VOLUNTEERS FROM NEAR AND FAR HELPING WITH ‘EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION’

BY LAURIE KIEFABER
Tribune News Editor
Friday, November 06, 2009

BUNKER HILL -- Volunteers at the building site for the Cowan home being organized for the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" TV show include not only regular folks but numerous building contractors. While Hallmark Homes (with offices in Anderson, Kokomo, Lebanon, Lafayette and Edinburgh) is the main builder, numerous smaller contractors have been brought in to help with the project.

That's where Lisa Bradford and her husband Jason come in. They own J & L Concrete in Marion and got involved in the project.

"We started at 4 a.m. Friday in pouring down rain," said Mrs. Bradford, who works as a concrete finisher.

Bradford said they were originally scheduled to pour concrete at 5 a.m. Friday, but couldn't because of rain.

The Bradfords have scheduled three other employees to help them pour and finish concrete at the Cowan home.

Being in the construction industry, Mrs. Bradford said she sees lots of pop-up ads on her computer. But one was from Hallmark Homes advertising for contractors to help with the project. After responding to the ad, she was contacted by Scott Weins at Hallmark Homes. He asked if they would be willing to work "crazy hours."

"I said 'We'll do whatever needs to be done,'" she recalled.

"(On Friday) the mud was two inches from the tops of my boots," she said. "... We had to put a couple of jobs on hold (because of this project). Once people found out why, they were completely okay with it."

As long as the rain is not coming in a downpour, concrete can set, she said. Depending on the additives mixed in, the concrete can set in as little as an hour.

"It's been crazy and fun," she said of the makeover opportunity. "It's an experience just be part of such a job. It's fulfilling."

Bradford said she understands mold can be a real issue in homes, and knew that there are deadly varieties out there.

"I hope if I was in that situation I'd get community help," she said.

J & L was slated to pour the garage floor Sunday, Bradford said.

Darrell Toney of Greencastle also was helping the J & L workers finish the concrete. He is retired now, but he installed wells for a living -- including about 110 wells in Haiti.

"I do a lot of mission work," he said. "I do my own cement work at home."

John Doty of Peru also was helping with construction, along with his daughter, Allison. He works at Grissom in a nonconstruction capacity, but on Saturday he was sealing the crawl space with a tar-like substance.

"It's exciting," he said of the makeover experience. "It seems like you're stepping over everyone, but as long as you stay on task (the work gets done)."

Allison Doty also had done some sealing, as she had tar on her coat already.

"It's really cold," she said Saturday. "But it's so beautiful. I can't wait till they finish the house!"

The Dotys were helping Mike Gatte, who runs Rent-A-Buddy in St. Louis, Mo. He started the construction company to help elderly individuals who had small projects to complete.

"I knew Don Baldwin of Alexandria with the foundation crew," Gatte said, so Baldwin asked Gatte to come up and help with the project.

Kevin Chapman of Kokomo was helping with electrical work on the Cowan home. He has been an electrician for 23 years and retired from the U.S. Navy, stationed out of Virginia Beach. He's not working right now, so he was free to help out.

"When I left (Friday), the foundation was in and they were getting cables for lighting and outlets," he said Saturday.

Chapman's foot got stuck in the mud Saturday, and he twisted his ankle trying to get it out. He had to leave the work site to have it looked at and was returning to work via the Maconaquah school buses again Saturday.

"We're working as fast as we can considering (the weather)," he said.

"I'm really impressed with the coordination," he said of the project. "And with this weather we're still getting everything done."

He'd also seen the rapper Exhibit doing work Saturday on the project.

Chris Gibbs with the Grissom Civil Air Patrol also was helping on the home project Saturday. He'd seen American Idol's Dave Cook playing a little soccer with the Maconaquah High School boy’s soccer team.

"He head-butted the ball and made a goal," Gibbs said.

Gibbs had heard about the project through his civil air patrol commander, and decided to come out.

"It's neat to see everyone out here," he said. "People from Wisconsin and Ohio are driving back and forth. It's amazing what people do. There's so many amazing people who want to come out and help the family."

Adrienne and John Dzelme of Pendleton came out Saturday and planned to help through Tuesday. Both are working full-time and attending classes at Anderson University.

"We wanted to volunteer and are fans of the show," Mrs. Dzelme said.

Mr. Dzelme said he found the work and experience "inspiring."

The two nonconstruction volunteers did a lot of different things to help Saturday. They'd helped Dennis Ashley Design with the vendors, putting straw down in the soggy field, putting up sponsor signs on the barrier fence by the spectators, working in the media tent, sweeping up dirt inside the home being built, moving lumber, and sealing the foundation.

"The best part is everyone's attitude volunteering," Mrs. Dzelme said. "Everyone is very polite and giving."

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