Standard Publishing donated a library of books to a new home for a family spotlighted on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition show, last night.

The popular reality series traveled to the Cincinnati suburb of West Chester, Ohio, to help Greg and Ginger Akers—parents of three children with special needs, two of whom are confined to wheelchairs. The family received a wheelchair-accessible, ranch-style house covering 3,500 square feet.

Standard Publishing also donated $20,000 in books and resources to the Akers' church, the educators responsible for their nomination to the show and volunteers working on the Extreme Makeover project, which was taped in July.

"We were so moved by the community's response that we wanted to participate in helping this very special family," said Heather Gims, marketing manager with Standard Publishing. She added that "it was also incredible to have the opportunity to share" The House in the Middle of Town, a Standard children's picture book by Crystal Bowman that is based on Mark 13:31, where Jesus taught about loving our neighbors as ourselves. "The story parallels perfectly with what the Akers family just experienced," Gims said.

Standard Publishing President Larry Carpenter added: "It's great when the content of a book can come alive, and the Christian acts that it chronicles can be shared with the world."

To continue in the spirit of serving others, Standard Publishing will donate a portion of the sales of The House in the Middle of Town to local Habitat for Humanity projects, company officials said.

• Prev
• Next