Clintonville event raising funds for ramps
The Clintonville Lions will host singers Ben and Tara Huber for a holiday show at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, at the Clintonville Community Center.
The show will be open to the public. No tickets are needed. Admission is free.
Donations, however, will be accepted toward the Allen Mattson Wheelchair Ramp Foundation.
The foundation supports the club’s on-going service project of installing ramps for those in need.
All donations are tax-deductible.
“We have had an unusually heavy requests for wheelchair ramps,” said Lion Ralph Williams, chair of the Wheelchair Ramp Committee. “During October we had three requests, and so far in 2022 we have installed a total of 11 ramps.”
The Clintonville Community Center is located at 30 S. Main St. in downtown.
Wheelchair ramps
Williams explained that a typical 8-foot section of ramp prior to covid cost around $300 for materials but the cost has tripled. Many installed ramps require two or three 8-foot sections.
“While the Club seeks a contribution towards the cost of materials from each ramp recipient,” Williams said, “many can only make a minimal contribution, and in some cases are unable financially to make any contribution.”
The Clintonville Lions began installing ramps in 1999, under the guidance of then Lion Allen Mattson.
Mattson, who passed away in July 2017, was responsible for organizing the club’s ramp constructions and under his leadership 46 ramps were installed.
Since July 2017 Williams has guided a dedicated group of Lions — Lowell Easley, Tom Lederer, Chuck Manske and Jerry Oestreich — to continue the service project.
Since its start the club has installed a total of 87 ramps.
Fifty-seven of the installed ramps are still in use, with the others reclaimed when they were no longer needed, Williams said.
When possible, sections of reclaimed ramps still in good condition, or when appropriately repaired, are then used for another installation.
A video documenting all the ramp installations will be shown prior to and after the show.
Easley and Jill Meyer are coordinating the Huber holiday show with the Clintonville Area Chamber of Commerce and their “A Clintonville Christmas Story” events earlier in the day.
“The Hubers and their friends are enthusiastic supporters of the Lions and their wheelchair ramp project,” said Meyer. “They look forward to providing the community with their one-of-a-kind evening of live entertainment and a sing -long that will sure to fill your heart with joy at the start of the holiday season.”
Easley suggests families could visit Santa at the Community Center, take in the parade and tree lighting ceremony that begins at 4:30 p.m., enjoy a meal out at one of Clintonville’s restaurants, and then conclude the day by attending the live performance.
The doors to the Clintonville Community Center for the show will open at 6:30 p.m.