ADA ramp donated to Valley Stream American Legion

This fall, Bill Rohe, post commander of the Valley Stream American Legion was faced with a dilemma.

He had scheduled for Nov. 13 an annual fundraiser party benefitting Camp ANCHOR, a program and summer camp dedicated to children with special needs who live in the Town of Hempstead. But this year, the Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant elevator at Rohe’s hall had broken down and would require thousands of dollars to repair.

He had considered warning attendees that those with electronic wheelchairs might be unable to reach the main floor of the building. But then, through a partnership with the Valley Stream Home Depot, State Sen. Todd Kaminsky’s office and the nonprofit Rebuild Together, Rohe’s American Legion chapter had an ADA-compliant ramp donated and installed outside the hall over the course of two days, finishing less than a week before the fundraiser was scheduled to take place.

“This happened just in the nick of time,” Rohe said. “… It saved us.”

“We’re usually the one’s helping the community, and other veterans groups,” he added, “but that got turned around this time, and we don’t know what to say.”

Kaminsky said that after hearing about the American Legion hall’s problem, his office had discovered a grant program through Home Depot dedicated to projects benefitting veterans.

“It’s so important that we do whatever we can for our veterans and relatively speaking this is a small-scale thing, but it’ll go along way here,” he said, “And since they’ve done so much for us this is the least we could do for them.”

In addition to the ramp installation, Home Depot had volunteers repaint the American Legion’s main hall, where its various receptions and events are held.

“We have associates from all parts of Long Island here, from Brooklyn, the Bronx and valley stream, all helping out, volunteering their time,” said Frank Carlick, store manager at the Valley Stream Home Depot. “It’s just what we feel we need to do to help the community and keep our roots here.”

“I’ve really gotta give props to the senator and Home Depot for putting this together,” said former Post Commander Ron Feltington. “A lot of people say a lot of things and they don’t come through, and they had promised this to us back in May. The veterans are very thankful for this.”