The Keuster Family came home Friday at 6pm in the same fire trucks that fought the blaze that took down their old house. The house was fully furnished, decorated and filled to overflowing with gifts from the utah community...

To see footage and more go to www.heart2homefoundation.org

Thank You To

all who helped make this possible!
Sean Foote Construction

Adam Christenson Design Studios
KWAL Paint

All Purpose Windows and Doors
Lawson Landscaping

Allco Auto Parts
Main Street Interiors

Big Mountain Countertops
Maverick Masonr

y Black Canyon Signs & Printers
Millcreak Electric Supply

Burlington Coat Factory
NRG Electric

Cascade Concrete & Excavation
Olive Oil Desserts

CED
Overstock.com

Century 21 Realtors
Paramount Plumbing

City Creek Mortgage
Prudential

Clydeco Building Supplies
Red Rock Landscaping

Codale Electric Supply
Red Rock Landscaping

Colunga’s Custom Beds

Rocky Mountain Turf

Farm Construction Videos
Roger Whiting - Mural (Princess Room)
Crystal Inn

PF Changs

Quiznos

Roofers Supply
Downeast Basics

Skip Dunn & Sons Excavating
Dunn Companies Recycling

Smoothie King
Eagle Environmental Inc

Specmix.com
Elite Marble

Stott Heating and Cooling
ESP Electrical Supply

Scrooge & Marley's
SVCI Factory Flooring Direct
Thomas Kinkade Gallery

Finer Consigner
Troy Hales Masonry

First American Home Buyers Protection
Tubzz

Rumbi
Foote Construction

Utah County Association of Realtors
Freeway Fencing

Magelbys
Fuddruckers

http://www.designtothenines.com/
Fuddruckers

http://www.osmonddesign.com/
Galaxie Lighting

Gygi Culinary Solutions
Hillsdale Homes

Hunt Electric Inc
IKEA

Interstate Brick
J&P Construction

KB Air
Kid To Kid

KLH Construction
KMW Construction

Deseret Industries
Knights Mattress & Furniture

Day 11 Thursday
The home is up, the rooms are being painted, beds and dressers are being carefully chosen by each room. We're getting close to the end.

Sorry there's no pictures, it's a surprise!!

We have a great need for volunteers today and Friday! We need to plant trees and shrubs, and there's a ton of garbage to hall out of the kitchen home! We need picture and shelf hanging volunteers.

Come on over! We'll put you to work, and thanks for your willingness to volunteer to help the Keusters and Kitchens!

Don't forget, tomorrow the family comes home at 6 o'clock. You don't want to miss this. Century 21 is bbqing at 5pm. Come on over and enjoy the party and show these families that we are behind them and support them!

Day 10 wednesday

We are starting the home stretch!

Design teams are in place to start decorating their rooms. Many are starting to take shape. Here are two examples. A big thank you to Artists Connie Perrett and Roger Whiting who are sharing their amazing talents by painting murals in the kids rooms!

Come and see how they are progressing!

The kitchen has countertops and hard wood floors now! It's really starting to come together!

Attention volunteers: We need YOU! We need help EVERYWHERE! Come on over 143 e 800s! We have many things for you to do!

Also, we are still in need of appliances as well as kitchen ware. We are registered at Target and Bed Bath and Beyond. Just go to their sites and click on Registry. We are Registered as "heart2home". Anything helps!! Thank you so much! I'll see you on site!

day 9 Tuesday
There are so many things going on today at the site. We are finishing plumbing, heating and air conditioning, doing the wood floors, prepping for carpet. There are many many opportunities for volunteers for the next couple of days from cleaning to hauling in decor, to painting and landscaping. Come and stop by and support our volunteers!

Day 8 Monday

Today we will be working on electrical, working on the countertops, the garage doors, landscaping and the design teams can start decorating.

We need people to help clean up the site as well as the Kitchen Home next door. Please bring what you can to help from list below:
gloves
any cleaning liquids and/or supplies
rags/towels
sponges
bucket
broom
dust pan
mop

Days 6 and 7 Saturday & Sunday

What a busy weekend it's been. The exterior of the house is finished, the tile was laid, the cabinets are in and the paint is drying.

