Posted: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 11:09 pm

Karon Elliott, office Manager, left, and Lisa McIntyre, family services director, are sporting the T-shirt, nail belt, hat and water bottle to be given to the women who build on site at the Women Build for Habitat for Humanity.

Next session is Sept. 11 before fall project
Brentwood Home Page news reports
Lowe's is holding training sessions for women to learn about basic building principles in preparation for Williamson County's first Women Build for Habitat for Humanity.

On Sept. 25 the sound of hammers, saws and chatter will fill the air at 630 Alex Drive in Spring Hill when the project begins. Women who live or work in Williamson County will partner with homeowner Tina Gilbert to build her house.

More than 1,600 homes have been constructed in the U.S. by women since the first Women Build took place in 1991 in Charlotte, N.C.

 “This is a tremendous opportunity for women to support the mission and work of affordable housing that Habitat is so much a part of,” said John Besser, executive director for Habitat for Home of Williamson County (HFHWC).

“The women will help raise the funds and also be the driving force on the construction.”

The remaining Lowe's training session for women will take place 8 a.m.-11 a.m. Sept. 11, construction manager Gregg Elliott said. Another one was held last Saturday.

For more information, visit www.habitatwilliamson.org or call 690-8090 ext. 110 (Steve Lewis) or ext. 102 (Kathi Johnson).

The construction of the home will take eight Saturdays to complete, through Nov. 13. HFHWC builds homes which are ENERGY STAR® and N.A.H.B. Green Building Program certified.

 Gilbert will work on the home and pay a 30-year interest-free mortgage as part of the partnership with Habitat.

 “I am honored that so many women have shown interest in helping me with this new home," she said.  "I am currently working on my sweat equity and on saving for my closing costs.”

Since 1992, Williamson County's Habitat has worked with local groups and community members to provide 104 hard-working, low-income families an opportunity to purchase their own homes.