LI family on tap to get an 'Extreme Makeover'

The name of the family - and the town where they live - will remain a secret until Ty Pennington and the cast of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" knock on their door next Monday.

But Alure Home Improvements of East Meadow, the contractor that will help "Extreme Makeover" take on its next charitable extreme build, held a pep rally Monday at the Suffolk County Sports Park in Central Islip to sign up volunteers. The construction will take place in Suffolk County, officials said.

Volunteers are needed to serve food and do general labor, including cleanup work. Skilled workers who can install and finish drywall, do framing or finish carpentry are also needed, Alure officials said.

"Long Island is amazing in terms of the community spirit. Everybody jumps on board and tries to help out, whether it's from building the house to supporting the people building the house," said Sal Ferro, president of Alure Home Improvements.

This will mark Alure's eighth run as the lead builder for the show. It will also mark the second Long Island home makeover since 2005, when the Vitale family's 800-square-foot cottage in St. James was rebuilt into a 2,400-square-foot home complete with a new sun porch, sunroom and special play area.

"We've had the most volunteers on Long Island," said Ferro, who said close to 1,000 volunteers helped rebuild the Vitales' home in 2005.

Monday, Kevin Unverzagt, 35, of St. James, a second-time volunteer who does home inspections for foreclosures, said he came out because "I watch every show. This work is for people who really deserve it. People who are down and out of luck.

"If I could be part of the crew for each show, I would," he said. "There are many people on Long Island who really deserve it."

Sue Bregman, 28, of Islip Terrace, a first-time volunteer who teaches hearing-impaired children, said, "It's such a great cause. It just makes me want to help however I can. . . . There are a lot of families on Long Island that could use the help. I think it's great to be included." More than a thousand people showed up at Monday's rally.

Milan Vasic, the show's senior producer, said, "Long Island is such a beautiful place and we've had such outpouring support here so far. The people have been very receptive."