It's moving fast! The current Heart to Home project is underway and the house is looking great!
But now we need to furnish it! The Kuester family is still in need of some furniture items for the children's bedrooms, here is what they need:
· - Dressers
· - Desks (children size)
· - Desk Chairs
· - Bean Bags
· - Children's books
· - Board Games
· - Xbox games
· - Gift cards for clothing
· - Bedding and linens
If you have any of these items and are willing to donate them, please call Becky Zabriskie at 801-836-2345. The furniture just needs to be in good condition, the crew is willing to paint/stain if needs be. If you have any questions, please call Becky.
Thank you for your support and help!

Day 5 -Friday

It's coming along!

As you can see, the shingles are almost done and they are starting to brick the exterior here soon!

The house is sheetrocked, taped and mudded. We are ready for paint!

Today we are starting to focus our attention to the Kitchen home next door who are the parents of the Keusters. We are widening hallways for wheelchair accessability as well as updating the master bedroom and the kitchen.

Thank you to all who are donating food to our workers. As you can tell, they are really grateful and happy to have food!

As of right now, we are getting ready to lay tile. We are ok volunteer wise on that but could use a cleanup crew. The site is getting filthy. Also, we need paint crews for tomorrow please come oon over!

End of Day 4

Wow! Today was a rush!

Started bright and early with the BYU Football team carrying in and hanging drywall.

Thank you so much guys, we really appreciate your help.

The job site is just craziness! It's like an ant hill with little ants constantly coming in and out always working feverishly on top of one another. That's what makes this experience so fun. It's cool to see electricians, plumbers, dry wallers, contractors and volunteers all working together. Unforgettable!

And we have siding already! These guys are amazing!

Channel 5 did a great story today. To watch it go to this link:

ksl.com - Orem home makeover moving fast with help from BYU athletes

Looking ahead, we still need the following:

-A Painting Crew (caulk and prep Friday night or paint sat morning at 7:00AM)
-Still need appliances
-Anyone that can help with tile tomorrow after 3pm

As far as the Kitchen home the family is cleaning out the master bedroom. We need to put a texture on the living room walls, and we remove the closets and do the wood flooring for both main room and master.

If you can help come on by 143 e 800 s in Orem!

Day 4 -Thursday
We are in dire need of some experienced volunteers to mud and tape drywall on our Heart 2 Home Makeover project today!!!! If you or someone you know can do the job then please come down and give us a hand. All the supplies are there, we just need the manpower. 143 E. 800 S. Orem. We will be there most of the evening.

Also, a huge thank you to the BYU football team for hauling in and hanging the drywall!

It's the end of Day 3 and what a busy day it was! Look at the house! It's up!

And it's framed, got the electrical and plumbing done! We had our 4 way inspection and passed.

Way to go team!








Moments of note: A man drove by who happened to be the owner of an art gallery. He stopped, and asked if we needed some art for the house.
Also had another artist, Roger Whiting, call and volunteer to paint a mural for one of the children's rooms.

Thank you so much for all of you who are stopping by with food, materials, labor and support. We couldn't do this without you!

Looking forward to tomorrow: The BYU football players will be hauling in and helping hang drywall at 8:30 in the morning. Come to support them and while your there, pick up a hammer!

Morning of Day 3

It's the Morning of Day 3 and we need to get to work! If you have checked the web cam on www.heart2homefoundation.org, you see the home is going up fast! Organized bedlam reigns once again. Today we need electricians, HVAC and plumbers. If you fit one of those categories or if you know someone who does, bring it!

Also, we need cleaners for the Kitchen's home next door anyone who wants to help is more than welcome to stop by!

Thanks again for your willingness to help!


We made the front page of the Deseret News yesterday. To read click on the link!http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700023990/Razing-brings-new-hope-new-home-for-Orem-family.html

End of Day 2

Way to go team!

