Companies pitch in at Project Barnabas

Such work couldn’t have been done without local volunteers and business owners.

“Really, it’s the people of southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas that have foot the bill for this,” said Cindy Branscum of PB2 Cos., the project’s contractor. “It’s cost people a lot of money, but every one of them has said it was worth it.”

Branscum was one of seven managers on the project from PB2, a Rogers, Ark., architecture and engineering firm chosen by ABC producers for its size and experience with charity projects.

The Emmy-nominated show completely rebuilds run-down homes of families in need, usually dealing with illness, tragedy or sacrifice.

Peter Herschend, Camp Barnabas charter board member and Silver Dollar City vice chairman and co-owner, said the Teases and their camp deserved the makeover.

“Lots of people are called by the Lord to do things,” Herschend said. “Not a lot of people respond. They both felt the call.”

Producers have an operating budget, but most of the materials and labor for the projects come as contributions by local residents and business owners.

So, with the show in Purdy Aug. 19–24, nearly 3,000 volunteers and many area businesses stepped up. According to Herschend, the project was massive.

“Knowing the number of projects that were completed … I would peg the value of the project, if you had to pay for it, between $800,000 and $1.2 million,” he said.

The official financial scope of the project was undisclosed, but Debbie Pridemore of contributer KPC Tile & Stone, 5311 N. 23rd in Ozark, said she’s heard the effort might be a record for the TV show.

“We’ve not heard (a total cost) – nobody’s disclosed,” she said. “But, people talk, and I’ve heard people say this is the biggest project (the show has) ever done. But who knows.”

KPC donated around $9,000 of ceramic tile and granite to the project, along with around 30 hours of labor.

It was one of many companies contractor PB2 solicited for help, some from as far away as Kansas City and St. Louis.

Craftsmen from Herschend’s Silver Dollar City donated custom-made bedroom furniture and a sign above the Teases’ front door that reads “Enlarging the spirit, encouraging the heart.”

Cedar Creek Wholesale, 2123 N. Golden, donated $5,000 in cedar trusses, according to co-owner Todd Ball.

Springfield-based Meek’s-The Builders Choice donated more than 10 truckloads of doors, trim, plywood, lumber, insulation and other items.

Rick McKie, Meek’s director of marketing, said the Monett location provided most of the materials. He wouldn’t attach a dollar figure to the company’s donation, only saying, “It’s a significant sum of material and manpower.”

David Hampton, a purchasing agent for Meek’s, drove 42 miles from his home in Billings to help frame the Teases’ house. Hampton worked as a volunteer 4–11 p.m. Aug. 21.

“(A representative from PB2) said, ‘We’re looking for skilled labor. We have lots of good people helping, but not enough skilled labor,’ ” Hampton said. “Of course, my response was, I would be there as soon as I could drive it.”

Wickman Gardens Inc. of Springfield donated around 50 indoor plants and cut-flower arrangements for the unveiling of the Teases’ new home Aug. 24.

Another Arkansas company, Brashears Furniture of Berryville, Ark., which has a Branson location, was chosen to help furnish the home with 50 pieces of furniture.

Even area college students pitched in – around 300 from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar and several from Drury University in Springfield.

“My wife was familiar with the show and (knew) that the recipients were deserving people,” KPC’s Kevin Pridemore said. “We felt that, given the chance, we wanted to be part of the project.”

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