Building More Freedom Together: SAWs Partners with Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County

Servants at Work (SAWs) is excited to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County to help more local residents gain the safe, accessible entrances they need to remain independent in their homes.

The partnership brings together two volunteer-powered organizations with a shared belief: everyone deserves a home that supports their safety, dignity and independence.

By combining Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County’s experienced volunteers and construction leadership with SAWs’ wheelchair ramp program, the organizations can increase local building capacity and serve more Johnson County, Indiana  residents in need of accessible home entrances.

Building Freedom for Marilyn

The first collaborative build helped Marilyn, a Johnson County resident whose front steps currently keep her from coming and going independently.

Marilyn uses a scooter and rollator for mobility. Navigating the steps outside her home required another person’s help. Her daughter often had to carry her mobility equipment up and down the steps so Marilyn could leave the house.

When Marilyn’s daughter applied to SAWs for a ramp, she shared something simple that captures exactly why this project matters: her mother wants the freedom to check her own mail and to leave and return home when she wants, without always needing someone else to help.

On August 15, volunteers from SAWs and Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County worked together to help make that possible.

The new wheelchair ramp gives Marilyn a safer, more accessible way in and out of her home and greater freedom to participate in everyday life.

It is a powerful example of what this partnership is all about.

More Ramps. More Volunteers. More Local Impact.

For someone living with a permanent mobility disability, just a few steps can become a major barrier between home and the outside world.

A wheelchair ramp can change that.

SAWs builds ADA-compliant wheelchair ramps for qualifying individuals with permanent or long-term mobility disabilities. Through this new partnership, Habitat volunteers will help SAWs reach more Johnson County neighbors who need that freedom.

“This is a fun way we can serve clients a lot quicker,” said Tim Thurston, Executive Director of SAWs, in a recent Daily Journal story about the partnership.

Habitat brings experienced construction leadership and a strong local volunteer network to the effort. SAWs provides the ramp-building program, training and tools needed to turn that experience into greater accessibility throughout the county.

Creating New Ways to Serve

The partnership also creates something valuable beyond the ramps themselves: more opportunities for people to serve their community.

Unlike a home construction project that may take weeks or months, a SAWs ramp can be installed in a single day. That makes a ramp build an accessible, hands-on volunteer experience for individuals, families, businesses, civic organizations and community groups.

Both organizations see particular potential for engaging the next generation of volunteers, including young professionals, high school students and those exploring construction and skilled-trade pathways. A ramp build gives them the opportunity to work alongside experienced volunteers while seeing the impact of their service almost immediately.

Stronger Together in Johnson County

For SAWs, partnerships like this are an important part of expanding our ability to serve more people while keeping the work rooted in local communities.

Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County brings skilled volunteers, construction knowledge and deep community connections. SAWs brings more than two decades of experience building accessibility ramps for people with permanent mobility disabilities.

Together, those strengths can translate into more neighbors like Marilyn getting the freedom to safely enter and leave their own homes.

As Tim told the Daily Journal:

“We want to give people their freedom back.”

Help Us Build Freedom

Whether you give your time, make a donation or help connect someone in need with SAWs, you can be part of building greater freedom and independence in our communities.

There are many ways to help us build freedom through mobility:

APPLY FOR A RAMP  |  VOLUNTEER  |  DONATE

Building Freedom and Independence Across Indiana

Servants at Work (SAWs) is honored to receive a $25,000 grant from Glick Philanthropies to support the organization’s mission of building freedom and independence through accessibility ramps for individuals living with mobility challenges.

The grant provides general operating support, allowing SAWs the flexibility to direct resources where they are needed most as demand for accessibility ramps continues to grow across Indiana.

Founded in 2003 by Rik Hagarty in a church parking lot, SAWs has grown into one of the nation’s leading accessibility ramp organizations. Since its founding, SAWs has built more than 5,000 ramps and now serves 70 Indiana counties, helping older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities safely access their homes and communities.

In 2024 alone, SAWs built a record 560 ramps, and the organization is working toward an ambitious goal of constructing 650 ramps annually to meet increasing community need.

