Women Build 2010 Minneapolis home week 7

Big things were happening last week at Women Build, and by that I mean drywall! I’ve always thought that hanging drywall is the most transformative phase of building – or rehabbing – a house. A real sense of space is created as rooms take shape. Suddenly, the house feels like a real HOUSE and not an empty structure made up of studs and joists. Homebuyer Donjia McDonald was up on a ladder, wielding a cordless drill and driving screws into the ceiling of the first floor sun room. She looked like a pro!

There were also signs of progress – and more hard work – in the back yard, where a group of volunteers were laying concrete blocks for the garage foundation. Not only are these blocks heavy, they need to be carefully aligned so that the foundation remains square and level. A rather daunting pile of blocks took up the center of the garage slab, waiting to be put to use, but I have no doubt that it’ll be gone in no time.

I was so happy to catch up with volunteer Ann Rock, who has been organizing a Women Build crew from First Presbyterian Church of Stillwater for (as best she could remember) at least 8 years. “There’s always a great demand,” she said of the congregation’s interest in volunteering for this yearly project. She also pointed out the wide range of ages in the group, saying that she especially loved how intergenerational this volunteer experience has been.

As always, we are so grateful for last week’s Team Leaders: Kathy & Jen’s Amazing Friends, Lowe’s, Tommie Girls, BATC Professional Women in the Building Council, and First Presbyterian Church of Stillwater.

Kudos to our Lunch Providers, too: Kathy Michaelson, Marcy Weber, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sheila and Cecil’s Deli, and Rebecca Kvasnik.

See photos of the build on Flickr, Facebook or visit the Women Build website to follow along with the progress! And if you haven’t yet signed up to volunteer (or if you had so much fun that you want to do it again!), visit VolunteerHub to get involved.

Be well,

Andrea Cole
2010 Women Build Committee Member
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity