The Impact Project and Rumble Ponies team up for first project in Afton
Cameron Turner Photo
AFTON – A normal day for anyone usually consists of an alarm clock coupled with a cup of coffee and maybe a brisk walk to the car to start it and head to work.
The simple task of getting out of bed and being able to go outside and check the mail, get to garden to do some weeding – having the freedom to do what we chose with our 24 hours is something many people take for granted.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for a 70-year old widow in Afton, New York.
Ginny Nelson has been dealing with two bad knees, falling on ice some four or five times in the past year – all while trying to maneuver a rickety old porch on her trailer home in Afton.
“My job is to coordinate and facilitate all of these volunteers. It is a lot, we are landscaping, excavating, framing, railing, the whole deal. The goal, what we are providing here today, is somebody can’t get out of their own home. We are providing them with a service to satisfy a basic need,” said James Willard, Executive Director at The Impact Project. “Fulfilling that and making a difference, making an impact on someone’s life as well as the people here at the same time. To accomplish that is to do it all in one day, in a matter of hours, everyone hands on deck. Not only is the homeowner happy, but everyone here feels a sense of accomplishment. Specifically in this case, the whole trailer park sees this all go down in a matter of hours. We call it the Bermuda Triangle – homeowner, volunteers and neighborhood – impact on all sides. That is what we are trying to achieve.”
Things recently came to a unsustainable situation when Nelson fell and broke one of her legs.
“It is overwhelming. I didn’t expect everything they have done. It has just been overwhelming. I am so thankful for everything. I have stayed black and blue, I slipped and fell on my old porch four or five times,” said Nelson. “I got a simple estimate and it was just more than I could afford. I went to the Office for the Aging and they gave me a list of people to contact, but because I don’t own the land, no one would help me. So they directed me to get in touch with The Impact Project, I did it all online.”
With that simple application. Ginny Nelson has now put Afton and her home on the ever-growing map of the people that The Impact Project have helped.
“Whoever wants help, submits an application to the board. Then the board actually reviews all of the applications in a group. Everyone has to agree,” said Sarah Moore, Board Member, and co-Director at The Impact Project on the process of choosing a person to help. “There are some qualifications and standards. But once they have been interviewed, we check out the house and meet the family. I wanted to get involved originally, because I help out up at Valley Heights Christian Academy and the kids there need to get Christian service hours. I thought this would be a great way for the kids up there to get involved and help the people in the community.”
Although there were no Valley Heights students at this particular event in Afton, The Impact Project proudly pulls volunteers from a databased network of some 2,800 spanning five counties.
“We have people here today from three or four different churches. We have people here from the baseball team (Rumble Ponies). Now we have something that nobody ever could imagine. We have a sports team coming out to help on a humanitarian project because a lady in need can’t get out of her trailer. It is awesome, on all fronts,” said Willard. “Probably have 50-60 different businesses, we have just over 70 churches in five counties that we pull from. We are a community partner with United Way. We pull from all areas to put this together. She (Ginny Nelson) had no gutters. She fell last year because of the ice. I had to put gutters on. It is a no-brainer. So they had to come in and do that yesterday. We have a 50 year age range of volunteers here.”
With Nelson being chosen for the latest Impact Project and first ever in Afton, the event came to fruition this past Saturday, July 29, as The Impact Project gathered at 8 a.m. that morning – removing Nelson’s old porch and replacing it with a brand new handicapped accessible ramp, with a brand new flower bed and gutter system to accompany it.
Just like was indicated, the porch and all its fixings were complete in just four and a half hours – an astounding feat to behold.
“Everyone is just stepping up and they come from everywhere. I tried to fix them [old porches], if I didn’t do it no one does,” said Nelson. “I looked and all the braces were gone. It has been a hazard and I have been so thankful for the Impact Project. You guys have made me cry a lot.”
Around 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies made their appearance – as pitchers Corey Oswalt and Corey Taylor – as well as Rowdy the mascot, made the trip to Afton to lend a hand.
“This is our first one, and our first project as far as a home rehabilitation. I have known Jim for a few years now. He has been talking about having us come out for a few years now and finally it was just right time and right place. So we jumped at the chance to do it,” said Steve Popoloski, Rumble Ponies Sales Manager.
With Afton coming in at around 29 miles, the player restrictions for travel of 30 miles were a non-factor.
“The players are great, the players are really just awesome. They ask to do more and get involved more, so they’ll do anything,” said Caitlin McClare, Binghamton Rumble Ponies Community Relations Assistant. “I bring the mascot, the players and go out into the community and do fun things. Just seeing kids faces light up, it’s great, I love it.”
Corey Oswalt and Corey Taylor – not being allowed to run power tools – could be found lending a hand assembling the spindles on the ramp.
“This is our first one, it has been pretty cool,” said Corey Taylor before Corey Oswalt added, “I just think giving back is great, it is a great cause.”
When it all was said and done, at roughly 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Ginny Nelson was asked to step out of her home on to a newly built ramp – something she will be able to use after her upcoming surgery in August. Nelson stood before a crowd of some 50 volunteers, all watching as she made the event official with a ribbon cutting, officially opening a new chapter in her life.
“We have a surprise for you. We have a bible, everybody has written their name inside and written a message to you. This is what it’s all about. We love you, we truly do,” said Willard to Nelson.
The Binghamton Rumble Ponies have invited The Impact Project to their home game on Tuesday, August 8, an event where James Willard will throw out the first pitch – and the entire effort will be recognized before the many Rumble Pony fans.
