been slowly and painfully removing the steep steps in front of the house for a new Lift.  There is not enough room for just a ramp into the house.

Grandparents waiting for Jimmy to get off bus

We have met with them and brought out a very capable contractor, Larry Schaffert, to assist us in the project.  He drew up a set of plans that might cost us $15,000 to adapt the front yard for an ADA access to the Darr residents. (on edit: the Darrs opted for a much less expensive approach for their access.)  With that said, this is where I need your help.  We need to raise money and we need to raise it now.  Bad weather is lurking in front of us.  Vendors won’t move forward until they have a portion of the estimate to get started.  Please donate what you can.  You have two ways to contribute.  On-Line via the widget on the right side of this page or you can mail it in to our office;  FCAR – Project Access, 529 West South Street, Frederick, MD 21701.  If you have questions, you can call me or our office at 301-663-0757.

Donate to Project Access

Disclaimer: FCAR is a “Not For Profit” Organization. Your wonderful donations are not tax deductible, but will go directly to the installation of Jimmy King’s Lift by Laurel Medical Supplies until completed.

Friday is For Fundraisers – Frederick Relay For Life

Click here to go to MY Relay Website and Donate

Today I am at the Frederick Fair Grounds for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. I will be twittering events and also sending pictures to my Photoblog and Flickr account. Each time I will be trying to solicit more and more donations through out the night. I will be looking for the support of my online friends as well as my off-line friends.

In order to attract my fellow bloggers…I will be sending them some link love, please take the time to visit their sites while you are here.

• Chico CA Real Estate Foreclosures
• Negotiating Skills Are Essential for Crofton Home Sellers
• Bike Week in Charlottesville
• A View from my Back Porch—Transformation—Winter to Summer
• The Naples Lemon House in Vanderbilt
• My dog ate my Appraisal
• Bone Scan Land and Metastatic Cancer
• Ledyard and Gales Ferry Real Estate Update
• Clearwater Short Sale Home For Sale By Owner – Are You Prepared?
• Matrix Team Functionality
• Florida Bugs 101 – the real scoop
• Vidnik Works (Sort Of) Right Out Of The Box
• What’s Next for Estately.com?
• Best Social Media Advice From This Site
• HGTV: “The #1 Biggest Real Estate Mistake is Failing to Stage”
• REAL ESTATE MARKET STATS 05/05 – 05/11 (in Los Angeles)
• Buring Real Estate Questions, Answered
• The Controversial Sunriver Resort Village Mall
• Will Your Listing Agents Company Be In Business Tomorrow?
• Why Are Agents Always in a Hurry For Photos
• The Future of Television
• Chapel of Love as Performed by The Dixie Cups (1964)
• First-Class Stamp Prices Rise 1 Penny to 42 Cents Monday
• Recap: SocialDevCamp East
• I’M BACK
• Longest Yard Sale and Family Fun Fest
• “The Housing Crisis is Over” – Great Real Estate News from the Wall Street Journal
• Housing Market Price Recovery – How Long?

What happens is each one of these Bloggers will get nosy and see why some is linking back to their blog. Hopefully they would like to donate to a great cause…cause today, I am blogging for a cause.

DONATE NOW PLEASE – this will take you to a secure site.

Toys for Tots drop off locations in Frederick

If you are looking for a drop off location for this years Marine Corp Toys for Tots foundation, you can stop by any of the Long & Foster Offices across Frederick County.

Mt Airy Office

Mgr: Bob Carney

1512 Ridgeside Dr

Mt Airy, MD 21771

Exit 68 off Interstate 70

Office 301-831-7500

Frederick Office

Mgr: Toni Braglio

5301 Buckeystown Pike #250

Frederick, MD 21701

Exit 31B Interstate 270 – next to the Hampton Inn

Office 301-694-8000

Monacacy Office

Mgr: Judy Curren

1700 Kingfisher Dr

Frederick, MD 21701

Off Route 26 across from Walmart

Office 240-629-3700

Feel free to stop by any of our offices during normal business hours. We are also open on Saturdays and Sundays. Monetary donations can be made on the official Toys for Tots website.

Family of Middletown Fire needs your help

You remember the fire from a few weeks ago? The one on Knoll Side? What seemed to be only a roof, turned out to be the whole house. The fire started in the back on the deck (they suspect the ceiling fan.) Since, it started there, it tore open the whole backside of the house (not visible from the street) That left everything ruined.

This family (Peter and Maria, the parents, Jasmine – 12 yrs old, Danny – 8 yrs old, Patrick – 3, Michael – 2 and new born Peter – 5 months old) lost everything; clothing, shoes, toys, pictures, etc… Fortunately it was only material and not any of the family members or pets. But they really need this communities help. I have seen what this county has done in the time of need for others and it’s simply amazing. Donations are being accepted in ANY form. You can send your donations or drop them off with their neighbor; Debbie Reichelt, 9 Knoll Side Drive, Middletown, MD 21769. She said right now, gift cards for Wal-Mart & Target are the best since those stores have everything including clothes, shoes, linens, school stuff, etc. Of course, anything is appreciated and wonderful.

I listed the age of the children for you. Please donate age appropriate toys and school items. The family is staying in a hotel out of town right now close to the father’s work and family. They will be looking to rent in the area so their children can continue to go to Middletown schools this year. Their house is due to be torn down within the next few weeks.

They are every grateful for the outpouring of support they have received thus far…and certainly appreciate your continued support.

I want to thank Desiri Earle for providing the information and definitely Debbie Reichelt for accepting the donations. Please do what you can.

Related links;

Middletown MD gets hit with another fire!

Remember to support your local volunteers… It could be your home that needs their selfless acts of heroism.

• Middletown No 7 Fire House
• Braddock Heights Fire Department
• Goverment Fire Website Get your safety tips here

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