Habitat for Humanity, Lowe's encourages women volunteers to build homes during National Women Build Week

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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 of Douglas County are partnering together for National Women Build Week, with a Women Build day on Thursday, May 10. Lowe’s is supporting this build day with a $5,000 National Women Build Week grant. This is the second grant that the affiliate has received.

“We are thankful to Lowe’s for their support of Women Build,” said Lori Anderson, HFHDC executive director. “Through their financial support, and through their training and outreach efforts, they are inspiring new volunteers and new leaders.”

May 10, 2012 is the third National Women Build Week day hosted by the affiliate. They are also working with around 30 teams of women to fund and build a home in partnership with the Koloski family, with construction to begin in July.

To date, women volunteers have helped construct more than 1,900 Habitat houses nationwide.

National Women Build Week is held the week leading up to Mother’s Day because of its significance to Habitat homeowners and volunteers. Families with children make up a staggering number of those in need of adequate housing. More than 12 million children – one in six – live in poverty housing in the United States alone.

Lowe’s contributed more than $1.3 million to National Women Build Week, providing $5,000 Lowe’s gift cards to 275 Habitat affiliates. National Women Build Week is one of the major initiatives supported through Lowe’s five-year, $20 million pledge to Habitat. As the underwriter of the Women Build program since 2004, Lowe’s conducts “how-to” clinics at stores to teach women construction skills, enabling them to support Habitat projects across the country.

To volunteer or donate to this project, call HFHDC at (320) 762-4255 or visit www.hfhdouglascounty.org.

ABOUT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF DOUGLAS COUNTY

Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County has been an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International since 1997 and has built 31 homes for sale to partner families throughout Douglas County, providing housing for 127 people. In addition, HFHDC has served 36.5 international families through their tithe gifts.

Homeowner families are selected according to established criteria: need for housing, ability to partner with Habitat and ability to pay. Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build or renovate decent, affordable housing. Partner families purchase the homes from Habitat with no-profit mortgages. Volunteers provide most of the labor. Tax deductible donations of money, land and materials are provided by individuals, organizations, churches, foundations and businesses.

ABOUT LOWE’S

Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. The company’s signature education grant program, Lowe’s Toolbox for Education, has donated nearly $5 million in grants to K-12 public schools every year since its inception in 2006. Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers support local community projects and its national nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross. In 2011, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $32 million to support communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility.

Tags: local news, women build, news, habitat, housing