CSI's Banker participates in 'Extreme Makeover' episode in Buffalo

On Jan. 24, AU’s own Nancy Banker saw a seven-year quest to work on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” come to fruition.

“I’m gonna be one of those blue shirts one day,” she said, in recalling her awe-inspired endeavor.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" debuted on ABC as a thirteen-episode experiment Nov. 3, 2003. Prior to its official move to the networks Sunday nights, the series originally aired on Monday’s primetime. No doubt it was on one of these fateful weeknights that Nancy Banker first caught a glimpse of her newest dream.

Little did she know that the blue shirt of repute would be a garment earned not only through good volunteering, but with a bit of staging as well. It reportedly took hours for the thousands of volunteers to properly pull their blue shirts down over their heads.

Months ago on one fortuitous work day the CSI secretary was watching WKBW, the Buffalo news network, when she was elated to find that "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" would be venturing into Buffalo, New York.

A number of web searches and filed forms later, the excited secretary and her daughter were led to Buffalo’s west side Massachusetts Avenue, and November’s makeover week.

Levels of participation were varied throughout the makeover week in New York’s City of Good Neighbors. Jobs were fulfilled from fixing roofs to filling garbage bags, and no step was missed in between.

Nancy explained as a volunteer for "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" one of the first things one does is check either skilled or unskilled. As she is neither a plumber nor an electrician Nancy’s mark fell to unskilled. Though Volunteers were obliged to work no more than eight hours, on shifts to fill the makeovers 24 hour work day, Nancy and her daughter dedicated most of their free moments to the project.

Due to the unskilled status the tasks completed by AU’s beloved secretary were as diverse as each moment of her week. She worked moving all things from garbage to boulders, and was given tasks as a cleaner and a gardener. Nancy Banker’s dedication to the job eventually led her to both the main house and the celebrity trailers.

During makeover week, the pair did not know much about the family and adjacent community they were serving. Upon the shows broadcast last Sunday night, Banker was proud to find the recipients to be extremely deserving.

When asked if she would recommend the experience to another she replied enthusiastically, “Yes, it made me feel like I was somebody- it made me feel so good. I guess that’s what volunteering is supposed to be.

True to her word Nancy Banker is presently looking forward to her next chance to make a difference. If only circumstance allowed she would be volunteering in Haiti right now. As her situation stands Alfred University and the CSI office are happy to have her, waiting for her next opportunity to contribute.