For the longest time, Niles resident Goldie MacDonald was unable to leave her house.

With limited mobility and a deck that was rotting through, the wheelchair-bound senior citizen could not get around without significant help, and often had to call 911 to get her out of the house when she needed to go to the doctor.

“[My house] was all tore up. I didn’t have a ramp. I just had steps that I couldn’t use,” MacDonald said. “I always had to stay at home or call the ambulance to take me the hospital when I needed to. Doctors and nurses always came and saw me. I didn’t go to them.”

However, thanks to the work of two area Lions Clubs, things have changed for MacDonald.

The Niles Lions Club collaborated with the Edwardsburg Lions Club to install a wheelchair ramp outside of MacDonald’s home in order to help her get around. The Niles Lions Club tore out her existing, rotting deck, and the Edwardsburg Lions Club replaced it with a ramp Saturday.

When the Niles Lions Club heard of MacDonald’s situation from her daughter-in-law, they knew they needed to help her and that she needed a ramp, said Bill Stockwell ,with the Niles Lion Club.

“Even the paramedics, when they came to see [MacDonald], worried they would fall through her deck,” Stockwell said. “Something needed to be done.”

However, the Niles club did not have the skills or resources to help her. That’s when they reached out to the Edwardsburg Lions Club, who have been installing ramps in Edwardsburg homes for nearly 20 years.

“We heard through the grapevine that the Edwardsburg Lions Club did this kind of thing, so we reached out to them for help,” Stockwell said. “They donated the labor and we supplied the materials. Normally, this project would be out of our abilities, but because the Edwardsburg Lions have such an experience with this, we could raise money to do this, which is great.”

Jerry Tavernier, with the Edwardsburg Lions Club, has been installing ramps for nearly two decades in Edwardsburg.

Though this is the first time the Edwardsburg Lions Club has installed a ramp in Niles, Tavernier said that the Edwardsburg club did not give a second thought to helping the Niles group.

“[The Niles Lions Club] called and need some help, so we were did what we know how to do,” Tavernier said. “Helping senior citizens in any community is important. It doesn’t matter if they are from Edwardsburg or anywhere else.”

Both the Niles and Edwardsburg Lions Clubs said they were happy with the finished product of the ramp, and that they were happy to work together to help someone in need.

“It’s great [working with another Lions Club]. They were very helpful,” Stockwell said. “Our whole point of existence is just to serve. Our motto is ‘we serve.’ We’ve always championed those in need, and this woman in particular needed our help. And it’s been great to help someone in our city with someone who has experience with that type of project.”

For her part, MacDonald said she is grateful to the clubs for the ramp and the work they put in.

“When I found out they were going put in a ramp for me, I was so happy,” MacDonald said. “ I couldn’t believe it. I was so happy.”

Though she has yet to use the new ramp, it will help MacDonald get to her appointments, she said. Particularly, MacDonald is excited to be able to go her eye doctor in November, something she was unsure she would be able to do with the way her home was before.

“I can now go places without having to worry about anybody lifting me down the steps,” she said. “I’m so happy for [the ramp]. I really appreciate it.”