It's the end of Day 2. And look what we've accomplished together! Framers worked so fast today...we have walls and a roof.

Do you want to see what the home looks like right now? Go to homeviewtech.com/heart2home. It's amazing to watch.

We had some special little helpers visit our site today. A nearby preschool marched on over single file with cookies for our crew and a hand made banner that read, "Keep up the good work." What a way to brighten those workers' day. Love that the community is getting involved!

Day 2 Tuesday, April 13, 2010

As you can see we have a foundation!!! Thanks to the rain however we are having to remove alot of mud.
Thank you to all who have been working around the clock and are donating for this family!





Today's agenda:
FRAMING Lots to do!

We do have a need for cleaners to come and clean out the garage and some other places as will be directed on site. Anyone who wishes may come, please sign in on our website!




We are still in need of the following items:
-Appliances (stainless steel or black)
-Finish trim materials
-finish laborers
-A 2nd Painting Crew (proffessional please)
-drywall hanging crew & finishing crew


Thank you Rocky Mountain Sod Turf Farm for signing up to donate sod this morning!

To see live feed of the makeover go to http://www.homeviewtech.com/heart2home/

ksl.com - Struggling family to receive new home

ksl.com - Struggling family By Brooke Walker
OREM -- As their home came down, things finally started to look up for the Kuester family, of Orem.
"Hopefully all the bad memories from last year are gone and we can start making some new ones," said Rick Kuester.
In October of 2009, the family's 9-year-old daughter, Samantha, died from complications of the H1N1 virus. Just two months later, an overloaded circuit sparked a house fire that destroyed nearly everything they owned.
But Monday morning, the family received help -- and hope -- thanks to the non-profit foundation Heart 2 Home. The Keusters had been chosen for a complete home makeover for their Orem house.
Heart 2 Home has raised over $2.5 Million for Utah families since it was established in 2004.
The Heart 2 Home organization builds and remodels homes for families who have come on hard times. Local companies donate all of the materials and labor.
"Nobody takes a paycheck, the contractors and builders included," explained Heart 2 Home President Greg Adamson. "It's something people just do to get involved in the community and help out where they can."
Monday's tear-down was an exciting day for the Kuesters, but also an emotional one.
"It's the only house Samantha knew," mother Jennifer Kuester said. "But it's a good step, a good step for our future."
The volunteers have big plans for the space and hope to provide more than just physical shelter.
"We want to provide a place the family can gather and not worry about fixing anything up," Adamson said. "A house where they can get together and move forward from the death of their daughter."
Volunteers are working on an extremely tight timetable for the home makeover. The big reveal is just 10 days away.
Heart 2 Home is still in need of donations and help. CLICK HERE for more information.
E-mail: bwalker@ksl.com to receive new home

Press Release

Falling House Bear-ies Onlookers
For Immediate Release: April 12 2010
Contact: Tiffany Berg 801-380-0543 or Greg Adamson 801-722-5202

At 7:00am this morning the Kuester family's home tumbled as Jen and Rick Kuester and their 5 children looked on with mixed emotions. The family lost 9 year old Samantha to the swine flu last fall, then their home caught fire just before the holidays. The home and memories there were bittersweet.

Traffic was closed on 800 South to make way for the crowd and large equipment. The Jazz Bear sat behind the controls and took the first swipes at the asbestos removed walls. Then professionals took charge at leveled the remaining boards. Within only hours the demolition was hauled away and a large hole dug for a much larger domain.

This morning Home View Technologies placed a live feed camera 27 feet above the project making the site viewable worldwide over the internet to computers and mobile devices -
http://www.homeviewtech.com/heart2home/

Items are still needed to complete the home makeover by April 23rd. Kitchen appliances are still needed for the home.

Family returns home in limousine at 6:00pm - limousine will move at 6:12 to reveal home LIVE!

