Region – Women volunteers will raise their hammers at Habitat for Humanity construction sites across the country in recognition of National Women Build Week, May 5-13. The event is a nationwide initiative of Habitat's Women Build program developed in partnership with Lowe's. Now in its fifth year, National Women Build Week challenges women to devote at least one day to creating simple, decent and affordable housing in their local communities. Nearly 31,000 women volunteers from all 50 states have participated in the previous four events.
This year's theme, “The Build Generation,” reflects the event's goal to recruit and train women volunteers, as well as welcome the next generation of Habitat Women Builders – young women, ages 18-24 – to help support Habitat's mission to create affordable housing. Lowe's and Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester (HFH-MWGW) are looking for women to volunteer at a Worcester Habitat construction site May 5 and 6. Construction or home improvement experience is not necessary.
Women Build Weekend is a two-day fundraising event, Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6, which will host women volunteers who will try to raise a minimum pledge of $100 each. The build teams will work in two shifts of 12 women each. The morning shift is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., while the afternoon shift is 12 to 4 p.m. Each day, the participants in both shifts will meet at noon for lunch and an opportunity to network with one another. The May 5 lunch sponsor is The Manor Restaurant in West Boylston and the May 6 sponsor is Whole Foods Market in Framingham.
The construction project, located at 16 Fales St. in Worcester, is being built to connect to an existing Habitat house at 18 Fales St., thus resulting in a duplex structure. The new construction at 16 Fales St. will have approximately 1,050 square feet of living space for the new occupant and her daughter. It will be two stories with two bedrooms and one and one half bathrooms. The interior and exterior framing of the home has been recently completed.
“This is a community program dedicated to women helping women,” said Harriett Lebow, Executive Director of HFH-MWGW. “When they come together in a supportive environment and learn skills they might not have had the opportunity to develop, women feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment and pride in giving back to the community. They also have a lot of fun.”
To date, women volunteers have helped construct more than 1,900 Habitat houses nationwide. Locally, this will be the 7th house that Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester has participated in the National Women Build event over the past four years.
To volunteer or donate to this project, call 508- 799-9259, email [email protected] or visit WWW.HABITATMWGW.ORG.
