We can do almost anything you can do. That was the sentiment of the Lakeland women who worked on the Habitat for Humanity in the Lakeland area....strapping on their tool belts and hoisting pink hammers, part of the Women Build program at Lakeland Habitat for Humanity is underway.
Nearly two dozen volunteer women helped to build the two-bedroom, one bathroom, 900-square-foot home at 821 Munn Ave. for Turika Foggie and her daughter, Zakiya Davis.
And while there were some men on the site, who specialized in home construction projects, they were there mainly to get water and anything else the women builders needed. I'm sure they were happy with this change for the day.
To qualify for the house, the new owner has completed about 500 hours of service for the organization, by helping to build several of the surrounding homes in the neighborhood.
After almost a three-year wait, this new owner is only about three to four months away from having her own home.
It is interesting to note that since 1991, there have been over 200 homes built by women construction crews across the country. So it was not unusual to find a crew of women working in Lakeland.
Finding notable business women to volunteer on this project was not hard. Some of these volunteers included but were not limited to: Eileen Holden, president of Polk Community College; Alice O'Reilly, executive director of VISTE; Edie Yates, Lakeland city commissioner; Kathleen Munson, president of the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce; Marsha Faux, Polk County Property Appraiser; Carol Barnett, president of Publix Super Markets Charities and many more.
It is interesting to mention too that even these women did not know the owner, they were very eager and willing to help without any hesitation.
Construction on the home will continue with different teams of Habitat for Humanity volunteers during the next three to four months.
This year's project first began at Lakeland Square mall, which helped raise more than $1,000 for the charity from local shoppers donating to a mock home in the mall.
"This is a partnership we are excited about," said April Thomas, group marketing manager for General Growth Properties based at Lakeland Square mall, the sponsor of the Women Build project. "That program was all about awareness - just telling everyone what Habitat for Humanity is about."
Each year the organization receives more than 200 requests for housing and in the past six years, its building capacity has increased more than 600 percent. The goal for Habitat this year is to build 15 homes and double that amount by next year. This according to Habitat spokesperson.
The Women Build house was the fourth of six homes to be built on Munn Avenue, just north of McKeel Academy of Technology.
While two of the properties were donated, the remaining four were purchased by the program. And with recent price hikes in property value and construction materials, the cost of doing business for the local charity is on the rise.
The non-profit organization typically serves families whose income is between 40 percent and 80 percent of the median family income in Polk County, which was $44,025 in 2005.
For more information on Habitat for Humanity or to volunteer, call 863-688-4660.
***Article featured at: http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070526/NEWS/705260323/1178
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