Comments

We’re getting lots of great comments and thoughts about this exciting project, and we’re happy to share them with you here. If you would like to send a comment, you can email us. Thank you for taking the time to get in touch!

When my dad told me about this project, I didn’t believe him at first!! Things like this just don’t happen in our little corner of the world. I had planned on being home this past weekend, anyway, so it was only natural to sign up to volunteer. These are the kinds of projects that get me going. It was SO AMAZING to see how many people were coming together to get this feat accomplished and it was such an honor to play a small role in it. I was able to meet some extraordinary people (Dawn, Sally, GiGi, Julie and Diane), among others. It was chaotic, but it was organized chaos. It seemed like we all stayed out of the way of the construction workers and they showed their appreciation for the volunteers as well. I’m also extremely proud of my dad Rusty and his business partner Jeff (and my brother Noah) for putting the gutters on this huge house and all the other Pearl City folks for donating their time and efforts. It’s times like these that make me very glad and grateful I’m from this area. To the people of NW IL, you have a lot to be proud of for giving the Stott family such a beautiful opportunity and I hope their dreams can start to come true. Thanks to Hasken Construction and ALL of the others who have contributed. One word: AMAZING. — Jessica

I had such a great time helping at the site on Saturday. I picked up garbage and then helped in the chicken coop the rest of my shift. What fun to work along side others who care and wanted to lend a helping hand. When we finished the walls inside the chicken coop our shift was almost over so we had another pop, water and snack which sure tasted good. Keep up the great work. I hope I can make it out to Lena to help again before it is over, at least to come over with my family to see from the sidelines. I had a great time, and it felt so good to help out. Thanks for coming to Lena, IL. — Dawn

Rick and Laurie are two of the most caring, generous people on the planet. Proud to be their friends. — Cal and Sally

GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU ALL SAFE – FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE GIVEN TO THESE UNFORTUNATE FAMILIES LIKE THE STOTTS. — YOUR BIGGEST FANS, LINDA, LORI, DONNA AND BRYANNA

Good luck with your project! My wife and I love what you do for people and love watching the show. Take care,
Billy

Thank you to all who have made the time to volunteer this next week! May God bless each and every one of you. I pray the family a safe and fun trip. I pray the designers the insight and resources to finish this project. To all the volunteers be safe, have fun, be blessed to the end of time for your time and efforts. Take care and have a good time doing for others, there is no better feeling! God bless the Haskens for all they have done. — The Care A Lot Day Care Family

Wow! I sent an email regarding spectators and not long after had a great response. Thank You for keeping up with this site and all emails.:) — Becky

God bless all of you for pitching in and helping such a wonderful and deserving family. I am originially from Warren, IL, and currently live in Roanoke, VA. I wish that I could be home currently being able to help on such a wonderful thing. This is an amazing thing for Extreme Makeover to come to such a small area and grant this wonderful and deserving family this wish of theirs. I will be anxious when I come home to visit again to stop by and see the home when it is all finished. I will be sure to be watching it when it does air. Again, God bless all of you and the family! You deserve it! Wendy — Roanoke, VA

Just gettin' ready to head out to the build to help with worker check in and wanted to again say THANK YOU for your patience, your skills and your devotion to the project. I can't imagine the hundreds of demands you have (per hour) ~ thanks for entertaining "this one." Its amazing to see all the ways people are supporting the project ~ more importantly, the family. — Deb

God bless you as you take on this challenge, all the volunteers and donors for their efforts, and Ty and the entire staff as you all work together to richly bless this family. As the only contribution I can make at this time, I will be praying for everyone involved for safety, protection, health and success in accomplishing this task. — Kevin

Hello Hasken Extreme Makeover Team: As our deadline approaches, let us all be reminded that we are here for one purpose…coming together through thick and thin, hard times and good, overcoming differences in opinion; setting all aside to work together with the talents with which we have been blessed to help someone in need. May the Lord bless each and everyone involved, look over our shoulders, keep everyone safe; and…yes, no rain would be good too!!! As Conrad Ricketts said, “Be safe, have a good time and enjoy the experience”………Let’s GIT-R-DONE!!!! Your team-mates at Northern Illinois Wind Co.

Hello, Laurie! I've been reading online about the great job you and Rick are doing on this project and just had to contact you. You may not remember me, but I baked a cake for your in-laws' anniversary open house one year and my girls were your students at Forreston a good many years ago. Keep up the good work! — Linda Moseley, Lynchburg, VA

I just want to share this information as I believe it works well with our wonderful community and working together. A couple of years ago through the "Rebuilding Together" program here in Freeport, my daughter was fortunate enough to be the recipient of a makeover to her Victorian style home. Many, many volunteers helped make this a reality. Just another example of how we come together to help our neighbors in need. Thank you Freeport! And thank you to Rick and Laurie and family...you are the greatest and so selfless!

Our company has been a proud participant in Extreme Makeover: Home Edition throughout Seasons 4, 5, 6 and now in Season 7. The project in your area will be our 74^th overall. Your willingness to contribute so much for this deserving family is very admirable, and we look forward to being part of your team. Best of luck with this project. I am confident it will be far beyond anything you can imagine! — Jeff

This is an amazing project you are taking on – God Bless You. I have signed up in the volunteering area. I just retired from Lincoln-Douglas School in June and I was there 18 years. I would like to use those skills that I have taken from those 18 years to help you in your project. — Sandie

My family and I volunteered for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (EMHE) last year in Richland Center, WI, for the Anders-Beatty family. The opportunity to serve a family in need is awesome. It was 2 hours one way from where we lived at the time. We volunteered on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and the final day of revealing on Thursday. We will have life long memories of that experience. To see a house built in such a short time and seeing people serve that didn't even know the family was truly an inspiration and God's hand was in it. We helped wherever we were needed from picking up trash, crowd patrol, or removing labels from bottled water. We even worked in the pouring down rain.

We faithfully watched this program every week even before given the opportunity to serve. We always had a box of tissue near by because of the emotions we feel seeing a family's dream come true. It was really neat to experience first hand to serve as a volunteer and then later to see it on TV.

We are so excited for the family that will be chosen soon and glad to welcome EMHE to northwest Illinois. The group of people associated with this show are very professional and courteous. They have done this many times before and it's a process that has been well developed in all aspects from keeping the public and the volunteers safe, to having fun on the job and still getting the work done.

We plan to help with the makeover and see another deserving family receive this blessing. My wife has vacation from her job and is planning on serving that week at the volunteer site. We look forward to working with the EMHE crew again and seeing familiar faces as well as meeting new people associated with the local contractors who have been selected to fulfill this purpose. This is quite an honor for anyone who chooses to become involved versus sitting on the sidelines grumbling.

Sincerely,
The JJ Family