Tag Archives: Women Build

Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity Hosts “Diva Day”

Posted on by
Reply

A group of women volunteers work on insulation as part of Thrivent Build’s Diva Day.

If you happened to drive past 1534 1st Ave South in Fargo yesterday, you probably saw a lot of pink shirts. Yesterday was a special build day on the Thrivent Builds with Bound South build site in Fargo- Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity partnered with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to host a “Diva Day”. This special women build day gave women a chance to learn new skills through hands on work by helping build a new home for a local Habitat family.

“Thrivent Build’s Diva Day is great opportunity for women to come together to help solve the housing crisis of a local family,” said Katie McCormick, Program & Marketing Manager for Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity.

 

Women were treated in true “diva-style” and enjoyed lunch, beverages and souvenirs. “Diva Day” is all about empowering women while addressing the need for affordable housing in our community.

All smiles at Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity’s first Diva Day!

“It was great to see so many fun women- and a few men- come together to work on the home,” said Jackie Mattfeld, Volunteer Coordinator for Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity. “We had an awesome time and got so much done!”

Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity would like to thank the volunteers from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Widmer-Roel, Diva Connection and members of the NDSU Women’s Club for their work on the home.  The group spent the day installing insulation and hanging plastic in the home.  Check out all the pictures from the day’s work on Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity’s Facebook page.

Interested in volunteering on this home?  For questions or to learn more about how you or your organization can volunteer with Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, please visit our website or give us a call at 218-284-5253 ext. 2.

Local Volunteers Celebrate National Women Build Week

Posted on by
Reply

Women volunteers raised their hammers on a Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity construction site yesterday in recognition of National Women Build Week. National Women Build Week, held May 5-13, is a nationwide initiative of Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program developed in partnership with Lowe’s.

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. Yesterday, women volunteers in Fargo worked with the Hudson Family on a special project for their new Habitat house. Lowe’s is providing Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity a $5,000 Lowe’s store gift card, as well as in-store volunteer training to support of this Habitat for Humanity Women Build home.

Here in Fargo Moorhead, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity has built 4 Women Build homes. Yesterday, local women build volunteers celebrated National Women Build Week by constructing and finishing a shed with the Hudson Family. The Hudson Family’s new home should be complete by fall of 2012.

Women volunteer at the site of the Hudson Family's future home in Fargo as part of National Women Build Week.

“It’s exciting for us to focus on women this week,” explains Katie McCormick, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity Program Coordinator. “Our women volunteers are passionate about this effort, and they’ve volunteered a lot of hours, learning the skills necessary to help eliminate poverty housing in Cass and Clay counties. Having a new group of volunteers take part has been exciting as well. It is nice to be able to share skills and empower the next generation to carry on Habitat’s mission.”

E! News correspondent and long-time Habitat supporter Kristina Guerrero, whose mother built her home in partnership with an affordable-housing organization in 1998, is building with her mother, sister and 25 women volunteers, in Los Angeles.

“My mom, brothers, sisters and I are living proof of the difference affordable housing can make in a family’s life,” said Guerrero. “I encourage all women to find ways to join Habitat this week. Whether it’s building alongside other volunteers or helping to recruit or train new volunteers, every effort helps families realize their dreams of homeownership. Through working together, we can make a difference in the lives of low-income families in need of affordable housing.”

Lowe’s, underwriter of Habitat’s Women Build program, has committed more than $1.3 million to National Women Build Week in support of 275 participating 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.  Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity and the Fargo Lowe’s store hosted a “How-To” clinic to prepare women volunteers to build in Fargo.

“Lowe’s has been the proud sponsor of Habitat’s Women Build program since 2004,” said Marshall Croom, chairman of the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. “Women Build encourages women from all ages and walks of life to pick up their hammers and build affordable homes alongside local families. Lowe’s salutes all the women volunteers who take time to build this week and values the difference Lowe’s and Habitat are making in the lives of families across the nation.”

The U.S. Census Bureau reports more than 12 million children—one out of every six—are living in poverty in the United States, where more than 70 percent of Habitat’s U.S. houses are built in partnership with women heads-of-household. Habitat’s Women Build program recruits, educates and inspires women to build and advocate for simple, decent and affordable houses in their communities. Since the inception of Habitat’s Women Build program in 1998 more than 1,900 Habitat for Humanity Women Build houses have been constructed in partnership with low-income families.

Calling All Women: Join Habitat for National Women Build Week

Posted on by
1

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.

LAHFH Women Build volunteers

Volunteers flex their muscles at LAHFH’s 2011 Women Build site.

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 Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity are looking for women to volunteer at a Fargo Habitat construction site on Thursday, May 10th. Construction or home improvement experience is not necessary.

Women Build Volunteers take part in 2011 Women Build Week.

Women Build Volunteers take part in 2011 Women Build Week.

Volunteers will be constructing and finishing a shed for a Fargo Habitat home.  Construction will begin at 8 am on Thursday, May 10th at 1534 1st Ave S, Fargo.  Lunch is provided.  Those interested in volunteering should call 218-284-5253 ext 2 or email habitat@lakeagassizhabitat.org to sign up.

To date, Women Build volunteers have helped construct more than 1,900 Habitat houses nationwide. Locally, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity has built 4 Women Build homes.

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, please call 218-284-5253 ext. 2, email habitat@lakeagassizhabitat.org or visit www.lakeagassizhabitat.org.

Women at Work: Lowe’s Teaches Building Basics for Women Volunteers

Posted on by
Reply

Women volunteers, many representing “The Build Generation” of young women ages 18 to 24, will raise their hammers at Habitat for Humanity construction sites across the country in recognition of National Women Build Week, May 5-13. This event is a nationwide initiative of Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program developed in partnership with Lowe’s.

