Let's play home makeover

COEUR d'ALENE - Know a Kootenai County resident who deserves a home makeover? A free home makeover?

Then get in touch with Matt Surplus.

The owner of The Gutter Guys in Coeur d'Alene is teaming up with several businesses to help an elderly or disabled person improve their home.

"I've lived here my whole life," the Coeur d'Alene man said. "I just want to give something back to someone deserving."

Now, we're not talking about the kind of renovations you see on TV. But this could include replacing gutters, landscaping, rug cleaning, roof repairs, plumbing or ramp construction.

A home that hasn't quite reached its potential would be ideal.

"This is more of a cleanup of houses that are need of a little TLC that they just can't do or afford," Surplus said.

The Gutter Guys, Nu-look carpet cleaning, Artscape Landscaping, Precision Roofing, RL Jacobs Plumbing and a few others are teaming up for the project.

Here's how it will work:

Anyone can send in a nomination. Just drop a few lines with someone's name, address, phone number and explain why they should receive the spring gift.

It would be great if it goes to someone who has helped the community, done some good things, and given their time to make Kootenai County a better place to live. It should be an older person, or one with a disability who could use a hand.

"That's the kind of people we want to do something for," Surplus said.

Surplus and his counterparts will review nominations, due by May 1, and hope to select a winner within a few days. Then, they'll schedule a date for all the work to be done within 24 hours.

If the project goes well, they hope to make it an annual event.

Nominations should be mailed to: P.O. Box 2381 Hayden, ID 83825, or [email protected]