Representative Dee Morikawa, Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s team up for National Women Build Week

Volunteers built walls at the Kaua‘i Habitat base yard to be used in the first 2 to 4 homes in the ‘Ele‘ele Iluna Subdivision in ‘Ele‘ele, HI. The ‘Ele‘ele Iluna Subdivision will provide 107 affordable homes to those in need on the Island of Kaua‘i. This project creates the most affordable homes for Kaua‘i families in the least amount of time. Currently, Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity is the only affiliate in the islands working to combat the affordable housing crisis through subdivision development.

“It’s really an honor to be here,” stated House District 16 Representative Dee Morikawa. “It is Women Build Week which is why I committed to do this so long ago.” 

National Women Build Week is a weeklong event created by Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program that challenges women to devote at least one day to help build affordable housing in their local communities. Across the nation, more than 15,000 women are expected to volunteer at Habitat construction sites this week to spotlight the homeownership challenges faced by women. 

 

Lowe’s helped launch National Women Build Week in 2008 and each year provides the support of Lowe’s Heroes and conducts how-to clinics at stores to teach volunteers construction skills. 

 

“National Women Build Week has made a difference in the lives of thousands of families since its inception,” said Joan Higginbotham, Lowe’s director of community relations. “We’re grateful to all the women of Kaua‘i who got involved this week and were part of something bigger with Lowe’s and Habitat.” 

 

Lowe’s donated nearly $2 million to this year’s National Women Build Week, including a $5,000 store gift card to Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity. National Women Build Week is one of the major initiatives supported through Lowe’s national partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Since 2003, Lowe’s has committed more than $63 million to Habitat and helped more than 4,000 families improve their living conditions.

Habitat’s Women Build program recruits, educates and inspires women to build and advocate for simple, decent and affordable homes in their communities. Since the program was created in 1998, more than 2,300 homes have been built in partnership with low-income families using Women Build crews. 

 

For more information on Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program and to learn about Women Build events in communities across the U.S. year-round, visit Habitat.org/wb or the Women Build tab on http://www.facebook.com/habitat.

Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a path out of poverty, since 1976 Habitat has helped more than 5 million people through home construction, rehabilitation and repairs and by increasing access to improved shelter through products and services. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and offers a variety of housing support services that enable families with limited means to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org.

About Lowe’s in the Community

Lowe’s, a FORTUNE^® 100 home improvement company, has a 50-year legacy of supporting the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. Since 2007, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together have contributed more than $225 million to these efforts, and for more than two decades Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers have donated their time to make our communities better places to live. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility and LowesInTheCommunity.tumblr.com.