Home located at 143 E. 800 South Orem UT

Press Release

Jazz Bear Destruction Is "Criminal"
No One Pressing Charges as Bear Tears Down Home Make-Over House - Orem Monday at 7:00 AM
For Immediate Release: April 9, 2010
Contact: Tiffany Berg 801-380-0543 or Greg Adamson 801-722-5202

Hearing that the Kuester Family of Orem was getting a new home, the Utah Jazz Bear is getting destructive. Monday morning at 7:00 AM the Jazz Bear will take the first damaging swipes at the burned residence of the Kuester Family. But rather than his actions being seen as destructive, the Heart 2 Home Team applauds his efforts!
Within the following 2 hours the home will be crushed and hauled away so that a new basement can be dug and foundation poured in the same day.
The Kuester Family lost 9 year old Samantha to swine flu in 2009 and later that year had an electrical fire consume their home leaving them homeless with five remaining children.

The home will be revealed and gifted to the Kuester family at 6:00 PM on April 23rd. The Heart 2 Home Foundation is still looking for donations of appliances and landscaping.

Address of Kuester home 143 E. 800 South in Orem UT. Special parking for media vehicles.

3 days until we tear the Keuster home down and we are still in need of donations. Here is a list of things we DO NOT have as of Today.
-sod
-carpet
-appliances
-finish trim materials
-finish labor
-painting crew
-drywall hanging crew
-drywall finishing crew

We would really like to send this family of 8 on a vacation while we are building. However, we don't have very many leads. If you have a hookup please let us know.
We are also looking for a new outfit for each family and haircuts etc for the reveal. If you have ANYTHING that you would like to donate please contact one of our team members! Go to the link on the left hand side of this blog to sign up! Thank you!

Schedule

UTAH HOME MAKEOVER KUESTERS

Monday, April 12, 2010
7AM DEMOLITION, excavation of home
9AM FOOTING
1PM FOUNDATION(inc.window wells,pumps)
5pm DAMPPROOFING/WINDOW WELLS

Tuesday, April 13, 2010
7AM UNDERGROUND PLUMBING and INSPECTION
Trusses Delivered
8:45AM BACKFILL INSIDE ONLY
9AM FLATWORK (BASEMENT FLOOR)
9:30AM FRAMING MATERIALS (DELIVERY)
4PM FRAMING LABOR

Wednesday, April 14, 2010
7AM HVAC(1- furnace and ac unit)
7AM FIREPLACE
9AM TUBS , ELECTRICAL
12PM PLUMBING
12PM BACKFILL OUTSIDE

Thursday, April 15, 2010
7AM ROOFING
7AM 4-WAY INSPECTION
10AM STOCK DRYWALL
10AM INSULATION
10AM SIDING
12PM DRYWALL TAPING & TEXTURING
1PM DRYWALL
3PM BRICK DELIVERY/ LABOR

Friday, April 16, 2010
7AM SOFFIT/FACIA
12PM MARBLE SURROUNDS
3PM WOOD AND TILE FLOORS
3PM FINISH TRIM MATERIALS, CABINET INSTALL

Saturday, April 17, 2010
7AM EXTERIOR FLATWORK
7AM FINISH LABOR
10AM PAINT
12PM LIGHTING

Monday, April 19, 2010
7AM FINISH ELECTRICAL
7AM GARAGE DOORS
7AM LANDSCAPING
7AM COUNTERTOPS (CORIAN)

Tuesday, April 20, 2010
7AM FINISH PLUMBING
10AM FINISH HEATING
10AM APPLIANCES (UPSTAIRS)
10AM FLOORING

Wednesday, April 21, 2010
1PM HARDWARE/MIRRORS/ ETC…

Thursday, April 22, 2010
7AM CLEANING
10AM INTERIOR DESIGN AND SET UP

Friday, April 23, 2010
FINISH DECORATING AND CLEANUP
5PM WELCOME HOME KUESTERS FAMILY


HERE IS THE KEUSTER ADDRESS
143 EAST 800 SOUTH OREM

IF YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER PLEASE GO TO OUR WEBSITE WWW.HEART2HOMEFOUNDATION.ORG AND SIGN UP!