Habitat for Humanity Women Build seeks to empower, build community

 

WEST BEND, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Local women came together to frame a home for a family in need.

Habitat for Humanity of Washington and Dodge Counties Women Build 2023 aimed to empower women while fostering community among volunteers.

"That sense of belonging starts with having a home. Having someplace to lay your hat at the end of the night and being able to actually build a home for someone gives me goosebumps," Volunteer Emily Green said.

Green is one of the dozens of women who stepped up to volunteer to begin building a home in West Bend. Green works with a nonprofit, one of the seven organizations that swapped business casual for safety glasses to support Habitat for Humanity.

"Obviously, there is a lot of overlap between the populations we serve with Habitat for Humanity, and how do belong without a home? So, helping to build a home is a brave way for our organization to get involved in the community in a different way," she said.

This is the first women build in the area since 2018, and now they're planning to do it annually so other women can discover their inner strength.

"We go to corporations, and we ask them to send volunteers, and I would say 80% of the volunteers they send are men. We would like to start engaging women from those companies," Habitat for Humanity of Washington & Dodge Counties Director of Development Thecla Harris said.

"I think if we start with a women's build week, it kind of breaks the ice, and when women come together, they start saying, 'I can do that.'"

Even though many women who volunteered had never built a home before, they knew it was an opportunity to bond while giving back.

"Oh, it's been a blast. I think a lot of people are enjoying themselves. We're all learning something new here today, and just the collaboration has been wonderful," Volunteer Heather Mensch said. "Just happy to be part of it."