Habitat Build For Women Only
Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County will be hosting their first Women Build this fall, beginning on Saturday, September 25. Habitat is seeking a total of 120 women to fund the build and help with the construction with 75 women interested by early July. 
A pledge card is being circulated by those women who have already committed.  The pledge card, which has a deadline of July 30, is asking other women to forward the card to 20-25 people with the goal to raise $500.  

An informal meeting will be held at the Williamson County Public Library in Franklin on Thursday, July 15 at 6 p.m.  Kelly Wisniewski, who volunteers on the marketing committee for HFHWC, says they will discuss the building process, where the fundraising stands, and with what the group needs help.  

Celeste Raines, owner of CR Tech Pros in Brentwood, said “I serve on the Habitat for Humanity Williamson County marketing committee. It's an amazing organization that I'm honored to support. It's all about community. The more I learn, the more I see how Habitat is filling a huge and largely unknown need -- affordable housing in Williamson County.

The history behind the Women Build campaign began in 1991 when a group of women in Charlotte, North Carolina completed the first women built house.  Seven years later, the Women Build department was developed by Habitat for Humanity.  The purpose was to empower women and equip them to maintain their homes for themselves and their children.

“This is exciting for me because it’s my first build and it is the first Womens Build,” said Wisniewski, who works in healthcare.  “It’s a very basic message.  This is how we as women can get together and help impoverished families.  The caring and spirit of women around me has inspired me.”

Wisniewski also shared that Lowe’s has committed to schedule classes for women who pledge to help with the build.  Classes will teach women various skills like installing a window.  Anyone who is hesitant to participate for lack of skills will have access to these classes for free.

The women who participate and work at these builds recognize the need for such support with 70 percent of the HFH partnering households having women as heads of the home.  Through Women Build projects, volunteers gain confidence and learn skills to lay bricks, drive nails, raise walls and create hope.

“I'm doing the build because there's a REAL need in the community and I can help,” said Raines.  “I'm not a contractor but then no skills are required ....just your hands and your heart. If you bring those to the build, they'll teach you the rest.”

HFHWC is currently pursuing an aggressive 4-year, 46-home initiative called Building New Traditions.  Under the initiative, HFHWC is working with the business, church and civic leadership of Williamson County to address the growing demands for affordable homeownership opportunities for working families. 

HFHWC built ten homes in 2008, nine homes in 2009 and will build twelve in 2010.  In addition, under its tithe commitment to Habitat for Humanity International, HFHWC will fund the construction of one home overseas for every two Habitat for Humanity homes completed in Williamson County. 

Raines shared, “The all-women angle....what's NOT to love about that? We'll be doing something truly meaningful and having a blast! Where two or more women are gathered....there's a party!”

If you would like to get involved, click here for the website.