Volunteers needed during National Women Build Week

Volunteers are needed for Habitat for Humanity’s sixth annual National Women Build Week.

Locally, Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County will partner with Lowe’s and the Associated Construction Women to repair a woman-owned home on Saturday, May 11.

Nationally, more than 300 Habitat affiliates will host women build projects in partnership with Lowe’s, the underwriter of Habitat’s Women Build program, during the week of May 4-12, a press release said.

“Being able to give back from one woman to another through our organization and various professions is an absolute honor,” said Cara Knapp, ACW President. “ACW is proud to support such a good organization that supports so many others.”

The press release said National Women Build Week challenges women to “come together and devote at least one day to repairing or building simple, decent and affordable housing in their local communities.”

It said more than 41,000 women volunteers from all 50 states have participated in previous years. Last year, event sponsor ACW rallied a group of approximately 25 members to repair and weatherize a woman-owned home in Oak Ridge.

“We are so excited to participate in National Women Build Week,” said Jennifer Sheehan, interim executive director of HFHAC. “This is a great opportunity for women of all skill levels to come together to help a family in need. And while this is a Women Build event, we certainly have men that volunteer as well. Often, they are the husbands or partners of the ladies volunteering for the event and we welcome them.”

No construction skills are necessary. To volunteer or donate to this project, call HFHAC at (865) 482-7713 or send an e-mail at [email protected].

The press release said Lowe’s contributes more than $1.75 million to National Women Build Week and provides $5,000 Lowe’s gift cards to more than 300 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 also conducts “How-To” clinics at local stores to teach women key construction skills that will empower them to support Habitat projects across the country.

Visit www.habitat.org/wb for more information on National Women Build Week.

See www.hfhac.org for more information on Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County.