Women Build 2008

by Karen Gibbs

We all know that women make terrific homemakers, but Habitat for Humanity has shown they can also be powerful homebuilders. Proof of that is Women Build 2008, March 10-22, when volunteers will participate in a blitz build of two homes for qualified family partners. With a goal of building another 100 no-profit, single-family homes in western St. Tammany Parish over the next two years, Habitat for Humanity is fortunate to have the continued participation of northshore women.

According to Maureen Clary, president of Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West, Women Build’s goal for 2008 is to have 50 volunteers per day for the two-week build. Women may volunteer for one day or multiple days. Sign-up forms are available online at www.habitatstw.org or by calling 985-893-3172. An interesting trend in Women Build corporate teams has women members working while men from their company prepare lunch for them. This year, the turnabout has the males of CLECO and DonahueFavret Construction scrambling for recipes to feed the ladies.

While there is fun and work aplenty, the real story of Women Build centers on the people whose receive the homes. The accounts of this year’s family-partners are heart touching. Nick and Hasina Javery were married just four months before Katrina hit. They were separated for a few weeks before reconnecting in Houston, where they lived before returning to the northshore in June 2006.

The Javery family was approved for a Habitat home in August 2007. The household includes Nick’s mother, Naomi, and his 15-year-old sister, Michelle, who have been displaced since Katrina. “It was a wonderful day when they called me at work to tell me we were approved,” says Nick. “I called Hasina, and we both called my mother to tell her that she would be coming to live with us in our new Habitat home. Hasina will be graduating from Southeastern Louisiana University in May 2008, and we are praying to be in our new home in Covington for Christmas 2008!”

Mary McDonald and her family were also impacted by Katrina.
They moved in with friends for a month after the storm. Mary’s son, Lachon, suffers from mental challenges and stayed stressed until they returned to the apartment they had before the storm. Mary had been employed at Southeast Hospital for 23 years and loved her work but was forced into early retirement by a previous automobile accident injury.

Mary has never had a home of her own. Her grandson, Andre, 12, has lived with her since he was a toddler. He is looking forward to having a nice bedroom decorated with his favorite things. “We all are so grateful to Habitat and thank God for this blessing!” states Mary.

To learn more about Habitat’s Women Build, become a sponsor, make a donation or contribute an item or service to the upcoming e-Auction, contact Claire Nettles or Maureen Clary at 985-893-3172. And remember, all contributions are tax-deductible.