A heartfelt thank you for helping make the DeVries home tour a success! Dirk and Susan opened up their home to the community to benefit the Hollandale Christian School and Salvation Army Food Shelf on Dec. 13.

Salvation Army Captain Jim Brickman and his crew served hot beverages and collected over 1,000 pounds of canned goods.

Thank you to the generosity of the following businesses who contributed to the home tour:

Addie’s, Doyle’s Hallmark, Garden Diva, Raleigh’s Ace Hardware, Skyline Plaza, Arrow Printing, Ernie’s Canvas, Hy-Vee, EZ Rental, Western Rental, American Rentals and Ben’s Floral & Frame Designs.

During the tour Christmas music filled the home and was provided by these gifted musicians: Roxanne, Ben and Noah Irons, Julie Stoneking, Jill Stevens, Lora Virgil, Sharon Astrup-Scott and Brock Besse. Performing outside near the fireplace were Jared, Shanna and Drake Dawson and the Albert Lea High School Caroliers.

Thank you to those who volunteered their time on Saturday: Sara and Carol Davis, Kandee Petersen, Lori Brune, Jennifer Lunning, Vicki Lunning, Pam Schmidt, Pauline Hall, Fern Urbatch, Cindy Lunning, Doug and Harriet Kallemeyn and the Hollandale Harmony Helpers.

The media coverage and promotional support was tremendous and thank you for your support: The Albert Lea Tribune, KATE, Power 96, KAAL, KIMT, Rochester Post Bulletin and Freeborn County Shopper.

Thank you to Holly Larson, Tina Stripe, Nicole Mayer, Betty Nienoord, Bev Draayer, Sue Zimmerman and Kim Nelson for planning and decorating.

Dirk and Susan, a special thank you for “paying it forward” to bless others and may you enjoy your new home!

Let’s carry on what the “Extreme Makeover” team taught us. We can look around us and find other people or families that need some sort of help.

Let’s continue to support one another. Let’s continue to support charities.

Thanks “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” for letting us know that it is possible to dream big!

Susie Petersen

Albert Lea Convention & Visitors Bureau