Fort Collins, Colo. (April 29, 2016) –Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity and the Women Build Leadership Committee is excited to announce that more than 175 women will come together to partner with a single mom by volunteering and giving $100 to $1,000 that will go directly toward building the Swift family home. The Swift homebuyer family represents the 7th Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity Women Build home in Fort Collins.
The build will kick off with National Women Build week April 30th – May 8th. Joining with over 17,000 women across the country who will be building with Habitat for Humanity. The events include:
• May 1st – 31st: Big Al’s Burgers and Dog “Big Change Jar” Will benefit the Swift home.
• May 5, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.: Stud Painting Party, 6602 Avondale Road, Fort Collins.
• May 6, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.: Lowe’s Power Tool Workshop, 4227 Corbett Drive, Fort Collins.
• May 7, 8:30 a.m.: Wall Raising Ceremony, 6602 Avondale Road, Fort Collins.
Big Al’s Burgers and Dogs will be donate all the proceeds from the “Big Change Jar” for the month of May to Women Build. A Stud Painting Party will also take place in partnership with the Mommy and Me Give Back group—a collection of women with preschool-aged children who want to give back to the community and teach their kids that it’s never too early to get involved and make a difference. This is the second Habitat event they have organized — they also helped to collect non-perishable items and household supplies to fill the pantry of a Habitat homeowner. Lowes’ Home Improvement awarded a $5,000 grant to help fund the materials to build the home. They also host a free Power Tool Workshop to help women gain confidence using power tools.
When they learned they had been selected to build and buy a Habitat home, the Swift family felt ecstatic. “I realize this is a tremendous opportunity to provide a stable future for my family. Our home will be a place we can grow into and a place to make lots of memories. It will be ours to enjoy for many, many years and I hope that our future lead us to more happiness, friends and family because you can never have too much.” The Swift family’s housing story is one all too common among hard working Fort Collins households. They have moved seven times in the seven years in her son’s seven years. Owning a home will provided the much needed stability for their family to thrive.
The Women Build program brings together women of all backgrounds and ages to take a stand for reliable, affordable housing with the belief that every person should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety. Our community has a tremendous need for affordable housing, one in three Fort Collins households are struggling to afford housing facing rising rental costs and having to choose between housing and other necessities.
Right now, Women Build is at 40% of the way to their goal of $100,000 for materials and supplies needed to build the Swift family home. To become one of the 2016 Women Build donors, pledges need to be made by May 7th. There is the opportunity to give $1,000 as an individual, or form a team. Women Build Teams can collectively give $1,000 and will be recognized on site by Team Name and are invited to build together.
The Women Builders will again gather to raise the walls on Swift family home on Saturday, May 7th, at 8:30 a.m. of Mother’s Day weekend.
“This year we’re coming together for the Swift family, a family comprised of a single mom and her son. The change is not only a physical one — building a safe home where the family can create memories — but it’s also a mental one. It’s been proven that a new Habitat home helps build a mom’s confidence and contribute to her kids’ success in school.” Connie Hanrahan, Women Build leader, and board member of Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity. “Please consider joining us for our Women Build this year.”
The women leading this year’s Women Build are Marge Brodahl, Cat Cross, Jessie Donaldson, Connie Hanrahan, Kathy Jack-Romero, Deanna Ludwin, Emily Peddicord and Nancy Richardson. Women interested in participating in Women Build can sign up at www.fortcollinshabitat.org. For more information about Women Build or to give, please call Kristin Candella at 970-488-2602.
Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks to put God’s love into action by building homes, communities and hope. Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing in the Fort Collins area and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety, and that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all. www.FortCollinsHabitat.org.
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