During the week approaching Mother’s Day, Habitat for Humanity hosts a week long National Women’s Build Week. It was first created in 1991 in Charlotte, North Carolina as a way to invite women to help other families by building houses. In 1997, several previous first ladies (Rosalynn Carter, Hilary Clinton etc…) participated in a Women’s Build and raised awareness regarding the program. From here, the movement flourished and by 2001 all 50 states had joined in. In 2003 Habitat partnered with Lowe’s and by 2009, a record 252 homes were built across the nation. In 2014, that number increased to 2,300.
To help fund the non-profit organization, Lowe’s donates nearly $2 million and provides clinics that only women can attend. Here they are provided with basic knowledge regarding power tools and construction rules so that they can safely use the equipment when it comes time to build. More than 98,000 women from all 50 states have volunteered over the past nine years.
However, this week is not the only week women are allowed to participate in. Habitat accepts any volunteers throughout the year. Not only can women learn how to master physically demanding jobs, but they can also be involved in the intellectual aspect of planning, organizing, or promoting Habitat and its cause.
To learn more about Habitat for Humanity and what you can do, click here.
