HGTV's Anthony Carrino and RbA Team up With American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge of Kansas City celebrated its 20th birthday by getting a little work done, courtesy of Renewal by Andersen, the Birner group, General Manager David Reber and his team at Renewal by Andersen of Kansas City, and HGTV’s Anthony Carrino.

More than 100 windows were installed over several days in the 46-room building, both the materials and labor provided by Renewal by Andersen of Kansas City at a deeply discounted rate. Carrino was on the scene to help lead a volunteer art project, interview guests, staff, and ACS representatives for an upcoming video, and lend a helping hand (not that the Renewal install crew, led by David Falbo, Bobby Rook, and Dennis Birk, needed it.)

The Hope Lodges provide cancer patients and their caregivers a free place to stay while they are undergoing treatments — which may be far away from where they live. Having a place that is a “home away from home” while they are undergoing treatment, instead of having to worry about travel or lodging or staying in a safe place, lets patients focus on the most important thing — getting well.

“You don’t think a lot about windows needing to be replaced and what that does in a facility like this. It’s aesthetic, yes, but also guest comfort — cutting down noise, especially, and letting in light. This is a home away from home for people, and it should feel like it,” says Matt Martinek, American Cancer Society executive director.

“Just like in your house, if you’ve got drafty or poor performing windows, it’s going to drive up your energy bills,” Martinek says. “When we have to spend extra money on energy bills, that’s money being taken away from other things that the ACS can be funding.”

For Traci Edwards-Harding, sales administrator for Renewal by Andersen of Kansas City, this project was especially meaningful. Traci twice spent time at the Kansas City Hope Lodge supporting her mother-in-law Sherry Miller, as the latter underwent treatment at the University of Kansas.

“This place gave her somewhere to come back to every day,” Traci says. “We were able to celebrate Thanksgiving together here. There was a place for her to do her crafting, for her to relax, for her to have her family with her. And while it’s bittersweet to be here, I am so proud to be a part of a company that cares so much. It means a lot to me to be able to provide a little bit of comfort and hope to people. I think she would be happy knowing that we’re helping a place that brought that to her.”

Says Dave Reber: “There are 165-plus families that make up Renewal by Andersen of Kansas City. It says a lot about our organization and who we are — and how important the work of the ACS is — when each and every team member wanted to be present for this project. And while that’s just not possible as we must maintain focus on providing Signature Service to our neighbors and their homes, I can say that they are here in spirit, and that David, Bobby, Dennis and their team and I are honored to represent this awesome organization on the Hope Lodge project.”