Extreme Makeover >> Volunteering at the Hurston's Home

On the night before the Hurston family would hear, "Move That Bus" at the Extreme Makeover reveal, my wife and I set out to see if we could lend a hand by volunteering. We were already on the list to help, but hadn't heard back from the Extreme folks. On day two we showed up onsite and watched as dozens of volunteers moved cinderblocks and built the foundational walls. All of that was fun, and it did lead to our surprise meeting of Ty Pennington and the design team ( story / pictures / video ), but we wanted more... especially my wife. So, on this very chilly evening, we were both hoping that our skills, talents or backs could be put to use. Parking at the landfill (where everyone visiting the Hurston site had to park) we checked in with the officials at the main tent/sign in area.

Could they use us? Sadly, the answer was no, they already had enough volunteers on hand.

"You can check back later," the friendly woman told us. "We might have some openings."

Just a little bit dejected, we climbed aboard the shuttle bus that would take us to the Hurston home site. We'd come so far, and wanted to help, but it didn't seem like our efforts were needed. Or so we thought.

At the Hurston Site

After viewing the Hurston home from across the road, taking a drink from the Voyager water purifier ( more on Voyager ), we wandered around, conversing with various folks, laughing and sharing tales. Suddenly, a voice called out: "I need four volunteers with strong backs!"

My hand immediately shot up, along with my sweetheart's. Before long two other women had joined our group, and we were suddenly being given instructions and introductions. It turns out that the one doing the "hiring" was Christian Hurston, Joe Hurston's older son. "They're building this house for my dad," he said looking again across the street. "And my wife and I are going to play some music for the volunteers. I need help moving my sound equipment."

With that, we were off and walking. Our rag-tag group of four were whisked into the secret, behind-the-scenes areas of an Extreme Makeover event. We passed what looked like a dozen RVs and trailers, workers, security personnel, tents, more volunteers, and then the giant meal tent.

Before long, we arrived at a small trailer parked in the darkened corner of one of Joe Hurston's neighbors and began loading speakers, a mixer, microphone stands and various sound gear onto the push cart we'd brought with us. The sound of traffic from nearby I-95 whisked through the dark trees. Just as I was contemplating the upcoming physical effort of pushing the cart over squishy, sandy terrain, headlights appeared. It was the neighbor on whose property we were standing. And he brought his pickup truck! The moving of the sound equipment had just become much, much easier. We transferred the equipment to the pickup bed and climbed aboard. My wife and I ended up in the cab, while the other half of our team took up residence with Christian Hurston in the back.

I found it fascinating as we slowly rolled back through the event, looking out from a perspective that I'd never seen. At one point a woman approached the driver's window, and the pickup slowed to a stop. "Hey," she said smiling. "Mind if I use your bathroom again? The port-a-potties are so dark inside." The driver chuckled. "Sure, no problem," he said.

As we resumed our slow ride, I asked the driver if he knew the Hurston family.

"Sure do. They're great neighbors, although they're gone a lot."

"What do you think of all the excitement on your street?" my wife asked him.

He laughed. "The Extreme Makeover people offered to send us to a hotel, to get away from all the activity, but I'm loving this. I'm loving the excitement and I'm helping out wherever I can."

Soon, we passed the Hurston home on the right and arrived at the VIP area, where we quickly unloaded the sound gear and bid adieu to the helpful neighbor. Next came the stage setup where our team of four hooked up microphones, set up speakers and stands, and hunted down extra chairs. Christian left to go get his guitar, and our crew of four took a break and gazed out again at the beautiful Hurston home as it gleamed like a jewel amid the tall, dark trees.

Helping in the Hurston Home

My wife, bless her heart, asked a nearby Extreme Makeover official if our group could have one of the blue shirts that volunteers wear, and to our utter jaw-dropping surprise he agreed, handing out four of the official blue Extreme Makeover T-shirts! Wow! I felt like a little kid at Christmas. With the shirt on, I scanned the build site now with new eyes, taking in the volunteers with blue shirts and white hats. And now, surprisingly, we were among them. The four of us giggled like school kids and wondered if we could help out at the main house. Turns out, yes, we could! A pickup truck arrived towing a trailer with big tea cups and before you knew it, my wife stepped up and asked, "Need any help?" Turns out they did. I didn't need anyone to ask me twice. I stepped up to the truck and was handed a bin full of various paint cans and tubs.

"These go up to the little girl's room upstairs," the truck driver instructed.

No problem!

Everyone entering the home was required to wear booties over their shoes, so we stopped at the front door and quickly donned the protective gear. Then it was inside at last.

The first thing that strikes you as you enter the Hurston's new home, is the giant aluminum skin of a Boeing 737 along the right hand side of the entryway. The Extreme team creatively used part of the jet as a wall. Thirteen oval aircraft windows looked into the kitchen on the other side. If you've seen the commercials of a crane hoisting an aircraft fuselage, that's the one. I had seen this airplane piece as it was being prepared behind a neighbor's home (see photo #5 of this article), but seeing it up close, and in a home setting, was startling to say the least.

The line of volunteers carrying items for the "tea cup" room stopped as I was "mid-plane". I bent down and looked at the kitchen through an aircraft window, then spotted why we weren't moving: the line heading upstairs was stopped. That gave me a chance to peer around.

Just beyond the aircraft wall, to the left, lay the family/dining room with people cleaning, polishing and decorating. Amid one group near the family room, I saw State Senator, Thad Altman smiling and shaking hands with volunteers. And then the line we were in moved forward and up the stairs. It was then that I realized one of the reasons for the slowdown: we were being filmed as we climbed the stairs. My wife and I on television? Perhaps. We delivered our paint and supplies to the appropriate "Tea Cup" room, took a peek at the master bedroom and bath (still undecorated) then went out onto the upstairs master suite balcony.

Once we were outside, Christian Hurston began to strum his acoustic guitar and his wife, Ann Marie, began to sing. I recognized the song and hummed along, a song of praise and thankfulness to God. It all seemed so fitting, so right. My own heart was swelling with gratitude as I looked into the misty eyes of my wife. She'd gotten her chance to help.

With the truck unloaded and the night turning colder, we grabbed some hot chocolate in the meal tent and traded stories with some of the other volunteers.

Since this was the night before the reveal, the plane wall may have been further decorated or changed before the family saw it. Secretly, I think it'd be neat if they stenciled the family's name across the side. I guess I'll find out this coming Sunday night, February 13^th, 2011, when the show airs.

The night before the reveal felt like Disney World had come to our very own Brevard County, and it was truly a special moment to share with my sweetheart. Keep an eye out for us when you watch the show. We'll be the one's dressed in blue shirts and a white hat.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Additional Extreme Makeover Articles:

Touring the Site of the Hurston's Extreme Makeover Home: Click Here
The Hurston Family: Extreme Makeover Water Edition: Click Here
Extreme Makeover's "Move that Bus!" Finally Heard by the Hurston Family: Click Here
Where is the Extreme Makeover Hurston Home Located? Click Here
Extreme Makeover Home Edition Coming to the Space Coast: Click Here

Extreme Photo/Video Gallery:

Extreme Makeover Pep Rally at Kennedy Space Center: Click Here
See the design team during their "stuck bus" moment at the airport: Photos -- Video
The Night before the Extreme Makeover Reveal: Click Here

Web Links/Sources

Air Mobile Ministries: Click Here
Extreme Makeover Home Edition Space Coast / LifeStyle Homes: Click Here