Habitat Craven County and Lowe’s team up for National Women Build Week

Habitat for Humanity Women BuildHabitat for Humanity of Craven County and Mike Williams, the affiliate’s new Executive Director, will work alongside Lowe’s volunteers and female construction crews for Habitat for Humanity’s 10th annual National Women Build Week on Saturday, May 13 from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. Habitat’s National Women Build Week invites women to help make a difference and devote at least one day to help build decent and affordable housing in their local communities.

More than 17,000 women, including Lowe’s Heroes volunteers, are expected to volunteer at construction sites across the country as part of Habitat’s 2017 National Women Build Week. Volunteers are needed in New Bern on May 13. Information and registration is available by contacting Deedra Durocher, Volunteer Coordinator, at 252-633-9599.

“No matter who we are or where we come from, we all deserve to have a decent life. We deserve to feel confidence and stability every day. We deserve to know we have the power to take care of ourselves and to build our own futures,” explained Mike Williams, the new Director at Habitat Craven. “That is what unites everyone involved with Habitat, the understanding that through shelter, we empower a family and strengthen our community.”

In New Bern, volunteers will work on completing Habitat home #62 at 1109 Biddle Street in the Duffyfield neighborhood. “We started construction on this latest home on March 6th when our Collegiate Challenge students from four different universities came to help Habitat Craven build this house during the month of March,” said Williams. “It’s amazing to see what these enthusiastic young men and women can accomplish in just sixteen days. We’re looking forward to having the home completed by mid-June so the family can move in.”

Lowe’s helped launch National Women Build Week in 2008 to empower women to advocate for affordable housing and spotlight the homeownership challenges faced by many. Each year, Lowe’s provides the support of their employee volunteers, Lowe’s Heroes, and conducts how-to clinics at stores to teach volunteers construction skills so they can feel equipped to take part in the builds. Habitat Craven held a How-To Clinic at the local Lowe’s store on April 21 in advance of Women Build Week.  More than fifty volunteers will be joining to help build decent, affordable housing in New Bern area as part of National Women Build Week.

“Through our partnership with Habitat and support of National Women Build Week, Lowe’s empowers women to get involved in their communities, learn construction skills and make a meaningful impact,” said James Frison, Lowe’s director of community relations. “We’re grateful to all the women in New Bern who will volunteer this week to help build and repair decent and affordable housing.”

Lowe’s donated nearly $2 million to this year’s National Women Build Week, including a $5,000 store gift card to Habitat Craven County.  Since 2003, Lowe’s has committed more than $63 million to Habitat’s mission and helped more than 6,500 families improve their living conditions.

Habitat’s first Women Build event was held in 1998. Since then, all-women construction crews have helped build more than 2,500 homes in partnership with families.  For more information on Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program and to learn about Women Build events in communities across the U.S. year-round, visit Habitat.org/wb.

Submitted by: Deedra Durocher, Habitat Craven County