Coles County Habitat for Humanity, Charleston High School’s Habitat Chapter and Lowe’s call on women across Coles County to get involved in their community during National Women Build Week 2018
More than 18,000 women construction volunteers unite nationwide to build up their communities with Habitat homeowners
Charleston, Illinois, May 12, 2018 – For the 11th year, Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s are engaging women nationwide to work together to build Habitat homes during this year’s National Women Build Week from May 5-13. In preparation for the build week, Coles County Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s are asking women to get involved by signing up to volunteer and build.
“We’re excited to partner with Lowe’s to educate, inspire and empower women to advocate and help Habitat homeowners love where they live through building or improving an affordable place they can call home,” said Tom Bucher, President of Coles County Habitat for Humanity. “We want to engage women of all skill levels to join their friends, families and neighbors to build up their communities and volunteer where women will gain invaluable skills to bring back and use in their everyday life.”
“Lowe’s is in the business of helping people improve and maintain their homes,” said Colleen Penhall, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility. “Lowe’s Heroes have helped build hundreds of Habitat homes across the country and National Women Build Week is another chance for Lowe’s to reinforce our long-standing commitment to Habitat, Women Build and communities where our employees and customers live and work.”
On May 12, 2018, local volunteers, Habitat homeowners, students from Charleston High School’s Habitat Chapter will work alongside construction crews to build a new home with Habitat’s newest partner family, Amber Pedigo, at 616 N. 4th Street in Charleston. Amber is a hard-working, single mother of two young sons, Benjamin and Henry. Amber grew up in the Charleston area and relocated back to the community nine years ago. Amber is employed at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center and plans to pursue a career in nursing. During National Women Build Week, more than 50 volunteers will help finish the framing for Amber’s home, secure the trusses, and build the roof deck and outside walls. Amber is honored to be Habitat’s newest partner family. She expressed, “I never thought I would have a home of
my own, a safe place for my kids to play and have stability. This opportunity to become a homeowner is creating the foundation for our future, giving my kids a home and not just a place to live. Thank you to Habitat and Lowe’s for making this possible.”
National Women Build Week, a nationwide initiative created by Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s in 2008, has brought together more than 117,000 all-women construction volunteers to build or repair homes with nearly 5,000 families over the past 10 years. This year, Lowe’s donated nearly $2 million to Habitat
for Humanity to support the 2018 National Women Build Week, which is set to take place in 300 communities nationwide.
Habitat and Lowe’s encourage all women to volunteer—no construction skills or experience in Habitat builds necessary. To learn more about National Women Build Week, visit Habitat.org/wb.
Since Lowe’s national partnership with Habitat for Humanity began in 2003, the home improvement company has committed more than $63 million to Habitat and helped nearly 6,500 families improve their living conditions.
About Coles County Habitat for Humanity
Coles County Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical Christian housing ministry organized in 1989. It seeks to eliminate poverty housing by building modest, safe and affordable houses for low-income families. Homes are sold to low-income families at no profit with a zero-interest mortgage provided by Coles County Habitat for Humanity. Coles County Habitat for Humanity has been active in the community for 29 years and is the beneficiary of incredible community support. To date, the affiliate has completed 37 homes locally. Individuals or businesses wanting to assist with construction, donate their services/expertise, or make a financial contribution can contact the Habitat office at 217-348-7063, from 8:00 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday.
More information is available at http://www.colescountyhabitat.net About Lowe’s in the Community Lowe’s, a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company, has a 60-year legacy of supporting the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. In the past decade, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Gives Foundation together have contributed more than $300 million to these efforts, and for more than two decades Lowe’s
Heroes volunteers have donated their time to make our communities better places to live. For the latest news, visit Newsroom.Lowes.com or follow @LowesMedia on Twitter.
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