LCC Volunteers: Making a Difference in the Community
“The only way you can serve God is by serving other people.” – Rick Warren, author, “The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?”
A team of LCC volunteers recently spent a sunny Saturday morning swinging hammers and sawing boards to build a 40-foot accessibility ramp for a St. Helena Island couple. “It was a good day,” said Lori Letts, LCC’s Missions and Outreach director. “And a darn good ramp.”
Lori heard about the project through a local organization. Most of the materials for the ramp had already been donated. The homeowners just needed someone to come and build it. Lori contacted Ted Kennedy, who had put together a light construction team of volunteers, to do the job.
“Last year, a few of us saw the opportunity to fulfill a ministry need,” explained Ted. “We wanted to build a sustainable ministry and create a core group of leaders who could manage light construction jobs done by volunteers with moderate skills.”
The next step for the project was to draw up a plan for an ADA code-compliant ramp and to see what additional materials were needed. After speaking with the homeowners and surveying the site, Ted determined that less than half of the materials needed were on site. “LCC and some anonymous donors agreed to buy the rest of the materials,” said Ted. “And Beaufort County building officials were happy to permit the job at a nominal permit fee.”
The day arrived for construction to begin, and a team of 10 volunteers quickly got to work on the ramp. Most of the ramp was completed by noon that day, but due to material shortages, the team came back a few days later and finished the job.
“The team wanted to emphasize that the ramp was built with the love of Christ and the fellowship of believers,” Ted said, adding that the homeowners were very grateful for the new ramp.
Thinking back on that sunny Saturday, Lori said, “It was a great time of fellowshipping and loving on the homeowners. That’s what outreach is—just go love on people and help in a tangible way.”