Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s challenge women volunteers to build houses during national Mother’s Day initiative

The Messenger-Gazette
April 09, 2010, 5:11AM

Showed picture from last year’s with caption: Last year’s National Women Build Week group. Governor Christie Whitman and daughter Kate Whitman center, were among the many mother daughter building teams.

BRIDGEWATER — In the days leading up to Mother’s Day, construction crews of women volunteers will be pounding nails and raising walls at Habitat for Humanity construction sites across the country in recognition of National Women Build Week, May 1–9.

Lowe’s and Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity are looking for local women volunteers to work one day on a Bridgewater Habitat construction site on May 8. Construction or home improvement experience is not necessary.

To participate women register at www.rvhabitat.org, raise $50 or more in pledges, and have a fun day building with other volunteers and future homeowners.

Developed through the partnership between Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity, National Women Build Week challenges women to devote at least one day to the effort to eliminate poverty housing. The event is an initiative of Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program, underwritten by Lowe’s, which recruits, educates and nurtures women to build and advocate for simple, decent and affordable houses in their communities.

The Mother’s Day timeframe was selected for its significance to many volunteers, as 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. To date, women volunteers have built nearly 1,700 Habitat houses nationwide.

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than to help build a home for a mother and her family. I won’t be with my own mother, but I will be helping mothers!” says Women Build Coordinator, Kathy Tanaka.

Locally, hundreds of women have built with Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity Women Build. The program has funded one home and is raising funds for a second Women Build home in Bridgewater. The Bridgewater site will have nine homes where 38 people, including 26 children, will live.

Lowe’s is committing more than $1 million to National Women Build Week, providing $5,000 Lowe’s store gift cards and event support materials to 200 Habitat affiliates. This is a major initiative of Lowe’s five-year, $20 million pledge to Habitat, a commitment including underwriting of the Women Build program, as well as providing construction know-how at in-store clinics and build sites, and funding for a variety of Habitat projects across the country.

To volunteer or donate to this project, please call 908-704-0016, email communityrelations@rvhabitat.org or visit rvhabitat.org.