Best Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Reaction

Nothing makes me tear up more than watching old episodes of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. When I lived in Los Angeles, my neighbors and I had the chance to help a local family on the show and the reaction alone was more than worth the hard work. Whether there are smiles, cheers or tears, I love watching and re-watching some of the reactions of the worthy homeowners.

My favorite? Sam from Ballwin, Missouri, who owns a local coffee shop dedicated to hiring workers with disabilities. A portion of proceeds go toward charities and Sam is a devoted worker and community activist. His coffee shop was renovated while he was busy volunteering on another Extreme Makeover home for another family. Here's his story, from St. Louis Today:

"The first week of September was an exciting one in Manchester when Extreme Makeover: Home Edition pulled down Manchester Road and up to the local coffee shop, More Than Coffee. Owned by Sam Malek, More Than Coffee is not just a coffee shop, it is Sam's way to give back to the community and to people with disabilities.

Sam Malek was born in Egypt with cerebral palsy and came to St. Louis for treatment at Children's Hospital at age four. He's now 44 and the father of two teenage sons. He fits this season's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition theme of 'heroes' because the mission of his tiny, drive-through coffee shop is to 'help challenged people one cup at a time.' He does that by hiring people with disabilities and giving to charity from his proceeds, with customers helping to decide which organization benefits. Sam has been involved with both UCP [United Cerebral Palsy] and Easter Seals in the past and is even a former UCP board member.

Extreme Makeover Home Edition worked quickly to make Sam's coffee shop the perfect place to fulfill his mission and completed their project in just two days. With more than 350 volunteers, not only was the structure re-built, a new easily accessible restroom for Sam and his employees, new cabinetry and even new appliances were installed. While More Than Coffee was being made-over, Sam was busy volunteering at the house the Extreme Makeover team was working on in Shrewsbury."

And the best part? Sam was floored. You can see his reaction here and the finished coffee shop here, and it's worth a peek (and a visit, if you're ever in Ballwin). A job well done for a more than deserving community.