‘George to the Rescue’ renovates Troy community center

The NBC renovation series “George to the Rescue” has been shooting at Hope 7 on Pawling Avenue in Troy.

Camera crews captured the reveal. National Grid presented the community center with a check for $50,000.

With community help, crews created an all-new outdoor play area, putting in new turf, climbing walls, and a sandbox, with landscaping by Blue Spruce.

“It’s just been a beautiful day,” said Hope 7 Director Maggie Hall. “A very emotional day for everyone and we’re just so excited to see how this can uplift Hope 7 and how we can do more for our community with this, so it’s been really great.”

The upstairs art room was transformed into a bright organized space for all ages.

Hope 7 is in a former firehouse, a building almost 200 years old. They have a food pantry, after school program, and summer camp.

“I love it, I think it’s great,” lead interior designer Julie Maleski Putzel said. “And all the vendors that came together to help this community project, all of the material was donated, and it really turned out beautifully. Night and day difference from where it was.”

The show got to capture just what the changes mean to the children.

“Just when they come into the room, this is the best part of ‘George to the Rescue’ is the reveal,” said host George Oliphant. “Obviously the stories are always a little heavy in some way shape or form, but being able to be part of the solution, be able to help them turn that page into the next chapter, it’s humbling. And it is so so gratifying to just watch their reactions and their smiles and their glee.”

To see all the work and reveals, you can watch the show on September 23.