Lending a hand: Nevada native volunteers at Extreme Makeover blitz build

Nevada native JR DeLaney (right) and his wife Suzanne (left) made the 1,200-mile trip from their home in Washington, D.C., to the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" build site to help rebuild the community and the lives of seven families who suffered tragic losses during the May 22 tornado.

While most people in Washington, D.C., are more concerned with the federal government, one resident, a Nevada native, and his wife decided to come help rebuild Joplin.

JR DeLaney grew up in Nevada. He and his wife Suzanne moved to Joplin for a few years prior to moving 1,200 miles east to the nation's capital, so they did not hesitate one second when they learned of the opportunity to volunteer with ABC's Emmy Award-winning show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" as it came to build seven houses in seven days in Joplin, Oct. 19-26.

"My wife was the big one who pushed for it ... She didn't have to push me too hard to get sold on the idea," DeLaney said. "She was really gung-ho about wanting to spend her vacation time away from work coming (to Joplin)."

The DeLaney's signed up to volunteer within hours of the announcement that the popular television show would be coming to the town in which they once lived. DeLaney said they had family and friends who still live in Joplin and one friend lost everything.

What was more surprising was they learned upon arrival that Suzanne knew one of the families that would receive a new home. She knew Crystal Whitely, a single mother working as a personal care aid to raise her three children. The storm not only took Whitely's home but it also took the lives of her 10-year-old daughter Shante and 6-year-old son Trentan as the storm literally ripped them from her arms as the family took cover in the bathtub. Whitely and her 4-year-old daughter Keana were the only survivors.

DeLaney said it was an amazing experience to be able to help rebuild their friend's new home.

DeLaney and his wife worked a six-hour shift on the second day of the build while the framing of the houses was still being done. He said they were responsible for moving material to where it needed to be and helping in any other capacity they could find to make the most of their volunteer time.

"Whatever needed done ... we just found it and did it," he said.

With the seven houses being constructed at the same time in such a short amount of time, DeLaney said it was impressive to see all the skilled and general labor working together. All at the same time work was being done to frame the houses, run the plumbing and electrical as well as install the heating and air systems.

"It was great ... they had every little piece of the house working at once," he said. "It was kind of an organized chaos."

After seeing the stories on the news, the outpouring of support for the community, the posts on Facebook and all the photos posted on the internet of the damage, DeLaney said they felt the need to help. Being fans of the show, they never thought they would one day be a part of it.

"I never thought we would be a part of it or be able to help out or anything," DeLaney said.

And help they did, not just DeLaney and his wife, but they also got about 20 of their family and friends to volunteer as well. He said some of Suzanne's family from Tulsa came to help as well as from her hometown of Baxter Springs, Kan. and surrounding communities.

DeLaney said the best part of the whole experience was seeing all the volunteers working to help put those seven families' lives back together. He said that if the opportunity comes up again he would love to help out again.