General operating support grants are especially valuable because they help sustain the day-to-day work that makes ramp construction possible. Funding can support volunteer recruitment and training, project coordination, safety programs, client services, outreach efforts, and the operational infrastructure required to deliver life-changing accessibility solutions to Indiana residents.

“Every ramp we build represents freedom, dignity, and independence for someone who simply wants to leave their home safely,” said Tim Thurston, Executive Director of Servants at Work. “We are incredibly grateful to Glick Philanthropies for investing in our mission. Flexible funding like this allows us to respond to growing demand, strengthen our volunteer network, and ensure that more people can regain access to the world beyond their front door.”

For many SAWs clients, a ramp is far more than a structure. It can mean attending medical appointments, returning to work, visiting family, participating in community life, or simply enjoying the outdoors without fear of injury.

“Everyone deserves to feel like an important part of their community,” said Marianne Glick, chair of the Glick Family Foundation. “Whether that means being involved in the arts, earning a degree, or becoming more civically engaged, every person plays a role. Difficult circumstances such as rising grocery prices and diminishing social services can make it more challenging to be active in our communities. We are confident that organizations such as Servants at Work will help alleviate the hardships our neighbors face and expand opportunities for meaningful community connection.”

Glick Philanthropies is an Indianapolis-based family of charitable initiatives dedicated to building community and creating opportunity that empowers every person to reach their full potential. Since 1982, Glick Philanthropies has awarded more than $346 million to charitable causes in Central Indiana and communities where the Glick Company operates.

As SAWs continues expanding its impact across Indiana, partnerships with organizations like Glick Philanthropies help ensure that individuals with mobility challenges can live more safely, independently, and connected to the communities they call home.

About Servants at Work (SAWs)

Servants at Work (SAWs) is a nonprofit organization that builds accessibility ramps for individuals with mobility disabilities and aging adults. Guided by faith and driven by volunteers, SAWs creates life-changing access to homes and communities through safe, professionally built ramps. Since 2003, SAWs has completed more than 5,000 ramps and serves communities throughout Indiana, as well as affiliate locations in Virginia and Arizona.

To learn more, volunteer, donate, or apply for a ramp, visit www.sawsramps.org.

Servants At Work, Inc. (SAWs) is proud to announce a transformative $400,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support the organization’s long-term capacity-building efforts. The three-year grant will empower SAWs to increase the number of accessibility ramps placed across Indiana—responding to the growing demand from Hoosiers who are aging in place or living with mobility challenges.

“This funding is a game-changer,” said Tim Thurston, Executive Director of SAWs. “As the number of people needing safe home access increases, we’re committed to serving them faster, more efficiently, and with even greater compassion. Lilly Endowment’s support enables us to think creatively and scale smartly.”

This grant will be strategically invested in four key areas: aluminum ramps, fund development capacity, volunteer training videos, and trade school partnerships. SAWs anticipates that these enhancements will significantly increase its ramp placement capacity, helping more low-income individuals regain the freedom and dignity of safely exiting their homes.

Since 2003, SAWs has built more than 4,500 ramps across Indiana and beyond, relying on the dedication of thousands of volunteers. The organization’s mission—to provide freedom and independence through accessibility—resonates deeply in communities where mobility can be life-changing.

Want to be part of this life-changing work? Whether you volunteer your time or make a donation, you’ll help restore freedom, dignity, and connection for neighbors in need. Join us in building more than ramps—build hope.

Thanks to the generous support of the Dearborn County Community Foundation (DCCF), SAWs (Servants at Work) was able to construct seven ADA-compliant wheelchair ramps for low-income residents in Dearborn County who faced significant mobility challenges. These ramps have made a tremendous difference in the lives of individuals and their caregivers, offering newfound freedom and independence to safely come and go from their homes.

Marguerite, an 82-year-old widow living alone in her home of over 30 years, struggles with limited mobility due to several medical conditions. She uses a manual wheelchair but has difficulty using her current ramp, which her son built years ago. The design of the existing ramp makes it challenging for Marguerite to safely exit her home for medical appointments or emergencies. With limited funds and increasing mobility needs, she was in desperate need of a new, straight ramp to ensure her safety and independence. Thanks to this grant, SAWs was able to provide her with the accessibility she needed.

