By Nicole June
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Thomas Mitchell, a school bus technician for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, recently helped a family in need by providing a wheelchair ramp for a young girl with disabilities.
Mitchell occasionally serves as a substitute bus driver and about two months ago he noticed a problem on his route. He watched as a mother struggled to help her daughter, who is in a wheelchair, up and down the stairs at her duplex.
“It just seemed like something could be done about it,” Mitchell said. He contacted the mother and asked if she would be willing to let Mitchell build a wheelchair ramp for the girl.
“I called her and it seemed like she was almost in disbelief. She was so excited. Once I told her that I knew no matter what, it had to be done,” he said.
He then began researching ways to provide fund for the ramp.
Mitchell eventually contacted David Adams, the store manager at Lowe’s on Lowe’s Drive in Clarksville. Adams created a list and the store donated the materials to Mitchell. Lowe’s is involved in many similar efforts thanks to the Lowe’s Heroes Project.
“It was pretty awesome to see,” Adams said. “We do a lot of these things and we want to give back to the community. Those guys (the volunteers) are the ones that made this happen.”
Mitchell and a group of his coworkers got to work and built a large wooden ramp on the home to ease access for both mother and daughter.
He said he hopes the project can inspire others to complete their own random acts of kindness.
“I feel that’s something that everybody should do for everybody else, whether it’s time or money or anything.” he said.
Mitchell was recognized by the school system Wednesday for his efforts. His story has also been submitted to Ellen Nation, where users can vote to see it featured on an episode of Ellen.
Video courtesy of Jennifer Mitchell