Wishmakers: Providing home repairs for those in need

Sure, it might be nice to have Ty Pennington show up at your door (as long as he's not driving), but really, who wants to deal with all that "Extreme Makeover" commotion? For a lower-profile alternative, the Wishmakers program from Angie's List helps folks who need a hand with their homes — and they're taking nominations now.

Angie's List is an online community (www.angieslist.com) where consumers share ratings and reviews on local contractors and companies — and, once a year, puts them to good use.

Among its 17 projects over three years, Wishmakers has performed landscaping and a kitchen renovation for a wheelchair-bound mother of seven, provided a washer and dryer and housecleaning for an elderly couple and installed kitchen cabinets and a countertop for a foster-care provider.

While membership is required for the perkiest Angie's List perks (unlimited access to the list, a magazine and a complaint-resolution service), you don't have to be a member to nominate someone, or to have a wish granted. Just send a brief e-mail (300 words or fewer) to wishmakers@angieslist.com, including your name, city, state, phone number and specific wish, along with the nominee's name and contact number.

And no, you cannot nominate yourself, deserving as you might be. Ten wishes will be granted; the deadline is July 15.

Sandy Dunham,

Seattle Times desk editor