To help volunteers get a jump-start on their building skills, Lowe’s, the underwriter of Habitat’s Women Build program and sponsor of National Women Build Week, is hosting a “how-to” clinic on Saturday, April 21st at 2:00 pm at Lowe’s Home Improvement, located at 5001 13th Avenue Southwest in Fargo.

Women Build how-to clinics are open to everyone, women interested in volunteering at any local Women Build site are encouraged to attend. There is no cost to enroll and Lowe’s provides all supplies. The how-to clinic is led by Lowe’s store employees will teach home construction basics to volunteers and offer opportunities to practice new skills.  Women will also learn tool safety tips.

To sign up for the clinic, volunteers should contact the Customer Service Desk at Lowe’s Home Improvement by calling 701-433-2160. Each clinic is limited to 25 participants. Registered volunteers should wear comfortable clothing and come ready to learn.  All supplies will be provided on-site.

Habitat’s Women Build program recruits, educates and inspires women to build and advocate for simple, decent and affordable housing in their communities. Lowe’s committed more than $1.3 million to National Women Build Week, providing $5,000 Lowe’s store gift cards and event support materials to 275 Habitat affiliates across the country.

This year’s theme, “The Build Generation,” reflects Habitat Women Build’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.

Looking Back on the 2011 Builds

Posted on by
1

Habitat logo 20 yearsAs 2011, we’re very thankful for the past 20 years of building simple, decent and affordable homes in our community. And we’re extremely grateful for the hundreds of volunteers and donors who have made it all possible. So as we look ahead to building homes in 2012, let’s also take a look back at our progress from 2011.

Fronning Family

The Fronning family at the wall raising celebration of their home

On June 1st, crews began working on a single-family home at 605 10th Avenue SE in Barnesville. Not only was this the first build of the 2011 season, but it was also the first home we’ve ever built in Barnesville. We received great support for this build, and the Barnesville community was wonderful to work with.  The Fronning family moved into the home in August.

 

Hamilton Family 2011

The Hamilton family at the dedication celebration of their new home.

Soon after starting the Barnesville home, Habitat started work on the Women Build on June 15th. This house is located at 326 6th Avenue W in West Fargo. Like always, our women volunteers came out in strong numbers, bringing with them a desire to help a family in need and to learn more about home construction.  The Hamilton family moved into the home in October and was able to welcome trick-or-treaters in their new home.

 

Thrivent Wall Raising

Trivent Finanical for Lutherans Representatives and the Bichler Family raise the wall on the 3rd home of the season.

 

Next, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans was gracious enough to sponsor another build in 2011 as part of the Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity program. The organization helped provide funding and engaged Lutheran volunteers for the Habitat home at 1205 2nd Avenue S in Fargo. Construction on this home began on July 27th and the Bichler family was able to celebrate their first Christmas in their new home.

Volunteers

Volunteers work on the 4th and 5th homes of the 2011 Build Season.

The final build of the year was a duplex located at 407 Morrison Street in West Fargo. The duplex design allowed us to serve the needs of two families, while keeping costs to a minimum. This project began on September 6th, and we’re currently in the process of finishing up the home.  The Brackins and Melvin families look forward to a home dedication early 2012.

Thanks again to all who helped make 2011 a success. We look forward to working with you again in the New Year!

Habitat for Humanity Women Build: Women Empowering Women

Posted on by
2

Today will be an exciting day in West Fargo, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity will dedicate the Women Build Home.  At 5:30pm this afternoon, the future homeowners, the Hamilton family, will gather with representatives from Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, the Women Build planning committee, donors, volunteers, and friends to celebrate the completion of their future home.

Dedication ceremonies are always exciting, but as the 2011 Women Build Home, this home is different.  Women Build is a program through Habitat for Humanity International with the mission to bring together women from all walks of life to address the housing crisis facing millions of women and children worldwide.

LAHFH Women Build volunteers

Volunteers flex their muscles at LAHFH’s 2011 Women Build site.

The Women Build program started in 1991 with a group of women in Charlotte, North Carolina who completed the first women-built Habitat for Humanity house. With this event, the seeds for Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program were planted and became an official Habitat for Humanity International initiative in 1998.  In 2007, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity completed the first local Women Build project by building a twin home in South Fargo.

Women Build believes that decent, affordable housing is not a feminist issue.  It is a quality of life and basic human dignity issue facing families everywhere.  Women Build is about empowering women to take action against poverty housing conditions.

North Dakota First Lady volunteering with Women Build

North Dakota’s First Lady, Betsy Dalrymple, lends a helping hand on LAHFH’s 2011 Women Build.

Women Build is not about excluding men.  It is about including women and opening new doors of opportunity.  Men are often involved in training programs and build projects in supportive roles.

Women Build events have helped to construct more than 1,900 houses worldwide, with the most recent Women Build home right here in West Fargo.  The West Fargo Women Build home was built by over 150 local women who rolled up their sleeves and offered their service to help a local family realize a dream of affordable homeownership.  The build was planned and organized by an all women committee of volunteers.  The home is the 4th Women Build home completed by the local affiliate and second home completed by the organization in 2011.

Even though construction on the Women Build project is complete, you can still support Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity. The local Women Build would not succeed without donations and the committee welcomes any and all donations from you and/or your organization. To invest your valuable time and energy, you can check the Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity website for work days on other build sites. To support Women Build financially, visit the Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity website or contact us via phone or email.  Check with your employer to see if they have a matching donations policy.

Women Build Partner Family on the build site.

If you’re interested in attending the Women Build home dedication:

Where: 326 6th Ave. W. in West Fargo

When: 5:30pm Monday, September 26, 2011

 

For more information on Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity visit: www.lakeagassizhabitat.org

For more information on Women Build visit: http://www.habitat.org/wb/