National Women Build Week

National Women Build Week 2010
National Women Build Week 2010 is here! The annual celebration has become the signature event of Habitat’s Women Build program in the United States. This year’s National Women Build Week takes place May 1–9, 2010.

Leading up to Mother’s Day on May 9, more than 200 Habitat affiliates in all 50 U.S. states are dedicating at least one day to a Women Build. The event challenges women to make a difference in their communities and raise awareness of local housing needs.

We want you to participate!
For a list of participating affiliates, visit our “Women Build Events” page. Choose “National Women Build Week” from the Event Type drop-down menu, and select your state to find an event near you. Contact the Habitat affiliate directly to learn details about their build day.

Daily Diary
We want you to keep up with the action! Check out 2010 National Women Build Week daily diary for news on the event week as it unfolds.

What is National Women Build Week?
Developed through the partnership between Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity, National Women Build Week challenges women to devote at least one day to the effort to eliminate poverty housing.

The event is an initiative of Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program, underwritten by Lowe’s. The mission of Habitat’s Women Build program is to enable U.S. and international affiliates to recruit, educate and nurture women to build—and advocate for—simple, decent and affordable houses in their communities.

About National Women Build Week 2009
Thanks to all those who made Habitat’s second annual National Women Build Week a success in 2009. More than 200 affiliates across the United States participated in national Women Build Week, sponsored by Lowe’s, during the week leading up to Mother’s Day, May 2–10, 2009.

The Mother’s Day timeframe was selected for its significance to many volunteers, as families with children make up a staggering number of those in need of adequate housing. More than 12 million children—one in six—live in poverty housing in the United States alone. To date, Women Build crews have built more than 1,400 Habitat houses nationwide.

Read about all the 2009 action in the National Women Build Week daily diary!
Find out what the media had to say in the Women Build newsroom!

Staying involved beyond National Women Build Week
We appreciate the work of our local affiliates and volunteers during National Women Build Week! We encourage you to stay involved year-round by signing up to participate in your local affiliate’s next Women Build project and become an active advocate for Habitat’s mission.

Valuable support from Lowe’s
In addition to sponsoring special events like National Women Build Week, Lowe’s underwrites the overall Women Build program. By 2013, Lowe’s will have contributed nearly $40 million to Habitat for Humanity. Lowe’s has committed $1 million to National Women Build Week 2010 as part of its current five-year pledge to Habitat.

Employees at Lowe’s stores also conduct how-to clinics for our women volunteers. These clinics teach new construction skills that our volunteers can use to help us eliminate poverty housing.