“We met the family on Thursday, cleaned out the house on Friday, and on Saturday we started tearing things down,” Terry Pendergraft said Wednesday, Aug. 5.
The elder Pendergraft, who has no background in construction, has worked at the contractors check-in tent and helped install wallpaper in two rooms, pour the footer and build the playground.
Lorrie Pendergraft, who also worked on the “Extreme Makeover” crew in Columbus a few years ago, spent much of her time in the construction check-in tent. She also helped wallpaper three bedrooms with her dad Tuesday, Aug. 4.
“It’s been great,” she said. “The community has volunteered so much of their time. Nobody has gone hungry or thirsty and we’ve even had back massages.”
Many local restaurants have donated food and drinks for the entire crew, she said.
The home — a three-bedroom ranch at 548 Carthage Drive in Beavercreek — is being built for James Terpenning, who uses a wheelchair, and his family.
He will live in the new home with his wife, four small children and an adopted brother who also uses a wheelchair.
Terpenning is a civilian computer specialist at the Aerospace Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Terry Pendergraft, who worked on a special project for one of the bedrooms that has to be kept secret until the big unveiling later today, Aug. 6, said it was a thrill to work with Ty Pennington and the other celebrities.
“This has been such a rewarding experience,” said Terry, who works as a Preble County Veteran’s Services officer. “I’ve made a lot of friends since I’ve been here. ... It’s really been amazing.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0371 or elroberts@coxohio.com.
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