Women Build

Last month Habitat of Greater Plainfield & Middlesex County hosted its annual Women Build Event as a part of National Women Build Week.

On May 7th, 2016 more than 45 women and some additional Core Crew members volunteered to help make Women Build 2016 a success.The construction volunteers helped frame the walls for the future Habitat Barrier Free home on East 5th Street in Plainfield while the event volunteers helped with registration, lunch and photography. The Habitat Barrier Free home is being specially designed in partnership with Nikeisa Johnson and her family to accommodate the medical needs of her 2 year old son who suffers from a medical condition that has left him wheelchair-bound.  Nikeisa Johnson, future Habitat homeowner, joined us at Women Build for her first full day of work on a Habitat build site. Habitat GPMC was also honored to welcome Union County Freeholder Linda Carter to the Women Build event. “While helping to provide an affordable home for a family in need, Habitat’s Women Build program also celebrates the contributions women make to build our communities – with a hammer and through fellowship,” said Freeholder Linda Carter. “It is a true honor to participate in a program that is breaking the boundaries of gender stereotypes by empowering women to help build homes and communities.” 

Guided by Tom Wescoe, Director of Construction, and his dedicated Core Crew, volunteers measured, cut and assembled the pieces needed to form the walls that will be raised later this year for the Habitat Barrier Free home. This year’s Women Build volunteers not only offered their free time to build a home for a family in need of a hand up, but also spent time fundraising for the Habitat Barrier Free home. The volunteers collectively garnered nearly $4,000 in donations and an additional $2,000 in matching gifts. Before leaving the build site, volunteers left behind their messages of well wishes, inspiration and blessings to the family by signing the studs of the newly constructed walls. “We are so grateful to the many volunteers that spent a Saturday in the rain helping Nikeisa to build her future home,” said Allie Whitefleet, Women Build Coordinator. “The hope is that these women feel empowered to come back out and build with us again.”

​Habitat for Humanity’s National Women Build Week is a weeklong event that invites women to devote at least one day to help families build strength, stability and independence through housing. National Women Build Week is conducted in partnership with Lowe’s stores nationwide. Lowe’s Piscataway conducted a how-to-clinic to prepare the Habitat GPMC Women Build volunteers for their day of framing walls.

Special thanks to:
Linda Carter - Union County Freeholder
Nick Curran - Lowe's, Piscataway
Kimberly Urech - Women Build Core Crew Leader
Sue Gardner - Women Build Core Crew Leader