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The Washington Mystics of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is volunteering with Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia’s Women Build for WNBA Cares Week. The players will work alongside women volunteers from Habitat Northern Virginia’s Women Build committee. The players and volunteers are expected to finish the construction of a 5’ x 7’ cedar garden shed on May 27.
Freddie Mac employees will take part in the Women Build, held at the company’s headquarters in Tyson’s Corner. “We are delighted to join Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia and the Washington Mystics to support the Women Build program, and to help provide families with affordable housing,” said Margaret Meiers, Senior Director of Community Relations, Freddie Mac. Freddie Mac is a sustaining partner of Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia – offering financial support and volunteers for a number of projects.
The garden shed is a charming Summerwood Products cedar shed with 2 windows and arched doorway. It will be raffled off in early June with all proceeds benefiting Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia’s Women Build program. To purchase a $10 raffle ticket, call Habitat for Humanity at 703-521-9890 ext. 107.
Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build recruits, educates, and nurtures women to build—and advocate for—simple, decent, and affordable houses in their communities. The mission of the program is to empower women to learn new skills, use new tools, and work together as empowered and capable workers.
Poverty housing is a severe threat to children’s health, growth, and potential. According to the Census Bureau, in the United States more than 12 million children—one out of every six—is living in poverty. Women have the capability and determination necessary to build Habitat for Humanity houses, addressing the problem of substandard housing in a concrete way so that families have safe, decent, and affordable homes. Women volunteers boost Habitat’s capacity to build more houses and serve more families. More than 1,800 Women Build houses have been built worldwide since the program began in 1998.
ARLINGTON, Va. (WUSA) – Construction is typically a male-dominated industry, but a group of women took over a construction site in Arlington on Wednesday as part of National Women Build Week.
“We feel united and strong. We can do anything. We are women!” said Susan Omasta, a Habitat for Humanity volunteer.
Omasta isn’t shy when it comes to recruiting women for Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build Program, but this is actually her first time working on a construction site.
“I work in retail,” said Omasta.
On Wednesday, Omasta and about 30 other women got their hands dirty helping build affordable housing for low-income families.
“We’re putting up insulation today,” said Omasta. “It gets in your face, in your eyes, but guess what? At the end of the day it washes away, and you’ve done something really great that you’re proud of.”
When the building is complete, it will house twelve different families. One of them is the Moldanado family.
“I am happy for this day. Many, many women help me,” said Rosie Moldanado, who also pitched in.
“This is really great because the satisfaction that you get from knowing that someone is going to benefit from your hard work. It’s so exciting,” said Omasta.
More than 1,650 Habitat for Humanity Homes in the United States have been built by female construction crews.
“People need to know that women can do this too,” said Omasta. “Just do it. Do it for yourself. Do it for your children. You’re strong and you can get out there and do what any of the guys can do.”
Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia says they hope to break ground in one year on a new home which will be built entirely by women.
Alice Waagen is wearing a hard hat and a tool belt and she’s covered in dust from the demolition work she is doing at the Perry Hall Condominium, the Habitat for Humanity 12-unit building on South 17th Street in Arlington. The construction project is an existing apartment building that will be converted to condominiums.
Waagen is taking part in National Women Build Week (May 1-9), an initiative by Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity which challenges women to devote at least one day to efforts to eliminate poverty housing. This is the first Women Build event for Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia.
