Returning The Favor Season 2, Episode 17: Rebuilding the Big Easy

1

The Cop Who Saved Christmas

Mike and his jolly crew of producers bring the North Pole to sunny Panama City, Florida in hopes of surprising the Salvage Santa. A local hero, who spends all year refurbishing old bikes out of his tiny Santa workshop and distributes them to children during the holidays.

2

The Community Responds

Mike takes a moment to check back in on Katie Hughes, an honoree from season one who is introducing young girls to the trades in hopes of narrowing the skills gap.

3

John's Dirty Job

Mike surprises John Middleswarth, a former truck driver from Zebulon, North Carolina who is doing his part to make sure that the streets and parks in his town stay clean.

4

Donovan Update

Mike sends a team to help an overwhelmed Donovan Smith finish his final 200 soap orders that poured in after Mike rallied the RTF community to support him several months back.

5

One Mom's Mission

The team is in Pleasant Grove, Utah to Return the Favor to a woman named Jazmine Edwards who runs a boutique called U.G.L.Y's closet: an incredible resource for single mothers.

6

Gratitude is on the Menu

In Jackson Tennessee, the team learns more about Amy Crenshaw and the ComeUnity Cafe; a local staple that feeds patrons regardless of if they can afford it or not.

7

Thank You For Your Service

The Returning the Favor team heads down to Davidson, NC to thank Dan Berei, a U.S Army veteran who started Combat Flags, an operation inspired by Americas combat soldiers and the struggle they continue to endure.

8

A Square to Spare

This week the RTF team are in Lawrencville Georgia to meet Kendall Robinson a young woman who has taken it upon herself to make sure that her community has access to toilet paper.

9

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Mike and the team are back honoring amazing Americans with full episodes of “Returning the Favor!” This week the team stops into Twin Falls, Idaho to meet Luke Mickelson who started Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization whose mission is to ensure that no child in their town ever has to sleep on the floor.

10

Against All Odds

Mike and the crew head to the Big Apple to learn more about Goldin Martinez and his program Get Focused; a movement designed to empower young people to read through exercise.

11

The Garage of Blessings

Mike and the crew head over to Oak Harbor, Washington to learn more about Kristiina Miller and the Garage of Blessings; a local donation based garage that was started to help "serve those who have a need" in her Washington community.

12

Alton's Toy Story

Mike and the team are in West Jordan Utah to return the favor to Alton Thacker a 82 year old man who started Tiny Tim's Foundation; a workshop that has produced over 800,000 toy cars for children all over the world.

13

Tough Love

Mike and the crew are in Lancaster County PA to learn more about Carol Stark AKA the Crazy Lady. A woman who goes above and beyond to help local children who have fallen through the cracks.

14

Serving Up Second Chances

Mike and the crew head south to San Antonio, Texas to meet up with Alice "Ma" Harper at Ma Harper's Creole Kitchen. For the last 25 years, Ma has been serving up award winning gumbo to the locals as well as second chances to the formerly incarcerated, who otherwise would have nowhere else to turn for employment and guidance.

15

Bully Rehab

Mike and the crew are in Yuma Arizona to meet Carlos Flores, a remarkable man who started BRAG. A bully rehab awareness gym that is doing its part time to combat the bullying epidemic.

16

Soldier Dogs

Mike and the team head to Woodbridge, Virginia to meet Chris and Amanda Baity who run Semper K9, an organization that is rescuing dogs and Veterans.

17

Rebuilding the Big Easy

Mike and the team head south to Louisiana to learn more about Dwayne "Prince" Holmes and his organization Youth Rebuilding New Orleans. A youth based non profit that is rebuilding their community by purchasing and repairing blighted homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

18

Honoring the Brave

This week the RTF team is in Prescott, Arizona to honor Deborah Pfingston & Roxanne Warneke and The Wildland Firefighter Guardian Institute. A group of women who are doing everything in their power to improve wild land firefighting practices, in hopes of avoiding tragedy.

19

Adah’s Dirty Laundry

Mike and the team drop into South Carolina in hopes of Returning the Favor to Adahlia Nix, a remarkable young woman who organizes a weekly laundry service for those in her Greenville community that are struggling to make ends meet.

20

All The Shingle Ladies

Mike and the crew are in Forest City, North Carolina to learn more about the Women Roofers. A collective of tenacious women of a certain age, who are making an impact by fixing roofs for local residents in need.

21

The Girl Who Feeds The Hungry

Mike and the team are back on the road! This week traveling to Mount Olive, North Carolina to surprise thirteen-year-old Mackenzie "Kenzie" Hinson who established the Make A Difference Food Pantry in an effort to fight hunger in her home town.

22

Grounds of Love

Mike and the crew head west to North Bend, Washington to surprise Kristen Zuray and her organization, the Trail Youth, a local non profit using coffee, donuts & love to positively impact the lives of local teens in Washington State.

23

Saving Kids On The Farm

Mike and the gang swing into Springfield, Ohio to return the favor to Debbie McCullough and Cathy Tofstad; two best friends who run the On the Rise Farm, a local non profit organization serving at-risk youth in Clark County through hard work, compassion and work ethic.

24

Beauty And The Beets

Mike and the Crew are in sunny Miami, Florida this week to meet Asha Loring, a remarkable young woman whose organization Health in the Hood is not only improving the lives of food desert residents but also improving the physical landscape of the hometown.

25

The Can Lady

Mike and the team speed into Indianapolis, Indiana to meet up with Mary Stumpp and The Can Lady Project: a recycling initiative that donates field trips and supplies to teachers in local Indianapolis schools... all funded by, you guessed it, cans! Since its inception the project has generated over $60K in donations.

26

To Serve And Protect

Mike and the team swing into to Canton Ohio, home of the football hall of fame, to get to know Officer LaMar Sharpe and the "Be a Better Me Foundation" a movement that encourages and empowers inner city youth by providing access to positive role models.

27

Veterans Helping Veterans

This week the RTF crew heads to Conesus, New York to meet up with Justin Cogswell; the founder of Operation Build Up: a Veteran run non-profit that assists local Veterans in need of transportation by giving them refurbished vehicles.

28

Food 4 Kids

This week the Returning the Favor team heads into the Granite State, to meet Isidro Rodriguez, an incredible young man who is raising funds to clear student lunch debt in his Haverhill, New Hampshire, community.

29

In Memory of Ian

Mike and the team head to Encinitas, California to meet John & Alison Barry who after the tragic passing of their son Ian, decided to start Rollin' From The Heart: A foundation that uses skateboarding as a vehicle to help empower and invigorate at risk youth in the community.

30

An American Second Chance

This week we're back in Mike's hometown of Baltimore, Maryland to shine the spotlight on Project Jumpstart: A pre-apprenticeship training program that provides a fresh start to low-income city residents who want to enter the construction trade.

31

Standing with Coal Country

We're pulling out all the stops for the season finale! Returning the Favor alumni Kenzie Hinson and the Women Roofers meet up with Mike and the crew in the heart of coal country - Welch, West Virginia to surprise Linda McKinney of Five Loaves and Two Fishes Food Bank: an organization that helps feed thousands of struggling residents each year.