New home at 2255 Coker Butte Road
Ty Pennington and the McPhails will shout “Move That Bus” today (September 14) about 3pm! Everyone is encouraged to take the shuttle from Walmart (pick-ups every 20 minutes) and show our support!
Wow! In just four days, an amazing home has taken shape, with landscape and sod rolling in today and tonight. Thousands of volunteers work day – and night – to make this makeover a reality.
Tony and Vicki McPhail
The Jacksonville Review was able to visit the VIP Tent and take some cool photos of this wild project. All of the volunteers, crew and organizers are in great spirits – and very positive about the progress and cause.
C.J. McPhail’s parents, Tony and Vicki McPhail, are really excited, and have been on-hand to volunteer. They head back to Colorado at the end of the week. Vicki told the Review, “I am just thrilled, and am going to have to try to calm down when our kids see this house!”
Rush Behnke, Art Built
Rush Behnke, Owner and General Contractor of Art Built Renovations, is heading up the build. He seemed fairly relaxed, considering the amount of work in such a short time-frame. Everywhere the eye could see were blue shirts and white hard hats.
Carmen Whitlock, Owner of Eleglance Stylish Interiors, was also in the VIP Tent. Carmen is heading up the local design team – for the VIP Tent and the house. From all reports, the design and interior look, feel and functionality are very special. While The Review was visiting, some Extreme Makeover staff & crew said this VIP Tent is the best they’ve ever had! Carmen has been assisted by Jacksonville Designer, Cheryl Von Tress, Owner of Cheryl von Tress Design, who has been there for some late night (and all-nighter) work. VonTress also stepped-up for the $1 per “like” (up to $1,000) on facebook.
Janice Mills, Jacksonville Resident and wife of Dave Mills, Owner of Airport Chevy/Cadillac, was on-site to keep a number of things (and people) organized. She was apparently initially to be in charge of some PR, but is now wearing many hats and staying very busy.
Volunteers Leah Van Kirk and John Stelle with Janice Mills (center)
Melanie Scofield of The Candy Shoppe in Jacksonville and Scofield Landscape, told The Review that her husband has been on-site for about 30 hours! Melanie helped organize the Jacksonville Basket which is currently on facebook for auction…the bids (as of Monday at 4pm) are up to $600! Click here if you want to learn more and/or bid on this fabulous basket – worth about $2000 in gift certificates and items from Jacksonville’s great shops.
Carmen Whitlock, Eleglance Stylish Interiors, in the VIP Tent
Extreme Makeover also announced that spectators and fans of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition show have donated 2,543 pounds of food to ACCESS Food Share since Friday. With just a few days left, ACCESS is hoping to receive a total of 10,000 pounds by “reveal” day on Wednesday. The ACCESS Food Share drop-off barrels are located at the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition jobsite on Coker Butte Road.
Volunteers Leah Van Kirk, Marcia Griffiths and Jill Tompkins
Spectators for the build are asked to bring their food donation with them onto the free RVTD shuttle bus located in the Medford Walmart parking lot off of Crater Lake Highway. They can then drop off the donations in the bins when they get to the spectator viewing area.
Commercial Artist, Veronica Thomas, with her original home rendering painting
People are encouraged to donate non-perishable nutritious foods rich in protein such as peanut butter, canned tuna, canned meat and beans. However, donations of any non-perishable food items such as rice, pasta, and cold and hot cereals are always a big help.
For those not going to the jobsite but who want to donate food can leave it with the bus driver. Buses pick up at Walmart approximately every 20 minutes, beginning at 8 a.m. The last bus returns to Walmart at 8 p.m. Buses run through Wednesday.
The shuttle bus is very efficient with friendly drivers and an easy trek. Be sure to see for yourself what the scurry of volunteers and equipment is like!
The “Reveal” for the McPhails will be this Wednesday, September 14th. The ctual actual show and Season Premiere – Sunday, September 25, 7pm, ABC.
Click here for more information on the McPhail Family, autism and the show.
Learn more about the project and the home at the Extreme Makeover facebook page.