4 • The Beacon November 12 , 2020
Coshocton County Handicapped Society celebrates 30th anniversary
By Jen Jones
TheCoshoctonBeaconToday . com
In 1970 Bud Fortune and Duane
Beck saw a need in Coshocton County . Their vision of a place to help those who need it most is still going strong today . The Coshocton County Handicapped Society is celebrating 30 years of “ People Helping People .”
Candy Angle , president of the Handicapped Society , said a big part of the reason they are still here is the community support they get . “ People in the community , hospitals , nursing homes — they all donated unused medical equipment to us . We clean it up , refurbish it and loan it out for six months to people . If they need it longer than six months , all they have to do is come in and talk to us and they can use it longer ,” she said .
Everything the society does is by volunteers and donations . “ I finally applied for a Coshocton Foundation grant , and we have gotten a few of those ,” Angle said . “ We are using that money to install aluminum ramps for people instead of wooden ones .”
For anyone needing a ramp , Angle said they need to come into the office ( by appointment only right now ) and fill out an application . They have a man who will come to your house and assess what needs to be done , and the Handicapped Society will provide the labor and materials for the ramp . This is based on HUD income requirements .
“ It usually takes about three weeks to get a ramp built ,” Angle said .
The Handicapped Society has built 11 ramps this year , repaired three , tore down three and there are three applications pending .
They also offer medical supplies , from Band-Aids and hospital beds , to canes and walkers , to potty and shower chairs , to wheelchairs . Air-conditioners are sometimes available too . If someone passes away , the equipment is often returned to be made ready for another person in need . A script from a doctor is needed for either a ramp or an air-conditioner .
“ I ’ ve reached out to schools for groups that want communityservice hours . We ’ ve had groups come in to clean and organize for us . Hopewell School brought some staff over to paint for us , and AK helps often too ,” Angle said . “ We had some graffiti painted on our building twice , and both times
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People in the community , hospitals , nursing homes — they all donated unused medical equipment to us .” Candy Angle
Steve Oster from the Coshocton County Board of DD had guys come over to clean it up , and Johnson Plumbing donated paint . We just can ’ t thank the community enough for what they do for us .”
Jen Jones Tim and Candy Angle hold a proclamation congratulating the Coshocton County Handicapped Society on its 30th anniversary .
Tim Angle , a trustee with the group , said the William Albert Company clears its parking lot of snow so it never has to worry about that .
“ And Litty ’ s brought in a dumpster for us when we had a big cleaning day . They scraped everything that they could and gave us the money . They just help out however they can , and we really appreciate it ,” Tim Angle said . “ I ’ ve come in at 9 at night to get a piece of equipment for someone . We get a lot of calls from people who are getting out of the hospital or a nursing home , and we do our best to get the things they need to them so they can be safe . The community has really been outstanding for us . There are so many good people in this community .”
Candy Angle said she networks with other nonprofit agencies such as the United Way to get the word out about their services and to help other agencies . “‘ People Helping People ’ gets the job done ,” she said .
Candy Angle also said she watches Facebook for people in need . “ The lady that stopped this morning didn ’ t know how she was going to get upstairs in her new home . I just saw her post on Facebook , and we had what she needed , and she made a donation and picked it up . She didn ’ t know where to turn , but we can help . This is what makes our day ,” she said .
The Handicapped Society is always in need of more volunteers and people to serve on its seven-member board . For more information about donating items or money , volunteering or being a member , call 843-855-1908 .
Submitted Pictured is one of the ramps that the handicapped society was able to build for a resident in need .
Dan West and Art Chaney are the handicapped society ’ s ramp-building crew .
Josie Sellers