Community Corner
‘George To The Rescue’ Helps Ukraine Refugees Resettle In Montclair
It was one of the proudest moments in the Montclair resident's career. And that's something coming from the star of "George to the Rescue."
MONTCLAIR, NJ — It was one of the proudest moments in George Oliphant’s career. And that’s something coming from the star of “George to the Rescue.”
The hit home renovation series featuring Oliphant – a Montclair resident – will return for a new, six-episode season on Sept. 24. And it will kick off with a special 150th episode with a link to his hometown, where Oliphant and his team help to transform the lives of a New Jersey family and their displaced loved ones affected by the war in Ukraine.
“We are humbled to have been able to do what we love – change lives for the better – for more than 150 episodes,” Oliphant said.
Find out what's happening in Montclairfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“I’m especially proud of the work we did to help a local family welcome their displaced Ukrainian relatives into their home,” Oliphant said. “We’re always motivated and ready to roll up our sleeves to uplift the lives of those in our community, but this project felt even more significant.”
According to a show description in a news release, here’s what to expect:
Find out what's happening in Montclairfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“George leads a heartfelt home renovation for Montclair, NJ residents, Oksana and Milind - a local family affected by the war in Ukraine. Oksana immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine many years ago, but still had family in Ukraine, at the start of the war. The couple welcomed their Ukrainian family members - now refugees - to live with them, and in the three weeks before their arrival, George and his team create a comfortable living space for their loved ones.”
Other upcoming episodes include:
October 8: Bedroom Makeover for Young Community Leader in Kinnelon, NJ
George leads a bedroom makeover for Peyton, a 14-year-old baker, entrepreneur and philanthropist who supports a local food pantry. She’s helped feed more than 5,000 families in the past two years. George and his team - in a special collaboration with MILK BAR’s Christina Tosi - welcome the opportunity to spotlight and support this young community leader with a two-bedroom redesign makeover, including an “HQ” for her small bakery business.
October 15: Surprise Makeover for Double Duty Worker in Huntington Station, NY
George leads a surprise first floor and yard makeover for busy first-time homeowner Kimberly Jones. By morning, Kim follows her passion and love for history by teaching classes at a local school. By evening, she works as a front-line administrator at a nearby hospital, where she serves as the backbone of her floor and family. George and his team overhaul the first-floor kitchen, living area, bathroom and yard to accommodate her growing family.
October 22: Knockout Boxing Facility Renovation in Freeport, NY
George leads a knockout renovation for an impactful community boxing gym run by Joe Higgins, a Marine and FDNY veteran turned local boxing coach legend. Joe has dedicated his life to helping underprivileged kids navigate adolescence and establish their identities through boxing and in the ring. George and his team complete a new extension and interior design makeover to transform Joe’s facility into a sporting and event space for the entire community to enjoy.
October 29: Apartment Makeover for Family of Four in Riverdale, NY
George leads an apartment makeover for an adorable family of four. The father, Shane, has recently beat cancer after a long two-year battle. With space becoming tighter by the day, this project will be a fresh start for them. George and his team makeover the family bedrooms.
November 5: Expanded Space for Young Family in South Plainfield, NJ
George leads a basement makeover for first-time homeowners, a young Brazilian couple with two kids. The father is a painter who has helped George to the Rescue on several occasions, so when George and his team discovered that he and his son were dealing with significant and unpredictable medical challenges, they wanted to support the family with a basement makeover that would double the size of their home and provide much needed living space.
“George to the Rescue” will televise on NBC 4 New York/WNBC and NBC stations across the country. The show is also available to stream on Peacock, and George to the Rescue episodes and videos are available on YouTube via the George To The Rescue channel, on TikTok at @georgetotherescue, on Facebook at facebook.com/george2rescue, Twitter at @George2Rescue and @GeorgeOliphant.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
