Day 1, December 3rd, 2009
9:30 a.m. – We just arrived at the Stein Mart parking lot and met Sara Peterson, media rep volunteer for the project. We passed the trucks and buses on the way in, and Sara told us she spotted Ty in one of the buses! Can’t wait to hear the news of the “door knock” and see the site!
10:00 – Still waiting in the Stein Mart parking lot with about six other news crews – Sara has just informed us that the “door knock” has just happened! We are just a few streets over from the site, so we are eagerly anticipating what today has in store! By the way, it’s freezing out here! Not your typical Mississippi weather!
10:30 – We were able to find out a few details about the family – the father is a former Southern Miss football player (To The Top!), has been in the military and has also served in Iraq. More details to come!
11:00 – Just finished watching the builders, David Thompson and Gary Fordham of AAA Homes, being interviewed by several different reporters. We are now caravanning via car making our way to the house. Very excited and full of anticipation!
11:15 – Just arrived at the site. House is located at 618 S. 18th Avenue. The house is an older home, painted green and white, with an American flag flying in the yard. The flag is fitting, as the father of the family, Sherman Heathcock, is in the Army National Guard and currently serving in Iraq. Sherman and his wife, Gina, have three kids, Annie, 12, Gary, 10, and Tessa, 7. Sherman works hard to support his family, serving not only in the National Guard, but as a sheriff’s deputy, a SWAT team leader, a grocery store security guard, a neighborhood watch group organizer, volunteers to provide security for his children’s school and coaches his son’s football and baseball teams. Gina also does her part, working part-time as a paralegal. What a deserving family!
11:20 – Watching as the designers interview who looks to be Annie, as she sits in a tree in the front yard.
11:25 – Designer Johnny Littlefield comes over to talk with reporters. He gives a lengthy interview speaking of the family. He describes how touching the moment was when the family was notified they were chosen. Johnny says the kids were very excited, saying “Yay! Were getting new bedrooms!” while Gina had tears in her eyes as she saw hope for the future.
11:40 – Ty Pennington walks out of the house and playfully kicks Gary’s soccer ball in the yard before walking over to talk with some of the crew. After a short talk, he steps into the security van and before riding off gives a wave to the reporters. Everyone is now breaking for lunch.
11:45 – As we head to lunch we pass Johnny talking with Gary as he kicks his soccer ball in the front yard.
12:05 p.m. – Just arrived at the house and John Littlefield is throwing the football in the front yard with Gary. Too bad it’s so cold outside! They are probably freezing!
1:58 p.m. – Seems like all of the volunteers are lined up on top of the hill ready to go! People from AAA homes, the Army, community members, and even Southern Miss athletes are here!
2:32 p.m. – The volunteers are charging down the hill waving American flags and chanting. The family and designers along with Ty have come out of the house and are waving to the volunteers. You can tell they are very excited.
4:30 p.m. – The crew has just finished filming for the day, all of the designers have gone and the family will be coming back for a press conference in an hour!
5:44 p.m. – The family just talked to the media about how happy they are about everyone wanting to help them out. Gina Heathcock spoke for the whole family when she said, “I can’t describe in a million years how very, very grateful we are that we were chosen for this. It humbles me so much that someone would care about my family enough to do something like this for us.”
Day 2: December 4, 2009
10:06 a.m.- Hanging out on site with our hard hats on. The crew is unloading equipment so that they can begin clearing the house. We have been told that the family has already left for Orlando.
10:15 - We are assembling packets for the big news conference which will take place at 11 a.m. The packet includes information about “green” concepts, the building company and the show for the media.
10:37- Volunteers are moving furniture out of the house. We just saw them throw the couch away!
10:40- They are beginning to cut down some of the trees around the house.
10:53- We caught up with two volunteers and talked to them about how they felt about this experience. One volunteer said, “I feel honored to do it. It’s a wonderful thing to do something for somebody who gives so much of his life for our country.” Another volunteer said, “It’s a small thing on my part to give back to the home owner and his family.” They have been here on site since 5:30a.m…wow!
11:05- Waiting for the news conference to start. Apparently this will be the first green home that meets “green” standards in Hattiesburg and possibly in Mississippi! David Thompson, who is the lead builder, will be speaking as well as Johnathan Boone (building designer), Cindy Duvall (Mississippi Power), and John Seibert (Lennox).
11:07- We just saw Paige, Michael and Johnny walk by…will Ty be next??
11:15- News conference is starting. David told Gina, the mother, “We’re just as excited to build the house as you are to receive it.” Jonathan Boone explained the meaning of the “green” home, describing it as more energy efficient and safer. David Thompson added that he hopes to see the community embrace the “green” concept. He believes in “building safer, more energy efficient homes and educating the community (about green concept).”
11:30- Press conference over; the crew is breaking for lunch.
12:00- During early afternoon of Friday December 4, 2009, the perimeter of the house on 18th avenue was clear. Hattiesburg tree service assisted in removing excessive tree limps hanging over the house. Today’s purpose is to empty the house and prepare for demolition at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning. Volunteers and Extreme Makeover crew paced the area to keep progress moving.
12:30- AAA Homes builder David Thompson said, “Everything about this project is extreme. It’s a team effort to complete and have worked with multiple groups to get this project underway.” He further explained Lennox from Slidell , LA, donated the solar heating and cooling equipment. The air conditioner alone cost $24,000.
The designers of the home go to extreme lengths to make the new home comfortable for the family by matching colors, themes and smells of the previous house. Stedmann McCollough Architecture worked with House Plan Zone to create the new home for the Heathcock family.
The VIP tent is directly in front of the home for donators and special visitors to watch progress of the home.
1:00 - Ty and Christian are asking for donations to make care packages to send to troops currently serving tours in Iraq. The items of highest need are AT&T pre-paid phone cards, vacuum sealed baked goods (brownies, cookies, etc.), and books or magazines. Toiletries would also benefit the packages. These items include: toothbrushes and toothpaste, toilet paper, razors, hand sanitizers, deodorant, female personal items, and baby wipes. Batteries, decks of cards, and pens would also go a long way to contributing to the packages. Items should be brought to the volunteer tent behind Cloverleaf Mall. The production team would like all donations to be dropped off before Noon, Saturday, December 4th.
2:50 pm – Just talked to Paula Anderson of Anderson Carpet One and Lighting who is donating the lighting fixtures to be installed in the home. Mrs. Anderson and her husband were approached by the EHM team and agreed to donate the lighting but were not aware of where the house was until early Thursday morning.
Mrs. Anderson was actually born in this very house and lived here until she moved at the age of six! She was not aware it was going to be her childhood home until the morning that the EHM team knocked on the door.
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