Women's build planned for May
By Steve Herring
Published in News on March 26, 2018 5:50 AM
MOUNT OLIVE -- Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne will holds its 11th annual Women Build May 10-13 at 202 W. Pollock St.
"It is the single biggest event that we do each year in terms of funds raised and in terms of volunteers," said Matt Whittle, Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne executive director. "We are excited about it and excited about having it in Mount Olive.
"It is the first time it has been held in Mount Olive. Last year it was in the Saulston community and the year before that in Goldsboro."
Whittle said he likes be able to move the event around in the county because Habitat serves all of Wayne County.
The event is part of national Women Build Week that is held the week before Mother's Day.
As part of that observance, Habitat for Humanity and Lowe's have a partnership that promotes Women Build Week.
"The goal is to encourage women to come out and build -- the idea is that it is empowering women to come out and participate in an activity, an industry that traditionally is not a female-led or driven industry," Whittle said.
Typically the event is held locally over the three days before Mother's Day.
"Last year we had our best ever," Whittle said. "We had 75 women come out over the three days. We are shooting for between 80 and 90 women this year. We are hoping to have them from all over Wayne County.
"To me, it is more a celebration of coming out and bringing folks together -- bringing folks together to have an opportunity to hang out and have fellowship and a fun day together."
While the work will be in Mount Olive, the Women Build is a countywide project, Whittle said.
Habitat receives strong support from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, both men and women, he said.
Also, women with local construction companies like T.A. Loving, Daniels and Daniels and Goldsboro Builders participate and do an amazing job, Whittle said.
The build days will run from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with each day broken into two shifts -- 8 to 11:30 a.m. and noon to 3:30 p.m.
There is a $100 registration fee. Women can sign up for one shift, or they can participate in all six .
All of the money raised goes back into local home-building efforts, Whittle said.
Lunch will be provided, and the participants will receive T-shirts, gift bags and door prizes.
"And everybody has a really good time," Whittle said. "It is a fun event. We have ladies who have been coming for every year, or at least the last four or five years. They tell us they look forward to it."
Volunteers must be at least 16 in order to be on the construction site.
Men will work that day as well, and the project requires that at least 50 percent of the volunteers on those days be women.
To register, visit www.habitatgoldsboro.org or impact.habitatgoldsboro.org/WomenBuild2018 or call 919-736-9592.
Volunteers also can register at the Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne office, 131 E. Walnut St., Goldsboro.