‘Women Build’ volunteers advance Habitat for Humanity’s mission

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By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter

Photo 1: (Top row, l to r) Xhulio Jamaku and John Campoverde; (l to r, bottom row) Photos/Melanie Petrucci
Photo 1: (Top row, l to r) Xhulio Jamaku and John Campoverde; (l to r, bottom row)
Photos/Melanie Petrucci

Northborough – On May 5, two groups of volunteers, from Mirick O’Connell law firm and Golden Group Construction, offered their time and resources at the Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester “Women Build” event on Main Street in Northborough.

“‘Women Build’ calls attention to the plight of single women who need affordable housing…three of the four homeowners who are moving into these homes are single women with children so it’s a good fit all around,” stated Deborah Huegel, vice president of philanthropy for Habitat MetroWest.

“When we reach out for ‘Women Build’ participants, we ask them to sign up on our peer fundraising site called ‘First Giving,’ where they ask family and friends and business associates to support them [with pledges] to reach a certain goal per person, and that goal was $500 per person,” Huegel added. “The teams are really going gung-ho.”

(l to r) Lori Lopriori, Christine Farmer and Lynn Burns from Mirick O’Connell Attorneys at Law Photos/Melanie Petrucci
(l to r) Lori Lopriori, Christine Farmer and Lynn Burns from Mirick O’Connell Attorneys at Law
Photos/Melanie Petrucci

To date, they have raised $47,000 and more than 10 teams have signed up. Other teams include MathWorks, Reliant Medical Group, Castinetti Realty Group and Consigli Construction. A few Northborough businesses have also donated lunches, including Pickle Haus, Monti’s Pizza and Lowes Meat Market.

Greta Bajrami, owner and vice president of Golden Group Construction, firmly supported the event. Bajrami was still a student at Worcester State University when she began the company in 2011. She was listed as one of Worcester’s 40 under Forty in 2017.

As a woman in the male-dominated construction industry, she noted, “This means everything. It means empowerment, it means going against the stigma of a woman in construction. It’s just a personal mission to me.”

Golden Group also donated a roof replacement to the Habitat for Humanity Northborough location.

Habitat’s mission is to “build homes, community and hope for low-income families in 42 cities and towns throughout Greater Worcester and Metrowest.” For more information, visit www.habitatmwgw.org.

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