Women Build 2011 Columbia Heights home week 6

Can you feel winter coming? With the warm October we’ve been having, it’s hard to think about, but one glance at the piles of fluffy sheep-like insulation stuffed between the studs of the house on Van Buren Street made me flash forward to howling winds and drifting snow. In reality, the sun was shining and warm, and volunteers were happily working away at siding the outside and insulating the inside of the house. The basement floor had been poured on Monday, and the framing was complete. The scaffolding had been dismantled and sent back, and a rough grade had been done to the yard. This was also the first Saturday of the build, and Anna anticipated that these weekend opportunities would fill up quite nicely.

Not only was it the first Saturday, it was homebuyer Sihama’s first day working on her own house. She had left Mohamed with their five kids and was having a great time; she even had the opportunity to meet one of her future next-door neighbors. We chatted a bit about how excited she was at the prospect of owning a home and having more space for her big family. She didn’t have to tell me; I could see it in her eyes.

As always, we’re so grateful for the lunch provided on Saturday by Diane Blake. A million thanks!

Be well!
Andrea Cole
Women Build Committee Member

P.S. – If you would like to see the work that Women Build volunteers did over the summer, and celebrate with the families who put in hundreds of sweat equity hours into their homes, please join us on Thursday, October 27th at 6:00 p.m. as we dedicate both of the 2011 Women Build homes. The joint dedication celebration will take place at: 836 Deppe Street, West St. Paul.