May 3, 2014 - May 10, 2014
Unnamed Venue
Harless Street, Lake Charles, LA United States

Additional Information

Dozens of local women will swing hammers, operate power tools and wield paint brushes and caulk guns as they build a home for a deserving local family during Habitat for Humanity: Calcasieu Area Inc.’s Women Build 2014.

So far, a total of 150 women, including seven all-women teams, have already signed up to participate in the build, which will take place May 3-10 at 2021 Harless Street in Lake Charles.

The home is being built for a single, working mother and her four children. She, her family and her friends, will be on site during the week, helping to build her home alongside volunteers.

Women Build Week, May 3-10, challenges women to devote at least one day to building simple, decent and affordable housing in their communities, said Janeal McCauley, Habitat for Humanity: Calcasieu Area Inc.’s Faith Engagement Coordinator, is in charge of this year’s Women Build.

“The Habitat for Humanity Women Build has one mission: Empower women to take action against poverty housing conditions,” she said. “Women Build brings together women from all walks of life to address, in a concrete way, the housing crisis facing millions of women and children across the globe.”

McCauley, a longtime Habitat volunteer before joining the staff in 2013, said this is the Calcasieu affiliate’s most success Women Build yet.

“Response from our community has been tremendous and our teams have been working hard to prepare for this year’s event,” she said. “Lowe’s is again sponsoring our construction clinics to help our volunteers learn basic power tool use and safety to encourage confidence and fellowship among our Women Build volunteers.”

This is the sixth consecutive year that the Calcasieu affiliate has participated in Women Build. This year’s national sponsor is Lowe’s. Local sponsors include Iberiabank and Innovative Expressions.

Construction begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 3 with a brief groundbreaking ceremony.

Kathleen Guillory, team leader for First United Methodist-Lake Charles’ Rebecca Circle and a regular Habitat volunteer, is looking forward to the build.

“I love the way the community comes together and fills in the gap,” she said. “There is nothing more special than starting with an empty, concrete slab and leaving with a framed house. We truly are the hands and feet of Jesus that provide for those who, for whatever reason, cannot provide for themselves.”

No construction experience is necessary to volunteer and there are some spots still available. For information, call McCauley at 936-0903.

About Habitat for Humanity: Calcasieu Area Inc.

Since Habitat for Humanity: Calcasieu Area Inc. began in 1992, the affiliate has built 88 homes and has helped an additional 34 local families realize their dreams of home ownership. Habitat homes are built through the use of volunteer labor and donations of money and materials. Homeowners must complete 300 hours of “sweat equity” by volunteering to work on their home or other Habitat homes. For information, call 497-0129.