I visited North Minneapolis a little earlier in the week than usual to find the Women Build house hopping with activity. This year’s WB Co-Chair Sharon Pfeiffer and her crew continued to work on the details of the exterior trim, and a roofing crew had begun their work on the steeply-pitched roof (too steep for volunteers! Safety is number one at Habitat.) Inside, a pair of legs jutted out between the second floor studs over the stairs. Amused, I took a quick photo (see it on Facebook or Flickr) and then realized it was Site Supervisor Terra Lumley, carefully watching as loose insulation flowed through a large hose from the hopper in the kitchen, up the stairs, to the front second-floor bedroom. Turns out that the hose loved to clog the second she took her eyes off of it, so she was patiently sitting…and waiting…and watching…to keep the clogs at bay.
We mused about the fact that it was the last official week of the summer build. “It went by so fast,” I said. “Yeah, but it was FUN!” Terra immediately replied. I asked what was in store for the house, since clearly there was work left to be done (anyone who has ever rehabbed a house knows that there’s always more work than anticipated). Never fear, volunteers – the house had been added to the project list for the 2010 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project.
Twin Cities Habitat will be co-hosting the 27th annual Carter Work Project from October 4-8 this fall. The build begins on World Habitat Day, October 4, to spread the message about the need for worldwide affordable housing. Here in the Twin Cities, the focus will be on neighborhood revitalization – building new homes, renovating boarded and vacant homes, and repairing homes of current low-income homeowners through the A Brush with Kindness program. Overall, 26 homes will be built, renovated, or repaired through the generosity and hard work of sponsors and volunteers. To learn more about the annual Carter Work Project, visit Habitat for Humanity’s website: http://www.habitat.org/how/default_jcwp.aspx.
Our beloved rehab will stay true to its roots and have all-women volunteer crews (another Carter Project home in St. Paul will also have female crews). Terra’s focus was to get as much work as possible done last week, with specific goals relating to drywall finishing and exterior siding, to make the transition to the Carter Project as smooth as possible.
And so, while our official 2010 Summer Build comes to an end, the Women Build program continues to chug along! Terra can use a little more help in North Minneapolis, women crews are working in St. Paul on the other Carter Work Project Women Build home, and Women Build volunteer opportunities will continue year-round. Visit VolunteerHub to sign up for a day or two and stay tuned for updates and photos from the October builds!
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention last week’s Team Leader Gwen Leifeld with Valspar, and thanks also go out to our Lunch Providers: Jennifer Weiss, Eden Fitzgerald from Fabulous Catering, Beth Gaede, and Jim Otto from the Olive Garden. Thanks a million to every single person who made this year’s summer build a success!
To view and share photos, visit our Facebook page, Flickr photostream, or the Women Build website. Keep an eye on VolunteerHub for more Women Build volunteer opportunities, too.
Be well, and we’ll talk to you again in October!
Andrea Cole
2010 Women Build Committee Member
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
matt haugen : 10:03 AM on June 12, 2010
matt haugen