Polar Star Lodge donates to Mississippi Heroes to help with Ramp it up Project

A local Masonic lodge is helping open doors for Mississippi residents with mobility challenges.

Wednesday, Polar Star Lodge Number 154 donated $2,500 to Mississippi Heroes to help expand its Ramp it up Project, which builds wheelchair ramps for those who need them most.

Polar Star Lodge Charitable Donations Chairman Corry Cooley said, “Well, it means a lot to us to be here today on behalf of Polar Star Lodge giving this money to Mississippi Heroes which is just a phenomenal nonprofit here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast with Katherine Sutton. We look forward to teaming up with Mississippi Heroes from now on. They have a lot of ramps to do here in Mississippi and $2,500 was just enough to get one ramp done and we look forward to raising money each year to get these ramps done for everyone here on the Gulf Coast.”

The Ramp it up Project provides free wheelchair ramps for veterans, seniors, and others who face mobility challenges at home.

The donation reflects the masonic values of faith, hope, charity and service, while helping restore safety, accessibility, and independence for families across the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Since the project began, Mississippi Heroes has built more than 70 wheelchair ramps statewide, giving dozens of residents greater mobility and peace of mind. Mississippi Heroes Executive Director Katherine Sutton said, “It means a great deal for us that community members are able to come help us in our mission to build ramps for those in need on the Gulf Coast. There are quite a few people still, we have a long list actually, people call us every day almost to get a wheel chair ramp because they are stuck in their homes or they struggle getting up and down the stairs and it’s not safe for them. There are so many stories and so many people that are just in need and we cannot do it without the community because we are self-funded, we raise money on our own and this right here is going to go toward one to two ramps along the Gulf Coast but we need more businesses to get involved.”

Mississippi Heroes say partnerships like this help more residents stay safe, mobile, and independent at home.