Love Oakdale officials have announced the three finalists and the recipient of the program’s inaugural Extreme Home Makeover.
“The difficult decision was made by the team of contractors and support team members who are generously volunteering their labor for the makeover. After careful deliberation of all 19 homes and families nominated the team narrowed it down to three finalists,” noted Love Oakdale Director Lisa Kjeldgaard. “As promised, each of these three homeowners will have a project completed at their home.”
The finalists were: Brian Mayfield, Daniela Garcia, and Jesus Aguayo.
Kjeldgaard added that Love Oakdale “wants to give a huge thanks to their dedicated team and especially to their general contractor.”
Russ Gerber from The ADU Coach, spent hours doing home walkthroughs before presenting them for consideration.
“As the general contractor, my job was to identify the scope of work needed within the home. The question then became, ‘Is this a project we can handle within the two-week window and is it something that is within our budget?’ There were so many deserving families out there,” Gerber explained. “It was hard to pick just one.”
From the three finalists, Antonia and Jesus Aguayo will be the recipient of Love Oakdale’s largest project ever, the Extreme Home Makeover.
“Since I began dreaming about this project, my biggest wish was that we’d help a helper. Antonia and Jesus are incredible examples of grace, forgiveness, and sacrifice and I’m thrilled to bless them with the gift of this makeover,” Kjeldgaard said.
Shannon Kettering, a Vice Principal at Oakdale High School had this to add, “The Aguayo family is absolutely deserving of both the support and love of our community. Sometimes the most powerful lessons are not learned in the classroom. They come from moments like this … when an entire community comes together to lift a family up.”
Even beyond the makeover for the family’s home, the project will have a far-reaching impact.
“It creates stability, hope and a sense of belonging and will have a lasting imprint on the children. The kids will grow up remembering that people – that Oakdale – showed up for them,” Kettering pointed out. “Not for recognition … not for reward … but simply because it was the right thing to do.”
The Aguayo family will be moved from their home during the Love Oakdale City-Wide Volunteer Day on April 25. For the following two weeks, contractors and other volunteers will work to improve their home. The grand reveal is planned for May 9, 2026 at 1 p.m. and the public is invited to attend.
If you want to get involved with the project, email weloveoakdale@gmail.com. The local contractors participating are: Russ Gerber with the ADU Coach, Jamie and Chris Dray with Dray Heating & Air, Justin Wells with JSW Electric, Dan Sibley with Western Plumbing, Chris Kjeldgaard with CKJ Ag Services, Javier Olmedo with Cen Cal Junk Services, Scott Larson with Abbey Carpet, Austin Sprague with Platinum Duct Services, John Montes with John’s Premium Painting and Eddie Eagleton with Oakdale Heating and Air.
