Women Build 2008- Breaking new ground

While rain fell, spirits soared during a groundbreaking ceremony held Friday, May 9 in honor of Women Build 2008.

More than 100 people braved the wet weather to show their support of this important project. Women Build, as a national campaign for Habitat for Humanity International, is one of many projects across the nation bringing women together to build a home in partnership with a family in need.

Funding from partners throughout the community, including Hasbro, Hampden Bank and Lowe’s, provide the necessary financial support to give women the opportunity to put their hands into action for their community.

Speakers at the groundbreaking included Carol Leary, president of Bay Path College and honorary chair of Women Build 2008; Mike Niziolek, vice president of human resources at Hasbro; Glenn Welch, executive vice president, Hampden Bank; Patty Murphy, superintendent of the Hampden County Women’s Correctional Facility; Linda Adams, member of Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity’s Board of Directors and Women Build Steering Committee; and Habitat homeowner Catherine Campbell.

The celebration continued on Saturday, May 10 when five of Habitat’s active work sites in the Greater Springfield area featured crews of women participating in all facets of construction. This work day was scheduled both in honor of Greater Springfield’s Women Build project, and in recognition of National Women Build Week. The May 10 women-led worksites were located at 4 Palmer Road, Monson; 6 Chester St., Springfield, 12 Chester St., Springfield; 75 Pomona St., Springfield, and 171 Cabot St., Holyoke.

The Women Build home on White Street, Springfield, is being constructed for Campbell, a single mother of five who works at Baystate Health. For more information on Women Build 2008, or other Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity projects, contact Sarah Tsitso, director of resource development and communications, (413) 739-5503 or tsitso@habitatspringfield.org.

Women Build 2008 - Springfield Habitat For Humanity

Massachusetts 4 Sale By Owner is pleased to lend support to "Women Build 2008". The Greater Springfield Habitat For Humanity, in partnership with the Hampden County Women's Correctional Facility & Sheriff's Department, is sponsoring this year-long event and we will be providing periodic updates throughout the year. Be sure to follow our blog posts, website and Online Newsletter for more information on upcoming fund-raising events and learn how you can become involved.

My interest in Habitat For Humanity began a few years ago when introduced to me by my big brother, Bill. A retired English professor and long time Oregon resident, Bill is a Habitat volunteer and past-president of his local chapter in the Portland area. Over the years, I have listened to the many stories he told, of families who are now living in homes he helped build, of visits back to neighborhoods he helped create to see how new home owners were doing, of the day to day challenges of staying on budget, of tireless hours working with local housing agencies and building inspectors. In his "spare time" he also became a volunteer at his local Restore, which is run by the Habitat chapter in his area. Bill wears his Habitat For Humanity T-Shirt proudly when he visits. I hope that he will be proud of his "east coast" counterparts are doing.