The Press
To view the press coverage for this project follow the links!
 
 
 
Channel 5 Video (no longer available)

Channel 5 Story (no longer available)
 
 
Post and Courier Story

Woman's World Magazine September 2008 issue
LowCountry Home Makeover Part 2 - Channel 4 WVIV News
   posted 9:40 pm Sun May 25, 2008 - James Island, SC

It was an emotional homecoming as the Ravenell's came back to find their completely renovated by the Isabelle's House organization.  Everything from newly donated furniture, to new paint and pictures could be seen all over their house.  It was truly transformed into a home.

"I'm blown away, I can't believe it I really didn't expect this," Theresa Ravenell said.

She and her 7 children live in her James Island residence.  Ravenell expressed endless amounts of gratitude for the job the volunteers had done.

"I'm just praying that God will bless each and everyone because I am really touched by this, this is more than I could ever imagine," she said.

While the work wasn't easy crews said the payoff was seeing the smile on the family's faces.

"You've waited in anticipation for so long and it's such a great feeling to know all the hard work paid off," said Dakota Walker, Executive Director of Isabelle's House.

"It's a reason to celebrate, I'll be celebrating for a long time, I'll never forget this day," Ravenell said.

To learn more about Isabelle's House you can click here: www.isabelleshouse.org

Local service organization Isabelle's House did major renovations to Theresa Ravenell's house on James Island in a one-day blitz on Sunday, May 25. While Theresa and her seven children were out on the town, about 45 volunteers painted, scraped, cleaned, planted a vegetable garden and more.

Volunteers to spruce up family's home
Isabelle's House reaches out to women

The Post and Courier
Thursday, May 15, 2008

Theresa Ravenell's work schedule as a bus operator shifts every few months. She likes her current shift, which runs from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., better than her last one, which ran from 1:15 to 9:15 p.m.

"I didn't like that one because it was time away from the kids," she said.

Dakota Walker, Isabelle's House executive director, shows the condition of the upstairs bathroom, which was converted from a closet. She said there wasn't much her crews could do with the lack of space, but that it could be "cleaned up a little."

 

Dakota Walker, Isabelle's House executive director, shows the condition of the upstairs bathroom, which was converted from a closet. She said there wasn't much her crews could do with the lack of space, but that it could be "cleaned up a little."
 

Sophia Rodriguez/The Post and Courier

Dakota Walker, Isabelle's House executive director, shows the condition of the upstairs bathroom, which was converted from a closet. She said there wasn't much her crews could do with the lack of space, but that it could be "cleaned up a little."

But when Ravenell does get quality time with her seven children, one of the things they like to do is gather around the television and watch the ABC show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." Ravenell said that sometimes the kids ask her if they can call the show to get repairs and a new look for their house on James Island.

There are some repairs that are in dire need of attention, such as the shower head that is duct taped to the plumbing in the bathroom. Their electric bill runs around $350 each month when they use central heating or air conditioning because the house is not properly insulated.

Isabelle's House, an organization based near Moncks Corner that reaches out to women in need, may not bring all the prestige that the popular TV show does, but its founder and director, Dakota Walker, and the volunteers who are coming out to the house May 25 have big plans to spruce up the Ravenells' home. The family just doesn't know what the plans are.

"We're going to blindfold and duct-tape her," Kim Lucia, the project manager said jokingly.

Walker and Lucia told the family that they are sending them on a day of fun (the details of that also are secret) while they "clean" the Ravenells' house. The actual plans are more involved than that. Suffice it to say that the family will be amazed when it returns to the results of the one-day blitz.

Another interesting fact: There will be only one male among the some 35 volunteers who are working on the house, "because a wife begged for her husband to be on the crew, and after she said she thought he could do plumbing work, we agreed to it," said Walker, who named the organization for her grandmother.

"I really want the focus to be on women helping women," she said.

The family is not completely in the dark about what's going on. Isabelle's House has helped Ravenell brush up her resume, and Walker has sent out e-mails to several potential employers. Walker also is hoping that her organization can pay for Ravenell's recertification to return to her original profession as a nurse's aide.

"The goal is for her to get a better job so she can take care of herself and the kids," Walker said. "One of the focuses of Isabelle's House is not only to fulfill basic needs but to give people things they want to fulfill the soul."