This project didn’t just impact our clients—it also brought together 50-75 volunteers from the local community, offering them a chance to make a tangible difference and support their neighbors in need. The grant funds from DCCF made it possible for us to serve these families more quickly, ensuring materials were readily available for each ramp build.

In addition to staying under budget for the ramps, we have funds available for future projects in Dearborn County. We look forward to continuing our partnership with DCCF to meet the growing demand for mobility ramps in Southeast Indiana.

Thank you, Dearborn County Community Foundation, for your unwavering support and dedication to improving the lives of local residents!

ZUMC and SAWs embark on a journey from heart to home, building hope, one ramp at a time. 

In Zionsville, compassion radiates from Zionsville United Methodist Church (ZUMC), which has chosen Servants at Work (SAWs) as its Advent gift recipient for Christmas 2023. Fueled by the spirit of giving, this venture promises a significant impact, bringing change to the lives of those needing home accessibility. 

This partnership began in a meeting with ZUMC Pastor David Williamson and SAWs champion, Bob Richmond. ZUMC parishioners have a strong history of serving the community by building ramps with SAWS.  This is a big step in working together.  The goal of the Advent gift partnership is to further intertwine the church’s mission with SAWs’, multiplying the effectiveness of our service to our neighbors. 

ZUMC’s decision to focus on building ramps reflects more than a choice; it’s a commitment. The decision speaks volumes about the church’s dedication to making a real difference. Intending to raise funds to sponsor 20 ramps in 2024, (and volunteering to construct several) ZUMC’s successful Advent offering of $38,124 paves the way for impactful ramp construction in the coming year. 

Walt Maxson, SAWs Project Manager and ZUMC member, leads the ramp builds. The congregation aims to build 5-8 ramps in 2024, with 8-10 members participating in each build. The current timeline for ramp construction is in the planning phase and will be announced to email subscribers who sign up at the link below.  

Register and sign up here to stay informed of updates on this collaboration.  

Through our program, corporate teams have the opportunity to come together, roll up their sleeves, and build ramps for individuals facing mobility challenges. This hands-on experience fosters teamwork and camaraderie as well as promotes corporate social responsibility and a sense of fulfillment among participants. Over the years, SAWs has partnered with several corporations to build ramps, making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need.

Forging Strong Connections: Enhancing Impact through Corporate Partnerships

At SAWs, we believe in the power of partnerships. By joining forces with corporations who share our vision of building a more inclusive society, we can maximize our impact and reach even more individuals in need of mobility solutions. Through our corporate team building program, we have successfully collaborated with notable organizations, such as:

OrthoIndy

OrthoIndy has been a long-standing partner of SAWs, demonstrating unwavering commitment to community service. Their dedicated teams have volunteered their time, talent, and treasures to construct ramps, providing freedom and accessibility to individuals facing mobility challenges.

Rehab Medical

Rehab Medical is another corporate citizen that has embraced our team-building program. With their enthusiastic participation, we have been able to transform the lives of numerous individuals by constructing ramps tailored to their specific needs. This team championed SAWs’ 3000^th ramp build in August 2021.

Salesforce

Salesforce understands the value of creating an inclusive environment for all. Through their involvement in our team building program, they have not only strengthened their internal bonds but have also made a significant impact on the lives of those in their local community. Salesforce employees are encouraged to look for opportunities to serve within the community and these employees are wonderful corporate ambassadors with servants’ hearts.

Measurable Impact and Lasting Relationships:

The impact of our corporate team-building program extends far beyond the physical construction of ramps. Through these partnerships, participating corporations witness firsthand the transformation that takes place in the lives of individuals and families who gain independence and accessibility. The program fosters a sense of fulfillment and pride among employees, leading to increased morale, team cohesion, and a shared sense of purpose.

Moreover, these collaborations often lay the foundation for lasting relationships between SAWs and the corporate world. Many corporations continue to support our mission beyond their initial involvement in the team-building program, furthering our ability to serve individuals with mobility challenges.

