Women build for Habitat
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on May 8, 2016 1:45 AM
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News-Argus/ALAN CAMPBELL
Habitat for Humanity volunteers Susan Stackhouse, left, and Hettie Grisette, of First Presbyterian Church of Goldsboro, laugh while trying to break a foam insulation board Thursday during the National Women Build Week event at the new home of Alan Hart and Sherry Garris. First Presbyterian Church had seven women participating in the build on Thursday.
Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne welcomed approximately 22 volunteers to a construction site at 707 National Drive Thursday to kick off the annual Women Build Week.
The event is designed to promote the inclusion of women in the construction industry, and drew volunteers from groups such as First Presbyterian Church, Daniels & Daniels Construction Company, and the Goldsboro Chamber of Commerce.
Although Women Build Week consistently draws repeat volunteers each year, most of the women taking part had no prior construction experience. Habitat for Humanity partners with Lowe's to teach volunteers the proper techniques and safety precautions for whatever they will be doing that day. Leia Davis, with Habitat for Humanity, said that a lack of initial familiarity had not proven to be much of an obstacle.
"A lot of them are pushing through it pretty quickly," she said, gesturing to the industrious women.
"They don't have a problem asking for something else to do either."
As the day wore on, the weather turned for the worse. Even as the rain moved from a light shower to a heavy downpour, the volunteers never showed any signs of discouragement. If anything, they seemed more motivated.
"What a great cause, right?" said Hettie Grissette, one of the First Presbyterian volunteers. "This is a great way to help people who are helping themselves."
Recipients of a Habitat home must do exactly that. The homes are not free -- homeowners enter into a 20-year mortgage agreement with Habitat for Humanity -- but they are sold at cost, making them much cheaper than homes sold for a profit.
Homeowners must also commit to 300 hours of "sweat equity" where they volunteer their own time with Habitat. Part of that time must be spent working at the construction site of the home they will live in.
Ryan Frary, whose mother, Sheri ,will be living in the home, said that the project would do a world of good for her and her dependents.
"She's taking care of my 14-year-old niece and my 1-and-a-half-year-old nephew, and her old house was old and dangerous," he said. "It's great for the community to come out and support people in Goldsboro. It's what small communities need."