AFTON – A normal day for anyone usually consists of an alarm clock coupled with a cup of coffee and maybe a brisk walk to the car to start it and head to work.
The simple task of getting out of bed and being able to go outside and check the mail, get to garden to do some weeding – having the freedom to do what we chose with our 24 hours is something many people take for granted.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for a 70-year old widow in Afton, New York.
Ginny Nelson has been dealing with two bad knees, falling on ice some four or five times in the past year – all while trying to maneuver a rickety old porch on her trailer home in Afton.
“My job is to coordinate and facilitate all of these volunteers. It is a lot, we are landscaping, excavating, framing, railing, the whole deal. The goal, what we are providing here today, is somebody can’t get out of their own home. We are providing them with a service to satisfy a basic need,” said James Willard, Executive Director at The Impact Project. “Fulfilling that and making a difference, making an impact on someone’s life as well as the people here at the same time. To accomplish that is to do it all in one day, in a matter of hours, everyone hands on deck. Not only is the homeowner happy, but everyone here feels a sense of accomplishment. Specifically in this case, the whole trailer park sees this all go down in a matter of hours. We call it the Bermuda Triangle – homeowner, volunteers and neighborhood – impact on all sides. That is what we are trying to achieve.”
Things recently came to a unsustainable situation when Nelson fell and broke one of her legs.
“It is overwhelming. I didn’t expect everything they have done. It has just been overwhelming. I am so thankful for everything. I have stayed black and blue, I slipped and fell on my old porch four or five times,” said Nelson. “I got a simple estimate and it was just more than I could afford. I went to the Office for the Aging and they gave me a list of people to contact, but because I don’t own the land, no one would help me. So they directed me to get in touch with The Impact Project, I did it all online.”
With that simple application. Ginny Nelson has now put Afton and her home on the ever-growing map of the people that The Impact Project have helped.
“Whoever wants help, submits an application to the board. Then the board actually reviews all of the applications in a group. Everyone has to agree,” said Sarah Moore, Board Member, and co-Director at The Impact Project on the process of choosing a person to help. “There are some qualifications and standards. But once they have been interviewed, we check out the house and meet the family. I wanted to get involved originally, because I help out up at Valley Heights Christian Academy and the kids there need to get Christian service hours. I thought this would be a great way for the kids up there to get involved and help the people in the community.”
Although there were no Valley Heights students at this particular event in Afton, The Impact Project proudly pulls volunteers from a databased network of some 2,800 spanning five counties.
“We have people here today from three or four different churches. We have people here from the baseball team (Rumble Ponies). Now we have something that nobody ever could imagine. We have a sports team coming out to help on a humanitarian project because a lady in need can’t get out of her trailer. It is awesome, on all fronts,” said Willard. “Probably have 50-60 different businesses, we have just over 70 churches in five counties that we pull from. We are a community partner with United Way. We pull from all areas to put this together. She (Ginny Nelson) had no gutters. She fell last year because of the ice. I had to put gutters on. It is a no-brainer. So they had to come in and do that yesterday. We have a 50 year age range of volunteers here.”
With Nelson being chosen for the latest Impact Project and first ever in Afton, the event came to fruition this past Saturday, July 29, as The Impact Project gathered at 8 a.m. that morning – removing Nelson’s old porch and replacing it with a brand new handicapped accessible ramp, with a brand new flower bed and gutter system to accompany it.
Just like was indicated, the porch and all its fixings were complete in just four and a half hours – an astounding feat to behold.
“Everyone is just stepping up and they come from everywhere. I tried to fix them [old porches], if I didn’t do it no one does,” said Nelson. “I looked and all the braces were gone. It has been a hazard and I have been so thankful for the Impact Project. You guys have made me cry a lot.”
Around 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies made their appearance – as pitchers Corey Oswalt and Corey Taylor – as well as Rowdy the mascot, made the trip to Afton to lend a hand.
“This is our first one, and our first project as far as a home rehabilitation. I have known Jim for a few years now. He has been talking about having us come out for a few years now and finally it was just right time and right place. So we jumped at the chance to do it,” said Steve Popoloski, Rumble Ponies Sales Manager.
With Afton coming in at around 29 miles, the player restrictions for travel of 30 miles were a non-factor.
“The players are great, the players are really just awesome. They ask to do more and get involved more, so they’ll do anything,” said Caitlin McClare, Binghamton Rumble Ponies Community Relations Assistant. “I bring the mascot, the players and go out into the community and do fun things. Just seeing kids faces light up, it’s great, I love it.”
Corey Oswalt and Corey Taylor – not being allowed to run power tools – could be found lending a hand assembling the spindles on the ramp.
“This is our first one, it has been pretty cool,” said Corey Taylor before Corey Oswalt added, “I just think giving back is great, it is a great cause.”
When it all was said and done, at roughly 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Ginny Nelson was asked to step out of her home on to a newly built ramp – something she will be able to use after her upcoming surgery in August. Nelson stood before a crowd of some 50 volunteers, all watching as she made the event official with a ribbon cutting, officially opening a new chapter in her life.
“We have a surprise for you. We have a bible, everybody has written their name inside and written a message to you. This is what it’s all about. We love you, we truly do,” said Willard to Nelson.
The Binghamton Rumble Ponies have invited The Impact Project to their home game on Tuesday, August 8, an event where James Willard will throw out the first pitch – and the entire effort will be recognized before the many Rumble Pony fans.
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