A Ramp to Freedom

An 8-year-old child in our community faced something no child should ever have to—a home they couldn’t fully enter or leave on their own. The simple act of going outside, playing, or joining family at the table was a daily struggle. That changed thanks to the incredible partnership between United Way of Decatur & Mid-Illinois’ Wheelchair Ramp Program, Northeast Community Fund’s Small Home Improvement Program, and Tabernacle Baptist Church.

Together, we became the bridge between a problem and a possibility. United Way provided funding for doorway modifications and wheelchair ramp construction, giving this child safe, independent access to their home—and to the world beyond it. This is what it means to build a Healthy Community—one where every neighbor, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to move, grow, and thrive.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who made this life-changing moment possible.