ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is looking for a Somerset County “hometown hero” in dire need of a new 
home.

Dave McCall, associate pastor of Milford United Methodist Church and lay minister t First United Methodist Church, 
said he received a telephone call from someone with the show’s production company.

“I thought it was a joke,” he said. “The lady called me out of the clear blue. She said she was with ‘Extreme Makeover’
and Isaid, ‘Sure you are.’ I’ve watched the show for a long time.”

It’s not a joke.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is looking for what they call a hometown hero, preferably someone who was a first 
responder to the crash of Flight 93 or had some other connection to the tragedy. The first choice would be a house in 
the Stonycreek Township or Shanksville area, but the search includes all of Somerset County.

The Rev. Dale Shunk, pastor of First United Methodist Church, said the recipient must be someone who gives back 
to the community.

“Because of Flight 93, it was suggestedthat the search center around Shanksville, then go out,” said the Rev. Barry 
Ritenour, pastor of Bethany-St. John’s United Methodist Church, who is also on the Salvation Army board.

Patrick White, vice president of the Families of Flight 93 and co-chairman of the Flight 93 Task Force, said the family 
members are thrilled that someone in Somerset County will be chosen  to receive a new home.

“The Families of Flight 93 members have always been very grateful to the many wonderful citizens of the community 
who have given selflessly of their time and talents to support us in every way imaginable,” he said. “From the first tragic 
day, they have been there for us through today to lend their invaluable efforts to ensure the creation of a permanent 
memorial to our loved ones. So it is only fitting that now someone else will look to give something back to them.

“We most heartily congratulate ABC’s ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’for its caring and compassionate decision to 
look among this community for a worthwhile project where so many have demonstrated for us the unrelenting courage 
and commitment as shown by the loved ones we lost. That will be the first challenge, but it’s one that we, like a good 
family, hope to meet.”

In a press release issued by the production company, casting director Quintin Strack said,“We are looking for 
inspirational families that America can really root for.”

To be eligible, a family must own their own single family home and be able to show producers how a makeover 
will make a huge difference in their lives. The producers want to see houses that look like they are ready to fall down.

March 3 is the deadline to apply. The production team will visit the county in late March to review finalists. The home 
will be built in late summer.

Families should e-mail a short description of their story to emhe.penn@gmail.com. Nominations must include the names 
and ages of each household member along with a description of the major challenges within the home. There should 
also be an explanation of why the family is “deserving,heroic or a positive role model in their community.”  Applicants 
should include a telephone numberand, if possible, a recent photo of the family and the home.

Shunk, Ritenour, McCall, the Rev. Randy Newell, Shanksville United Methodist Church, and the  Rev. Mark Ongley, Milford 
United Methodist Church, have formed an ad hoc committee to help with the project.

“This will be great for our community,” Shunk said.

If a family needs assistance in writing the application, they may call McCall at 445-9520.

People who want to apply directly to the production company, but who do not have home computers, may go to the
Somerset County Library along Route 31 in Somerset for assistance in using a library computer, Eve Kline, director, said.

Each episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition features a race against time on a project that would ordinarily take at least 
four months to achieve, involving a team of designers, contractors and several hundred workers who have just seven days to 
totally rebuild an entire house.

Ty Pennington is team leader. Designers are Paul DiMeo, Paige Hemmis, Michael Moloney, Ed Sanders, Tracy Hutson, 
Tanya McQueen, Eduardo Xol, John Littlefield, Rib Hillis and Didi Ayer. The program is produced by Endemol USA. Denise 
Cramsey is the executive producer.