Servants at Work’s corporate team-building program serves as a bridge between the corporate world and the community, fostering teamwork, corporate social responsibility, and transformative impact. Through partnerships with corporations like OrthoIndy, Rehab Medical, and Salesforce, we have built ramps that have changed lives and created a more inclusive society. As we continue to forge new collaborations, we invite more corporations to join us in our mission to build freedom and make a lasting difference in the lives of those in need. Together, we can build bridges and create a world where everyone has equal access and opportunities.

We are delighted to share that Servants at Work (SAWS) is expanding its operations to Pulaski County in February 2022. This partnership with BraunAbility and the Community Foundation of Pulaski County will enable us to provide additional support and assistance to families in Winamac and Pulaski County. By entering into this partnership, we are taking an exhilarating step towards our goal of granting people with ambulatory disabilities from low-income households access and mobility.

At a meeting in Winamac, SAWs’ staff joined forces with BraunAbility and the Community Foundation of Pulaski County to discuss plans for constructing buildings that would be accessible to Pulaski County’s residents. Volunteers prefabricate wooden ramps on site and BraunAbility provides the space for this purpose, with the ramps then being assembled at clients’ homes. At the BraunAbility facility, SAWs toured the premises and had the chance to speak with accessibility advocates. SAWs have committed to constructing numerous additional ramps provided by BraunAbility over the coming year for residents. The Winamac area is seeing an increase in access and enhanced lives for people living with disabilities, thanks to the collective efforts of SAWS, BraunAbility, and the Community Foundation of Pulaski County.

By working together, we will construct ramps in the area to ensure that everyone is able to access their residences securely and with ease. This project is made possible thanks to the generous support of BraunAbility, the Community Foundation of Pulaski County, and all of our donors. The Pulaski County Community Foundation has generously awarded SAWs a grant of $11,500 to build new, ADA-compliant custom ramps for 5 to 6 families. BraunAbility volunteers are helping SAWs to design and construct a ramp at each client’s residence. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to create a more inclusive community for people of all abilities, and we are eager to have a positive effect.

To donate online, apply for a ramp, or to find out more information, please visit www.sawsramps.org.

By Tim Thurston

Meet Eugene, an 80-year-old Navy Vet who lives alone in Mooresville. This is his new ramp SAWs placed in late July.

One of the best things about building ramps is witnessing a person’s joy in getting in and out of a home safely.

So, how does this happen? What gives SAWs the opportunity to do this?

Partnerships!

These partnerships make this happen. From our referral partners, to our network of volunteers, to lumber suppliers, and finally to service-minded groups working collectively to get Eugene this ramp.

We are fortunate to have built relationships with community members statewide that allow us to transform people’s lives. For example, we have a network of referral agencies that alert us to ramp needs. Grace-At-Home referred Eugene to SAWs. They provide house calls to homebound or home-limited patients and recognized the need for Eugene’s safety.

Once SAWs receives a referral, our team of volunteers takes over. Eugene was contacted by one of our Customer Service Representatives to verify and validate all information provided in the ramp application. Another volunteer sent a waiver form to Eugene as well as received written permission from his landlord to build a ramp. Our volunteer Site Surveyor made an appointment with Eugene to visit at his home so measurements and pictures could be taken to design his ramp. Next, our Ramp Designer created a materials list and fabrication plan for Eugene’s ramp. These volunteers rock!

One of our lumber partners – Gillman Home Center Edinburgh – supplied the lumber and fasteners for Eugene’s ramp. Gillman gives SAWs special pricing for materials and we cherish how much they support SAWs’ mission.

Finally, Westlake Church Of God gathered a group of its members to build Eugene’s ramp. We met on a steamy July morning, said a prayer, and in 5 hours, built Eugene’s ramp. We called Eugene several weeks after he received the ramp to ask how it was working. He told us, “I’m very pleased with the ramp. It allows me to go outside now and enjoy the sun. It’s fantastic. I could not do that with a ramp. I no longer fear falling.”

It is through these partners – statewide – that SAWs fulfills its mission to provide freedom one ramp at a time. We are eternally grateful for these partnerships. Thank you for making this happen.