ACTON — A breath of fresh spring air, the scent of flowers or the simple act of sitting outside in the sunshine are not always as easy pleasures to enjoy as one might think.

 Phyrma Littlefield was  able to get that breath of fresh air a few days ago. She’ll was able to park her wheelchair in the sunshine on her new doorstep and ramp and simply enjoy.

It  happened because her neighbors in Acton and some from a bit farther afield came together for that purpose.

It’s an example of “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” that happens in this small community like many others in Maine.

Acton’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors program, established by the town and fueled through  private donations,  comes into play in any number of circumstances, when emergencies — like a fire— destroy a home, or when folks might need a hand with a fuel or electricity bill and don’t meet government income guidelines, explained Town Administrator Jennifer Roux.

Established a couple of years ago, Neighbors helping Neighbors also sees to some other community needs, like furnishing Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets.

The fund  helped with Littlefield’s ramp — and there were several  other expressions of help with the project as well from the design to installing “grip tape” on the surface.

“It’s been a community effort,” said Roux.

The idea for the project came about a couple of months ago when Roux took part on the annual day municipal officials ride along with Meals on Wheels drivers. When they stopped to deliver meals, she asked each homebound recipient if there was anything the town could do for them.

Everett Littlefield, who is in his 96 and uses a walker, said there was.

“He said ‘build me a ramp so my wife can get out of the house,’” Roux explained on a recent visit to the Littlefield household a few days before the ramp was complete.

So through Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a generous discount on building materials through Deering Lumber, a gift of free labor from Nathan Roberge Construction of Sanford and other gifts of time and talent, it is getting done — just like that.

Everett and Phyrma Littlefield, who is in her 80s, have been married for 62 years. The couple had lived elsewhere until the late 1980s, Everett said, when they came to Acton to look after Phyrma’s elderly parents, living first in a home across the street, and later moving to their present location.

The house has a few concrete steps up to the front door, but when when a motorized wheelchair is your mode of getting around, the number of steps makes no difference — they’re insurmountable.

Nathan Roberge and his helper, Eric Lanigan, were putting the ramp railings together earlier this week. Altogether, Roberge estimated  his company had invested about three days of work in the project.

He said he decided to volunteer his company’s time when he read about the project on social media.

“The age thing got me, and with the lady in the wheelchair,  I wanted to get it so she could get out of the house,” Roberge said.

Roux pointed out that not only is Roberge donating his company’s time, he is paying his employee for his work.

“That’s huge to me,” said Roux. “That speaks volumes.”

Roux said the neighbors’ fund has helped with two recent fires and could use a topping-up, so help can be offered in the future. Those who wish to make a donation can contact Acton Town Hall.

Once the ramp was fully complete, Phyrma Littlefield planned to motor her way out the front  door.

“I appreciate it,” she said Tuesday of the community effort. “It will be nice to get outside.”

 Roux, the town administrator, reports that she did.

“I’ve driven by many times and seen her sitting outside,” said Roux. “Best feeling, ever.”

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.