HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY has been supporting families through attainable home ownership for the past 30 years. Last year, they completed their 24th home in Effingham County and are in the planning stages to build their next home in Rincon.

While they prepare, they have provided support for a community partner who has helped a local family with an important home modification. God’s Apostles Providing (GAP) Ministries is comprised of members of several area churches who were looking for a way to give back and serve in their community. Together, they found a niche that has given numerous families the gift of mobility.“

We decided early on that we just wanted to do wheelchair ramps,” says Keith Turner, co-founder of GAP Ministries. “By providing wheelchair ramps, it gives people freedom from their home.”

Since the group’s establishment in 2004, they have built 273 ramps – mostly in Effingham County. Over the years, funding has come from many different sources, including grants, churches and friends and relatives of the recipients, but for a recent project they were funded by Habitat for Humanity.“

GAP Ministries is a wonderful partner for our organization,” says Jimmy Rutland, President/CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Effingham County. “We are pleased to support this dedicated group of volunteers who are living out many of Habitat’s core values.”

The two groups came together to construct a ramp in Springfield for Timeka Sanders and her husband OJ, who has ALS and uses an electric wheelchair. As OJ’s condition worsened they knew they would eventually need a ramp to access their home, but that it would be expensive. The family reached out to United Way of the Coastal Empire for assistance, who made the connection between Habitat for Humanity and GAP Ministries.

In one Saturday, more than a dozen volunteers from GAP Ministries assembled a ramp for OJ. Once it was finished, he took his first trip down to visit his neighbors and spend time in the yard – things he loved to do before his mobility was limited.

“We were ecstatic,” says Timeka. “He came out with the biggest smile that I’ve seen in a long time.”

Even after being involved in the construction of hundreds of ramps, Keith recalls the feelings of joy he felt while seeing OJ’s reaction to the new addition to his home.

“That’s the reason we do it: we are making a difference in the lives of people that we come in contact with,” says Keith.

Habitat for Humanity of Effingham County also welcomes other groups who would like to volunteer their time and talents for construction projects or projects at the ReStore. Contact Jimmy Rutland at [email protected] for details about how your group can help.