Blitz Build – 13 Ramps/3 Days

The second annual Blitz Build, a three-day event organized by the Home Builders Foundation of Metro Denver (HBF) and an army of 100 volunteers comprised of home builders, contractors, and suppliers to the industry, resulted in the building of 13 ramps at 13 homes across metro Denver last weekend.

The second annual Blitz Build, a three-day event organized by the Home Builders Foundation of Metro Denver (HBF) and an army of 100 volunteers comprised of home builders, contractors, and suppliers to the industry, resulted in the building of 13 ramps at 13 homes across metro Denver last weekend.

Home owners in Arvada, Aurora, Brighton, Castle Rock, Denver, Lakewood, Longmont, and Superior applied for a ramp from HBF so they might continue living in their homes with easier access and mobility.

These particular recipients have recently been paralyzed or live with a medical condition that requires them to use a wheelchair, walker or cane.

Beth Forbes, executive director of HBF, said, “The building of the ramps was provided free to the recipients because of the generosity of labor and material donations from the Denver area home building industry and beyond.”

BlueLinx and Natures Composites donated decking to HBF for the entire year, plus for the Blitz Build event. OrePac donated handrails for the ramps, and All Weather Wood donated the majority of the lumber for Blitz Build. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage was the event T-shirt sponsor and The Herbal Center provided food and beverage for the volunteers.

Other organizations donating materials and/or labor included: Oakwood Homes, Standard Pacific Homes, Wonderland Homes, Precision Building Systems, ProBuild (two ramps), Godden Sudik Architects, Bella Villa Builders (two ramps), Praise Church Mens Group, Castle Rock Building Department, Gecko Construction, CR Gardner Construction, Colorado Quality Construction, the HBF Board of Directors, and the Home Builders Associations Remodelers Housing Council 50+.

Project Captains included: Brent Guetz and John Huck, ProBuild; Russell Burton, Bella Villa Builders; John Van Dyk, Van Dyk Construction; Kolby O’Herron, Wonderland Homes; Tony Ganong, Standard Pacific Homes; Terry Brown, Oakwood Homes; and Gordy Gardner, CR Gardner Construction.

Forbes said, “I am really pleased at the outpouring of compassionate support from the home building community. Since having each of these ramps was important to the home owners, and since so many volunteers and sponsors pitched in, we were able to accomplish this incredible project in three days.”

Forbes added, “Imagine living in your own home, in a wheelchair, where the doorways are too small to pass through, or you can’t get in the shower. These are just some of the challenges our recipients face. The Foundation, through our volunteers, sponsors and donors, offers solutions and helps restore a level of independence for people with disabilities.”

Last year the foundation completed 33 projects with an estimated retail value of over $245,000, and for every $1 raised, the Foundation provided $9.55 in value to the people it served. This year the HBF expects to exceed 40 projects.