Women build for Habitat

A Habitat for Humanity event intended to get more women involved in the home-building effort has been so successful in Jefferson County that local chapter officials want to add another date targeted to women to the organization’s calendar.

Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s home improvement stores are sponsoring National Women Build Week from May 2-10 across the country. The effort calls for Habit for Humanity to schedule a “women’s day” at their construction sites during the time period, which leads to Mother’s Day.

“We’re trying to show that women can build just like men,” said Marla Karl of the Jefferson County chapter. “We would like to have more women participate.”

Habitat’s Jefferson County branch had put out a call for women to take part at its De Soto construction site on May 3 and were overwhelmed with the response, Karl said.

“It’s full for May 3, but we’d like to have another one at a date to be determined,” she said.

For more information, contact call at the Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity office at 636-933-3606 or visit its Web site at www.jeffcohfh.org.

The Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity group is working on its 15th house since it was formed in 1996. The project site is located at 422 S. Second Street in De Soto.

Lowe’s is committing $875,000 to National Women Build Week, providing $5,000 grants and event support materials to 175 Habitat affiliates.