Walker also would like to help the family with some of its expenses, so she is hoping people will donate money or gift cards to the project. The rest, though, is under wraps. The crew may not get it all done in one day, but that doesn't mean it won't try.

"There's too many good ideas not to follow through," Walker said with a smile on her face.

How to help

To learn more about the project or to volunteer services, e-mail Isabelle's House Executive Director Dakota Walker at here or dakota@om-body.com.

Reach Sophia Rodriguez at 937-5538 or srodriguez@postandcourier.com.

Single mom's home repaired due to girl power (and 3 guys)
The Post and Courier
Friday, May 30, 2008

There were a few obstacles when area service organization Isabelle's House decided to renovate Theresa Ravenell's house on James Island on May 25.

There were housing and monetary donations to collect. Volunteers had only 10 hours to complete the work, and many had never done home restoration before.

And the project was supposed to be a surprise for Ravenell and her family.

Not that they let any of that stop them.

Ravenell and her seven children were amazed when they arrived home Sunday evening. Walls were freshly painted, moldy carpet had been removed from bedrooms, there was new kitchenware in the cupboards, and the taped bathroom shower head was replaced.

Light switches and fixtures were repaired. Some of the old furniture was replaced, and some painted and fixed. Other pieces were added.

Volunteer Tara Austin said some of the children who had asthma received new linens and bed pillows. "The final result — that's why you do it. You do it for the people who are helping themselves," Austin said. "Ms. Ravenell supports herself and her seven kids, and she doesn't have a lot of assistance."

As Isabelle's House founder Dakota Walker and project manager Kim Lucia gave the family the grand tour, Ravenell couldn't stop smiling, gaping and gushing over the improvements. Isabelle's House is an organization based near Moncks Corner that reaches out to women in need.

Walker added a few personal touches to the place. Isabelle's House is named for Walker's deceased grandmother, and the new refrigerator and dresser in Ravenell's bedroom once belonged to Isabelle Ryckman.

Some volunteers planted a garden in the backyard, which will eventually bear okra, tomatoes, peppers and oregano. There was also a party with catered food and local band Hank the Pirate.

Walker wanted the project, called "Adopt a Mom," to be a surprise. So she arranged for Ravenell to have a spa day at the Sanctuary at Kiawah Island.

"It was wonderful. I can't believe it was happening to me," Ravenell said. Meanwhile, her four daughters went bowling, to the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry and other activities, while the boys went to a movie, Dick's Sporting Goods, the James Island County Park and the Harley-Davidson shop to sit on the motorcycles.

Shortly before the family arrived, Walker congratulated the 40-plus volunteers for their hard work and donations.

"Here's to girl power!" she said as they cheered.

"With a few good men," one woman responded. The crew included three men. Walker purposely set up the project that way, because her group tends to focus on women helping women.

"I've never done anything like this before," volunteer Kevan Ann Spangler said. She worked hard on the cleaning crew and other odd jobs all day. "I've been here since 8 this morning and now it's 6. My God. Basically, all of us are tired."

Team leaders who had participated in similar projects smoothly guided workers through tasks.

I really hope this is just the beginning," Spangler said. "I hope we do this for another family who needs it."

Although the group got a lot done, Walker was slightly disappointed that they were unable to procure a sleeper sofa for Ravenell's oldest child, Whitley Ravenell, who visits when she comes home from college on weekends and for summer.

She also wanted to install more light fixtures and replace several of them with energy-efficient bulbs. These are things that she plans to follow up on, as well as help Ravenell find a better-paying job.

But until then, Ravenell is more than content. "There's a reason to celebrate. "We'll be celebrating for a long time."

 

Isabelle’s House project managers (from right) Dakota Walker and Kim Lucia show Theresa Ravenell and two of her girls, Alonike and Whitley Ravenell, the small vegetable garden volunteers started for the family during the one-day home improvement blitz. The garden includes okra, tomato, parsley, basil, peppers and oregano.

 

 

 Isabelle’s House project managers (from right) Dakota Walker and Kim Lucia show Theresa Ravenell and two of her girls, Alonike and Whitley Ravenell, the small vegetable garden volunteers started for the family during the one-day home improvement blitz. The garden includes okra, tomato, parsley, basil, peppers and oregano.