Extreme Home Makeover
The Dickinson family.
11 a.m. January 12: The official Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Beaufort County page on Facebook has uploaded a bunch of photos from yesterday's excitement, more than 100 photos actually.
You can check them out, regardless of whether you have a Facebook account, by clicking here.
We've also added some video coverage from WTOC down way, way at the bottom of the story.
Update January 12: So needless to say there was a lot of coverage of yesterday's Extreme Makeover announcement, with the Island Packet and WSAV providing a bulk of the good stuff.
The Island Packet's traditional writeup, including quotes from the family and neighbors ">can be found here.
WSAV also was out there for a story and video. Story here, video below.
So what happens next?
Well demolition of the existing home will happen today and the set is closed, and then the build site will be open to public spectators tomorrow. The public can watch what's going on from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Monday.
We'll also update with photos and any immediate needs the project has as we hear about it. There is an urgent needs page on the official Makeover website.
We'd also love to see your photos. You can send them to beaufort@thedigitel.com
Reported January 11: And the location of the home for the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in Beaufort County is ... drumroll please:
45 Mystic Circle in the Mossy Oaks area of Beaufort.
The family is the Dickinson's where the dad, Marine Staff Sergeant Bill Dickinson, is currently deployed oversees.
Here's more info from a press release:
Marine Staff Sergeant Bill Dickinson and his wife India face a terrible dilemma far too common for military families: How to keep a happy, healthy family stateside while one parent is serving overseas? The Dickinsons are not only a joyous, playful, fun family -- but above all, they are selfless and generous. Bill has served the US honorably for 17 years (and continues to do so) and the family volunteers and gives back to the community. Sadly, this great family has been forced to live in deplorable conditions. Because of Bill's deployments and financial difficulty, the family home has become almost uninhabitable. Despite Bill's best efforts to make repairs on his own, the list of problems is long: shoddy electrical, inadequate foundation, fire hazards and a dining room
floor destroyed by a flood. The most pressing issue is that there's mold in every wall, which is literally making the family sick, particularly 1 year old baby Sophia. Bill deployed for Afghanistan on November 5th, leaving India, like many military spouses, to deal with the terrible house and the toll it's taking on her kids -- by herself. They want to move but do not have the resources to do so. This weighs heavily on India of course but also on Bill whose work requires intense focus on the dangerous job at hand.
Being a loving husband and father, he is distracted by worry for his family, nearly 7000 miles away. H2 Builders owner Todd Hawk was on hand for the show’s traditional “family ambush” this morning which took place at the Marine Corp Air Station.
Hawk said this project is especially close to his heart because his grandfather was a Marine. “As a husband, a father and an American, I am awed at the personal sacrifice that literally tens of thousands of military husbands and fathers – and wives -- are willing to make, every single day, in order to keep my family, our communities, and our country a safe and free place to live. We are here this week to give our thanks to all the men and women who have given so much for us and for our country, by giving back to this deserving military family.” Hawk added that the Beaufort County community has been amazing with their support and encouragement on this project. “Vendors, subcontractors, suppliers, and local volunteers … it’s been incredible,” he said. “But we still have real needs, and I’m hoping we’ll get an eleventh hour infusion of support. It’s not too late,” he said. “If you’re interested in helping, the web site (extrememakeoverbeaufortcounty.com) is updated daily.”
The build site officially opens to spectators on Thursday, January 13, and will be open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM through Monday January 17. Spectator parking is available in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot in the Royal Oaks Shopping Center, located at the corner of Mossy Oaks Road and Ribaut Road (Highway 21) in Beaufort. Driving directions can be found on the web site. In keeping with the excitement and enthusiasm of this event, The Boys & Girls Club of Beaufort County will hold a Food Drive in the Spectator Parking Lot on the days the build site is open to the public, and are requesting donations of canned and non-perishable items to help feed needy families in Beaufort County.
The group will now start their weeklong countdown to building a new home for this family. If you're willing to help the group is still looking for mortar siders, framers, deck Installers, tile installers, and mason sand.
A press conference will be held at the family’s home at 5 p.m. today.
