On Saturday, May 8, PWB members Jennifer Lewis, Jodi Saurbier, Roxanne Hall and Carol Cheek along with several other women volunteers got out their tool belts and used their deconstruction skills in preperation for Habitat of Durham’s Women Build starting in September. In the days leading up to Mother’s Day, more than 200 construction crews of women volunteers across the country helped at Habitat for Humanity construction sites in all 50 states in recognition of National Women Build Week, May 1 – 9. 

Developed through the partnership between Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity, National Women Build Week challenges women to devote one day to the effort to eliminate poverty housing.  The event is an initiative of Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program, underwritten by Lowe’s, which recruits, educates and nurtures women to build and advocate for simple, decent and affordable houses in their communities.

Grammy-award-winning gospel recording artist and radio morning show host Yolanda Adams and New York Times best-selling author Julie Edelman helped launch National Women Build Week. Adams built with local women in Houston on April 29, while Edelman, author of “The Accidental Housewife: How to Overcome Housekeeping Hysteria One Task at a Time” and “The Ultimate Accidental Housewife: Your Guide to a CLEAN-ENOUGH House,” built May 4 and 5 with women volunteers in Paterson, N.J.

More than 20 women, including Kim Rives and her two daughters, Camille and Angela, will don their tool belts on Saturday, May 8, in preparation for Habitat of Durham’s official Women Build in September. This coming fall, Kim Rives, a future Habitat homeowner, will partner with Habitat of Durham, Women Build and Lowe’s on the construction of her new home. When complete, Ms. Rives’ home will be fifth Women Build house constructed by Habitat of Durham.

“Being a single parent, I've taught my daughters the importance of unity and teamwork.  When people work together great things happen.  I'm so excited for them to see what a group of women working together and supporting each other can accomplish,” say Kim.  “Owning a home is the kind of stability that my family has always craved.  I'm looking forward to meeting the tremendous women of Women Build who are an inspiration to all women.”

Lowe’s is providing Habitat for Humanity of Durham a $5,000 Lowe’s store gift card, as well as in-store volunteer training, in support of this one-day build. Nationwide, Lowe’s committed more than $1 million to National Women Build Week, providing grants and event support materials to 200 participating affiliates. This is a major initiative of Lowe’s five-year, $20 million pledge to Habitat, a commitment including underwriting of the Women Build program, as well as providing construction know-how at in-store clinics and build sites, and funding for a variety of Habitat projects across the country. 

“Lowe’s has been the proud sponsor of Habitat’s Women Build program since 2004.  This innovative program encourages women from all walks of life to pick up their hammers and build homes alongside Habitat partner families,” said Larry D. Stone, Lowe’s president and COO and chairman of the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. “2010 marks the third anniversary of National Women Build Week.  Lowe’s salutes the more than 11,000 engaged women who have volunteered on Habitat jobsites across the U.S. during National Women Build Week to help bring an end to poverty housing.”

The Durham, Orange and Chatham PWB will also be helping out in September when construction begins on the homes.