It is not likely that those in the Austin, Bastrop and surrounding areas will forget, any time soon, about the largest wildfire in Texas history that struck Bastrop County in September of 2011. Those fires destroyed more than 1,300 homes including that of the Zdroj family. What you may not know is that while Mizzy Zdroj and many other unpaid volunteer firefighters fought the flames both day and night, many of the firefighters own homes were destroyed by the flames.

In the case of the Zdroj family, the outcome will be markedly better than they would have thought possible. Extreme Makeover-Home Edition, EFC Custom Homes, hundreds of volunteers and dozens of businesses, including Parts-People.com, are providing money, labor, services, equipment and product donations, to put the Zdroj's into a new home. Parts-People.com will get them back online with a laptop donation.

[caption id="attachment_3336" align="alignright" width="251" caption="Extreme Home Makeover Crew"][/caption]

Typically it is the firemen who give to the community through holiday food distribution and toy drives, and of course, their on-going fire-fighting efforts; so it just makes sense to turn that around 180 degrees by giving back with a Christmas gift the size of a house - a new home for the Zdroj family.

You're probably feeling "warm and fuzzy" right about now; right? But wait! It's not completely a done-deal just yet. All kinds of good stuff are still needed, and most of all your skills are needed. Below this line is a list of needed skill types.

Urgent Needs
General Volunteers
Carpenters/ Cabinet/ Furniture Makers
Drapery Hardware
Professional Wallpaper hangers
Cabinet Installation/Knobs
Carpenter/ Furniture Makers
Equipment Operators
Framing Labor
Painters
Sheetrock Labor
Siding Installers
Talent Carpenters
Trim Carpenters
Wallpaper Hangers
Skilled Volunteers

Just copy and paste the following link into your internet browser and help any way you can.
http://www.joinextreme.com/texas

So which of our corporate neighbors are joining in the effort? The list below may not be complete, because it just keeps growing. Perhaps you and your company should be there.

Sponsors & Partners
ALE Cares
Angeli Carriage
Austin Black Car Service
Bastrop Stone & Material Supply
Best Buy
Campers Direct America
Creative Displays
Crestview RV Center
Danze & Davis Architects
Davey Tree Company
Globe Manufacturing Company
Holiday Inn Express - Bastrop, TX
Kleen Machine Carpet Cleaners
Magic Touch Carpet Cleaning
Maxwell Closet Classics
Mikes Metal
Mine Safety Appliances
Mobile Mini Inc.
Parts-People.com
RV Outlet Mall
RV Station
Sharp Propane
Shelby Glove
The Simplifiers
TimberSIL of Texas
TreeHouse

Strategic Partners
701 Media Group
ABF
AvanTech
Carhartt
Daltile
Diamond Coach
DKI
EFC Custom Homes
Emtek - Assa Abloy
Kohler
Kraft Maid Cabinetry
Restoration Drycleaning
Select Blinds
Silestone
ShuBee
Southwest.com
Superior Walls
United Rentals
ZIPsystem