Houston County Habitat for Humanity was one of 300 affiliates nation wide to participate in the Habitat for Humanity National Women’s Build Day Saturday. It was estimated that over 18,000 women nation-wide helped build homes in their communities.
Resource Development Director for Houston County Habitat for Humanity, Cheryl Glover, said they had a little over 40 volunteers Saturday help on the Veteran’s Build Home for Air Force veteran and soon to be homeowner, LaShunna Burrage.
“We started the Veteran’s Build back in February for LaShunna,” Glover said. “So today our women’s team is helping put the siding on her home. With our partnership with Lowes on Highway 96 and Watson, the managers are here today teaching us how to use saws, nail guns and other power tools as well.”
Glover said many of the volunteers have never participated in a Habitat for Humanity build, like Jessica Rivera. Rivera will actually be the next build for Houston County Habitat for Humanity. She and her husband moved to Warner Robins over a year ago from Puerto Rico.
“I was a teacher in Puerto Rico,” Rivera said. “We came here over a year ago and we like it. But recently we were trying to seek help for my sister-in-law who just moved here from Puerto Rico and we ended up finding out that we qualified for a home. Times have been a little hard for us so this is a blessing. And this is a blessing today to help. I never worked with tools before so this is exciting.”
Glover said the purpose behind the women’s build is to give women an opportunity to empower themselves, learn new skills and give back to the community.
“This is always an exciting time for us and we are so excited for our Women’s team. They have done an amazing job,” Glover said.
Houston County Habitat for Humanity is also having a raffle to raise funds. Local high school student Hannah Branham, soon to graduate, fell in love with the organization and decided to help furnish the home. Glover said she collected donated items from local businesses to raise the funds. Some featured items are handmade local jewelry, a golf basket featuring one free round of golf at Southern Landings and a painting from the Robins Air Force Base Air Show by Nichol Malakowski, the first female T-Bird pilot.
The raffle goes until May 29 and tickets are one for $5, three for $10 and seven for $20. Glover said all information can be found online in regards to the raffle at www.hocohabitat.org. Tickets can be purchased at the Houston County Habitat store located at 955 Watson Boulevard in Warner Robins.
