Sun Gazette March 22, 2007
By Jared Hoffmann

Volunteers at Heat of Show

Residents from across metro area donate time
In the midst of the frenzy and organized chaos that surrounded the Jacobo family home at 4132 N. Spruce Ave. last week, themes of volunteerism and generosity remained constant.

While ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” producers and camera operators concentrated on filming a TV show, hundreds of volunteers from across the metro area arrived to give of their time and services to provide a new home for Jesus and Michelle Jacobo, nine children and Michelle’s father.

Local contractors donated slots of time around the clock to pour the foundation, construct walls, apply siding and tack down shingles. Other volunteers offered their hands by cleaning debris, carrying supplies and organizing meals.

One volunteer who often appeared in the middle of the hustle was Gladstone resident Ramon Robles. Robles has traveled with the show to seven locations over the past five years – including Georgia, Arkansas, Nebraska and Ohio – to volunteer his services.

He said seeing families benefit by the show was what kept him involved.

“It’s a thrill to get inside to help people out,” Robles said. “I love doing it.”

When the demolition of the Jacobo family’s home commenced March 13, Robles led an enthusiastic group of volunteers as he dismantled fencing, busted out windows and ripped siding from the house with his bare hands. He said seeing the community come together for a single cause was the highlight of the experience.

“Everybody came together to get involved in this project,” Robles said. “A lot of people didn’t believe in doing community service for volunteer work around here, and now within a three-block radius everybody is volunteering to do the job for this family.”

Tony Libra, spokesman for Kevin Green Homes, estimated that 1,500 volunteers contributed time throughout the week. Libra said he began organizing the volunteers in January and had more than 800 solidified long before the show arrived. For Libra, one of the biggest challenges was telling hundreds of people about the event and then asking them to keep it a secret.

“We were under media black-out,” Libra said. “W told everybody not to talk to anybody, and it worked.”

Parkville resident Dave Rechsteiner also donated time during the event. In addition to spending hours manning the volunteer check-in tent, he also participated in filming a pre-demolition sequence in which hundreds of volunteers donning blue shirts and white hard hats marched down the street onto the Jacobo’s lawn.

“Just the ability to be a tiny part of a phenomenal cause like this is something that I really wanted to be involved in,” Rechsteiner said. “It’s something that’s pretty cool.”