Stuart, Florida – Hanging trusses, pounding nails, and raising walls to build a house is no longer the exclusive territory of men.  On May 6, several construction crews of women volunteers will arm themselves with tools and building materials and work on other Habitat for Humanity homes currently under construction in Indiantown.  This is in recognition of Habitat’s National Women Build Week, May 4-10.

“Actually, men weren’t excluded” explains Ebonie Reid, project coordinator for Women Build. “But we’re focusing on women during that week, staffing the majority of the volunteer crew with women from our area.  Patricia Malone, who will be the Habitat partner homeowner for this particular house, will be there as well.

National Women Build Week celebrates the compassion, dedication, talents and abilities of women from all walks of life.  Lowe’s underwrites the Habitat for Humanity Women Build program, bringing women from all walks of life together to learn construction skills and then use those skills to be part of the solution to poverty housing.  The home improvement company is providing a $5,000 grant in support of this one-day Women Build.

“More than 12 million US children live in poverty,” said Larry D. Stone, Lowe’s president and chairman of the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation.  “We believe the week leading up to Mother’s Day provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase the accomplishments of Lowe’s and Habitat’s women volunteers, as well as invite new volunteers to help those families and transform communities.  Supporting Women Build and other Habitat projects gives us all a chance to provide people with the resources they need to improve their homes and lives.”

Habitat for Humanity of Martin County is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization that extends the opportunity to purchase simple, decent, affordable homes to local families who would not otherwise have that chance.  Three key resources are necessary in order to make homeownership a reality for Habitat partner families:  funds, volunteers and advocacy.