Schierling family donates wheelchair lift to Brothers

Around seven years ago, the Schierling family woke up to a shocking and horrifying situation when Elvira Schierling — the wife of Brothers Redevelopment founder Don Schierling — suddenly forgot how to walk.

“She had dementia. She literally woke up one morning and was doing this side shuffle,” said Sonja Schierling, Don and Elvira’s daughter. “I was like okay, what’s going on?”

The Schierling house is two stories tall, and Elvira wouldn’t have had a way to enter the home until the family purchased a wheelchair lift that her and Don used until their last days. When Don passed in February, the lift sat unused at the house. But just like the Schierling’s have done for decades, they thought of others in need and Brothers Redevelopment while the lift was unused.

The Schierling family donated the lift to Brothers Redevelopment’s Home Modification and Repair Program who will give the item to a client in need and install it for them at no charge. The program serves seniors across the Front Range by providing free, high quality home safety related repairs and mobility/accessibility modifications.

On June 15, employees from the program went to the Schierling house to pick up the lift that will be stored until it can be placed and installed.

“We are humbled and honored to have been approached by the Schierling family as the recipient of such a generous and impactful donation. This Vertical Platform Lift that allowed our late founder Don Schierling and his late wife to access their home with safety and independence will now go to another household in need,” said Home Modification and Repair Program Manager Jason McCullough.

“This will allow someone who is at this moment wrestling with limited or declining mobility the freedom of access to and from their home with ease and comfort. We will use this donation to further the mission of Brothers Redevelopment and continue the good work Don was so passionate about throughout his lifetime of service,” he added.

Earlier this year, the Schierling family also donated a vehicle that is being used by Brothers Redevelopment’s Paint-A-Thon Program — a longstanding free service that sees volunteers paint the outside of homes for senior and disabled homeowners.

“These donations would’ve made (Don) so happy and proud. This is what dad wanted — anything to help Brothers,” said Sonja.