Missoula Lowe's provides new ramp for Ronan VFW

Hungry community members who showed up at the Ronan VFW for the monthly pancake breakfast Saturday morning were greeted by a new wheelchair ramp and several new and beautiful cabinets donated and built by Lowe’s Heroes of Missoula.

The idea for the project began when the Ronan VFW hosted a luncheon following the funeral of St. Ignatius veteran Philip Henry Kuntz in mid-February. One of the family members, Corina Boyd, who works for Lowe’s, noticed the need for a new ramp when she attended the luncheon and began discussions with VFW post Commander, Ron Mering. The post was soon nominated to receive the generous gift.

The Lowe’s company provides funds to local Lowe’s stores for their Heroes groups to complete community projects each year. After gaining approval for the project from a committee that reviewed proposals, the planning process began. Initially, the Ronan post thought that the ramp re-build would be the entire project, so they were very pleasantly surprised when several new cabinets were also built for their facility.

After nearly four months of planning, preparing materials, and building, the cabinets and building materials for the ramp were delivered June 20. Approximately 20 volunteers from the Lowe’s Heroes group descended on the VFW post to install the cabinetry and ramp. The cabinets replace tables which had only horizontal space and no storage while the new ramp provides a safer path into the building.

The new ramp does not yet have a handrail, so part of the funds from this, and perhaps future, pancake breakfasts, will be earmarked to place a new handrail.

The breakfast exceeded the normal average with a turnout of around 175 people, who enjoyed the food, the camaraderie, and, of course, the new ramp and cabinets.

The vets from the Ronan VFW post who served their country in the various branches of the military and who now frequently give to the community by providing Honor Guards, luncheons, and benefits.