Dear Heather ~
Our t-shirt slogan, “It’s NOT just about the power tools” held a deeper meaning at the Women Build site during Week #4 for a number of reasons. The week started out with an emotional high when the demolition work was completed! An old washing machine and water softener were a few of the last items to be disassembled and hauled up from the basement to the dumpster. There were yelps of joy as the refrigerator (temporarily used as a table), utility sink and additional items were hauled off to ‘recycle land’. Thanks to all of the volunteers who participated during the ‘demo days’! Your hard work was greatly appreciated by the Habitat staff! If you would like to participate in the ‘new build stage(s)’ of this build, check out the Twin Cities Women Volunteer Opportunities page to learn how you can get involved. There are still many openings available! Plus, it’s very rewarding to experience the re-build side of a rehab project and it is not quite as messy!
On Friday, Jane’s Gang was dedicating their volunteer day to their dear friend, Jane Ronhovde, who recently lost her battle with cancer. Jane was an avid carpenter, who had a woodshop in her home and loved to ‘sculpt’ beautiful boxes from wood. Ann Hoven, the group organizer and close friend of Jane’s, said that she considered Jane a “once-in-a-lifetime friend” and many others in the group echoed this sentiment. It seemed so fitting that one of the main jobs for the day was to “wrap the house” in an insulation and Tyvek-wrap hug! She was a women that was loved and missed by every women present on Friday. Many stories about Jane were shared and the laughs continued all day long.
The Twin Cities Women Build is certainly not just about the power tools. It is an honor to be part of this wonderful project. Every woman that volunteers is making a difference in another person’s life. Often times it is the new homeowner’s life that is affected but many times the volunteer is blessed as well and their life is changed even more!
A HUGE thank you to our crew leaders for the week especially Sheila Kennedy and Bonita Jenkins who traveled all the way from western Montana to spend the week with us.
Special thanks to our Team Leaders: SEIU Healthcare MN, Maureen Bazinet Beck and Jane Hoven. Also we loved the yummy lunches provided this week by: Leah Larson, SEIU Healthcare MN, Maureen Bazinet Beck, Sheila from Cecils Deli and Ann Hoven.
To see more photos of the build, please visit Flickr or Facebook.
Stay cool and have fun showing off your farmer’s tans!!
Lots of Tyvek hugs!!
Robin O’Brien
Co-Chair Event and Communications Committee
2010 Women Build
P.S. Volunteers are not working the week of July 5th through the July 9th so look for the next update Monday, July 12th.
matt haugen : 10:22 AM on May 5, 2011
matt haugen