Wednesday, October 18
A Community Responds
I received a really interesting email today. A woman who works at a local scrapbooking store had been asked to create a scrapbook for the family, showing the work that had been done to build their house. She was searching the web for information on the family and got a hit on my website. So she sent me an email. It is so interesting to hear the ways people in the community have contributed to this project!
Remember I said all the materials, etc. were donated (or at least that is the way it's supposed to work). Perhaps people in the South Bay/Southern California are calloused because of the number of films that shoot here. Maybe they are just too greedy, I don't know. But there were a number of things that we had inordinate difficulty finding: shuttles to carry the workers to and from the job site from the parking area (no way you can fit vehicles for 400+ workers into that little neighborhood), tents for all sorts of different headquarters, rest areas, etc., quickdry cement for the foundation, RVs (recreational vehicles) to use for certain people who had to be onsite 24x7 for the duration of the project. Some of these things we never got donated and different people (the contractor, ShareFest, ABC) had to pay for out of pocket. But other things came in odd ways. Instead of getting RVs from a single location, different families in the community donated theirs for the week. Our friends, Rod and Kristen Lenders, for example, were thrilled to contribute in even this small way. In addition, they found us a granite supplier, which up to that point, we didn't have.
Some of the local radio and television stations ran a short promo asking for drywallers, tilers, etc. to come help. Scores of talented, skilled people showed up to volunteer their time.
Steve and Joyce Fukumoto, who have a local floral business, organized a Farmer's Market, where all the proceeds would benefit the family. I heard a story afterwards about the Farmer's Market. The Fukumotos were hoping to raise $11,000 for the family. The Farmer's Market took in over $4,000, which is great, but Steve & Joyce were disappointed that it wasn't more. Shortly after that, someone handed them a check for $7,000!
A photographer from the LA area, Trish (I'll post her full name when I remember it), did a rather amazing thing. She flew herself down to Cabo San Lucas, where the family was vacationing during the build. She contacted the family and arranged to spend a day with them. She took some truly amazing photos - black and whites, of the family - individual shots, family shots, husband/wife shots. She flew home, blew them up and framed about 20 of them. The hallway between the bedrooms is beautifully decorated thanks to Trish's heart and talented eye.
These are only a few of the many many stories of people who went above and beyond to help the Ripattis!
Remember I said all the materials, etc. were donated (or at least that is the way it's supposed to work). Perhaps people in the South Bay/Southern California are calloused because of the number of films that shoot here. Maybe they are just too greedy, I don't know. But there were a number of things that we had inordinate difficulty finding: shuttles to carry the workers to and from the job site from the parking area (no way you can fit vehicles for 400+ workers into that little neighborhood), tents for all sorts of different headquarters, rest areas, etc., quickdry cement for the foundation, RVs (recreational vehicles) to use for certain people who had to be onsite 24x7 for the duration of the project. Some of these things we never got donated and different people (the contractor, ShareFest, ABC) had to pay for out of pocket. But other things came in odd ways. Instead of getting RVs from a single location, different families in the community donated theirs for the week. Our friends, Rod and Kristen Lenders, for example, were thrilled to contribute in even this small way. In addition, they found us a granite supplier, which up to that point, we didn't have.
Some of the local radio and television stations ran a short promo asking for drywallers, tilers, etc. to come help. Scores of talented, skilled people showed up to volunteer their time.
Steve and Joyce Fukumoto, who have a local floral business, organized a Farmer's Market, where all the proceeds would benefit the family. I heard a story afterwards about the Farmer's Market. The Fukumotos were hoping to raise $11,000 for the family. The Farmer's Market took in over $4,000, which is great, but Steve & Joyce were disappointed that it wasn't more. Shortly after that, someone handed them a check for $7,000!
A photographer from the LA area, Trish (I'll post her full name when I remember it), did a rather amazing thing. She flew herself down to Cabo San Lucas, where the family was vacationing during the build. She contacted the family and arranged to spend a day with them. She took some truly amazing photos - black and whites, of the family - individual shots, family shots, husband/wife shots. She flew home, blew them up and framed about 20 of them. The hallway between the bedrooms is beautifully decorated thanks to Trish's heart and talented eye.
These are only a few of the many many stories of people who went above and beyond to help the Ripattis!
Labels: Extreme Home Makeover, Reflections, Volunteerism
