Twenty-two years ago, Delores Powell moved to the United States from Jamaica in search of the American dream. Making just $100 a week as a home health aide, she struggled to make ends meet. Delores worked hard to support herself and her growing family and became a U.S. citizen in May of 1999, but the accomplishment was overshadowed by the abusive nature of her relationship with her ex-husband. In 2002, after reaching her limit, Delores picked up her children and moved to Buffalo, NY, in search of affordable housing. They rented an apartment for a year before finding what they believed was the jackpot, a six bedroom "fixer upper." Unable to afford a lawyer, Delores struck a deal with the seller personally, but unfortunately the seller failed to disclose that the house was on the city's demolition list. Never one to give up, Delores begged the city for leniency and they agreed to waive the order if she could get the house up to code. Delores, 49, and her children Joel, 18, Gabrielle, 16, Deborah, 15, and Anschel, 10, began building scaffolding, hanging drywall, installing windows, and countless other repairs. But even after five and a half years of work, the family's home is unlivable.

On November 11, 2009, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" traveled to Davidson County, NC - with celebrity volunteers Jewel & Ty Murray -- to meet Tricia Creasey, a beloved teacher who is battling stage-four cancer while her husband struggles to keep their home livable for their family.

Over three decades ago, Tripp's father ran a bus ministry for the Woodland Baptist Church, hoping to make his rough neighborhood a better place. Now a generation later, Tripp and Tamara are continuing a family tradition of service and generosity. About 40 kids each week and over 90 children on holidays board the bus for fun and safe activities that have ranged from bowling on a Friday night to flower arranging for Mother's Day. Tripp, an electrician, and Tamara, a teacher's aide, serve as Bus captain and Project coordinator, respectively. More importantly, Tripp, 31, and Tamara, 30, have taken on the role of mentors to many of these children who sometimes look for a sympathetic ear outside the home. The Tripps give of themselves lovingly -- but their generosity literally has its costs. Since their church cannot afford to fund the activities available through the "Big Blue Bus," the Tripps pick up the tab. Earning only modest salaries from their regular jobs, Tripp and Tamara have little left over to repair the crumbling 900-square-foot, two-bedroom, one bathroom house they share with their young sons, Micah, 5, Ethan, 3 and Aaden, 9 months.