Women Build

The Women Build program was established by Habitat for Humanity International to encourage and empower women to learn construction skills and to use those skills to help move families out of poverty by building simple, safe, affordable homes.  Women Build is not about excluding men; it is about including women, so they can learn construction skills on a more inclusive construction site.

 Locally, Women Build is a coalition of Fairfield County women who volunteer our time to raise money to sponsor and then build houses. You do not need to have construction skills to volunteer – Habitat staff and task leaders will teach you the skills you need to help build the house.

In 2007, Women Build volunteers (over 95% women) built our third house – Women Build 3 – in Bridgeport.  We had fun and built the house in record time – 26 days – building on Saturdays only.  Thanks to generous sponsors and our amazing volunteers, we built this home in loving memory of Joan Mitchell.  Joan was on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County, founder of the Habitat ReStore, and committed leader of Women Builds 1 and 2. Joan taught for nearly four decades in the Fairfield School system at Timothy Dwight, North Stratfield and Roger Sherman Elementary Schools. 

In May 2008, Women Build volunteers will finish building our fourth house – Women Build 4 – in Bridgeport. Generous sponsors and a great team of volunteers again supported us.  Our major sponsors for this house included Aurora Products (a Stratford-based provider of quality snack foods including granola, trail mix, and nuts), author Luanne Rice and The Bantam Dell Publishing Group through Rice’s novel, “What Matters Most,” and The Compass Group.   

In late May 2008, Women Build volunteers will begin building our fifth house – Women Build 5 – in Bridgeport!  Our future homeowner is a single mother with two children. The cost to sponsor and build this house is $100,000. To date our committee (all volunteers) has raised $36,000.

Please join us in making another family’s dream to own their first home come true by:

·        Making an online donation at www.habitatcfc.org. Please select “Women Build” in the Designation field.

·        Or, sending a check to: Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County,
Attn: Women Build, 1470 Barnum Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06610. 
Please note “For Women Build” on the check.

·        Many companies will match employee contributions. Please check if your company will match your contribution.

To help with fundraising for Women Build 5, please contact Beth at beth@bethmassoud.com

For all other inquiries, please contact Lee Ann at leeannkline@yahoo.com

Thank you for helping us make a difference in the lives of others!