By Lamesha Green (Whetstone Staff Writer)
Missy Wagner, Chris Wagner, Cece Babbitt
Wesley Alumni teamed with ABC’s “Extreme Makeover†to make one family’s dream house.
Former graduates CeCe Babbitt and daughter Melissa McCullen-Wagner volunteered in the Dunning family project in Lewes, Del., donating a riding lawnmower from their family business, Burke Equipment Company.
Dale Dunning, who runs the soup kitchen, has helped feed Sussex County for 12 years out of her RV.
“Mrs. Dunning has been running the Jusst Sooup soup kitchen to give back to the community,†said Wesley Alumni McCullen-Wagner. “Her and her son would get up every morning at 2 a.m. to feed many homeless people every week.â€
Dunning and her family themselves were homeless for a time.
“Dunning is incredible,†Wagner said. “She never skipped a beat even when things got hard, which is why she became a recipient for ABC’s home make-over.â€
The Dunnings’ story touched the alumni.
“Our family business saw an opportunity to become involved with and give back to Dale Dunning who generously reaches out to the needy families,†said CeCe Babbitt.
Four buildings were built on six acres donated by Schell Brothers, a builder in Rehoboth Beach.
“We worked really close with designer Ty Pennington to build a new home for the family, a kitchen facility, out buildings for storage, and a garden to provide organic vegetables to the cause,†Wagner said.
The Dunning project is the 199th episode and largest project ABC’s Home Makeover has ever done.
