Contact: Debra Thompson
Assoc. Director, PR & Communications
540-564-5886

Evelyn Kier of Grottoes stands on the wheelchair ramp that RMH Plant Operations workers volunteered to build for her home, in collaboration with Rebuilding Together of Harrisonburg-Rockingham County. The ramp allowed Kier to provide care at home for her daughter, who suffers from a disability. Joining Kier are, from left, Plant Operations team members Darrell Wyant, Carl Simon, Alvin Cook, Lonnie Hottinger and John DeGraffenreid. Not pictured: RMH Grounds team members Harry Allen and Gary Whiteley.

When a local family urgently needed help, RMH employees answered the call.

Rebuilding Together of Harrisonburg-Rockingham County, a nonprofit organization, had scheduled to build a wheelchair ramp for the Kier family at their Grottoes home. Evelyn Kier’s 30-year-old daughter, who has a physical disability, had lived in a nursing home for the past several years. Having a wheelchair-accessible home would allow her to live with her family, including her mother and two sons.

When original plans fell through, Gayl Brunk, Rebuilding Together board president, called RMH, whose employees had helped on prior projects. In just a week, the ramp was built, and Kier’s daughter was able to return home.

“The RMH guys were just so wonderful to work with,” Brunk said. “They were skilled, knowledgeable, friendly, understanding and aware of disability and sensitive to the family. They pulled this together in a heartbeat. It was humbling to see it all come together like that.”

John DeGraffenreid, RMH Plant Operations manager, said the team was honored to help. “I am proud of this team for stepping up to meet a need in the community,” he said. “They showed a true spirit of service and caring.”

Rebuilding Together of Harrisonburg-Rockingham County is a nonprofit that helps rehabilitate the houses of low income homeowners—particularly families with children, the elderly and people with disabilities.

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