Extreme Makeover meals could reach 10,000

MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio - Up to 10,000 individual meals could be the total consumed at the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" project in Maple Heights.

Food Service Coordinator Denise Sacchini told NewsChannel5 that 6,000 full, hot, catered meals were secured for the week-long effort.

Sacchini said breakfasts, lunches and special snacks will total thousands of meals more.

She said the food service is a key to the success of the hundreds of volunteers who are working at the site at any one time.

"They do all their work, and then they come in when they're done... and they're all really hungry, tired and happy to see a good meal," said Sacchini.

Dinner is served at 6 p.m., 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Breakfast is 8:30 to 10 a.m. Lunch is offered from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Snacks and beverages are available around the clock.

The hot meals are served buffet style in a huge tent around the corner from the Anderson family home site. They are prepared by local vendors who have volunteered the necessary ingredients and labor.

A mobile kitchen is also parked near the tent -- operated by 'Chef Robert' of Hollywood, California. The Chef Robert personnel provide breakfast and lunch daily. They tell NewsChannel5 they have worked at over 100 different TV and movie sets.

Keeping all the volunteers hydrated is another huge concern. NewsChannel5 has learned that over 25 pallets of bottled water, soft drinks and energy drinks were donated to the cause.

Denise Sacchini gave special recognition and thanks to local food and drink providers: Pespi, Sandridge Food Corp. and ARAMARK -- as well as the many volunteers on her team.