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Extreme Enthusiasm: Rally pumps up volunteers who will transform a vision into reality
Journal Photo by David Rolfe
Volunteers and contractors pack Reeds Baptist Church in Davidson County for the kickoff of the Extreme Makeover project.
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Published: November 7, 2009
LEXINGTON -- Leon Eller, a carpenter from Churchland, knew that he wanted to be involved in Extreme Makeover: Home Edition when he heard that the show was coming to the Triad.
"I want to see how it's done in such a short period of time," Eller said. "And I like to help people."
He was one of several hundred people who crowded into Reeds Baptist Church in Davidson County yesterday morning for a pep rally in advance of next week's taping of the show.
The series, now in its seventh season on ABC, travels around the country helping organize volunteers to build new houses for people in need. In the course of one week, the family is moved out of their old house, the structure is demolished, and a new house is built in its place that can better suit the family's needs.
"This is more than just about one family, this is about a community coming together," said Conrad Ricketts, the show's executive producer.
Ricketts and other members of the show's production team explained to the attendees -- volunteers who will work on the construction and do support work -- what they can expect during production. They also watched highlight reels from previous shows and shared anecdotes.
Before the rally, Jason Hedrick -- whose Lexington construction company, Hedrick Creative Building, is leading the project -- said he didn't know what led ABC and Endemol USA, the company that produces the show, to pick his company.
"They say they're going to tell me when it's all over with," he said. "It feels awesome. I'm glad they picked me…. Everybody is so excited."
Hedrick has been involved in several weeks of preproduction work, reaching out to subcontractors and suppliers to get the parts and labor needed for the construction -- and soliciting the hundreds of volunteers needed to help with the construction.
His company is not being paid for the work, he said. "It's great publicity," he said, "and I hope it translates into large growth of future business."
More important, he said, is the emotional benefit. "This has been a great experience. I really feel good about being able to give back to the community."
Five families are being considered for the show.
Although the show selected a Lexington contractor and the rally was held in Lexington, that doesn't mean that the family will be from Davidson County.
Ricketts would not say where they live.
Hedrick doesn't know which family will be chosen. He said he doesn't expect to find out until Wednesday morning, the day that the family finds out and taping begins.
The five families have been notified that they are in the running, and location managers have made arrangements with city and county officials for permits and building inspections.
They have also talked with the neighbors of the families, since their lives will be disrupted by all the commotion: hundreds of construction workers, 75 to 100 trucks dropping off supplies, and the construction site lit up "like a football field," Ricketts said.
Most of the time, Ricketts said, "The neighbors say, ‘How can I help?'"
On Wednesday morning, one of those five families will get a knock at their door.
They will then be sent away on vacation while their belongings are boxed up and moved out of the house.
On Thursday, their house will be demolished, and the ground will be cleared.
On Friday, the foundation will be set and construction will begin.
Construction will run 24 hours a day through the next Monday, when the keys will be handed over to the design team to furnish and decorate the home.
On Nov. 17, the family is scheduled to get its first look at the new house.
This episode will be broadcast later in the season, possibly in February.
More information about the project can be found at www.hedrickextreme.com.
tclodfelter@wsjournal.com. | 727-7371
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