INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Wednesday, October 12, 2011) -- Joe Chenelly, the Lusby, Md. man whose home fell victim to Hurricane Irene earlier this year, was the clear winner in the Angie’s List “
Worst Bedroom in America” contest.
Angie’s List announced the winner of its Facebook contest this morning.
Chenelly will receive $5,000 towards the repair of a bedroom and a free one-year membership to Angie’s List, the nation’s premier provider of consumer reviews, to enable him to find the qualified help he needs from local remodeling companies.
“With so many houses hit by the hurricane, there have been a lot of people coming out of the woodwork offering contracting services, but it’s really hard to know who’s qualified to do it,” Chenelly said. “Being able to use Angie’s List to sort through them will be a huge help.”
Chenelly was one of more than a hundred people seeking to be chosen as the owner of the worst bedroom in the country. His bedroom, which was ripped apart by a tree during the storm, stood out from some of the others that had more of a decorative disaster theme. His home was one of about 30 in his neighborhood ravaged by the hurricane.
His family, which includes five children, is now renting a home near their damaged one. Damage to their actual home may not be reparable. He’ll apply his prize winnings to the home they eventually end up with.
Chenelly’s entry got a boost last week from fellow finalist Melanie Norwood Aycock of Blountstown, Fla., who started supporting his bid after saying he needed the help more than she did. Chenelly won with 27 percent of the thousands of votes cast.
“We are so happy to help Joe and his family get their house back in order,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “We’re also heartened by Melanie’s compassion and we’ll be giving her a year’s free membership to thank her for her selflessness.”
Aycock’s Oct. 6 Facebook post, in which she gave her support to Chenelly, read: “I so wanted to win the "Worst Bedroom in America" contest. But I woke up this morning with a different take on this thing. I still have my bedroom, messy as it. For some reason I can't continue to be selfish & keep voting for myself & asking others to do the same when I have everything I need & a fellow military family - Joe Chenelly's --doesn't. I served as a family center support specialist for ...the Fla. Army National Guard when Operation Iraqi Freedom began, & then as a member of the Statewide Family Readiness Advisory Team for a while thereafter (until my health wouldn't allow me to do that & work, too). Competing against a veteran in need goes against everything I worked for then & stand for now. My husband & I talked about this, & we're both shaking our heads wondering why we didn't jump in there & support Joe & family from the get-go. I will be voting for Joe's room today & every day until the end of this contest, & I will encourage all of my FB friends to do the same. Thank you.”
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