Habitat for Humanity and Lowe's join forces for National Women Build Week

Thousands of women volunteers across the U.S. rally to build affordable housing in their communities

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Apr 30, 2015, 10:00 ET

ATLANTA, April 30, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 15,000 women across the country, including Lowe's Heroes employee volunteers, are expected to build or repair homes at Habitat for Humanity construction sites in recognition of National Women Build Week, May 2-10. Held the week leading up to Mother's Day, the annual event encourages women to devote at least one day to help build simple, decent housing in their local communities and be part of the nationwide effort to spotlight the homeownership challenges faced by women.

More than 15,000 women across the country, including Lowe's Heroes employee volunteers, are expected to build or repair homes at Habitat for Humanity construction sites in recognition of National Women Build Week, May 2-10.

More than 300 Habitat affiliates will host National Women Build Week activities next week, including new home construction, neighborhood revitalization projects and building to green standards. Large-scale events will take place in Pittsburgh, Orlando and Tucson, where each Habitat affiliate will engage more than 300 volunteers.

"Every year, thousands of women come together on Habitat construction sites for National Women Build Week. Together, they empower their local communities and give a hand up to families in need of affordable housing," said Renee Lewis Glover, chair of Habitat for Humanity International's board of directors. "They are an inspiration to all of us."

Lowe's has supported the Women Build program since 2004 and helped launch National Women Build Week in 2008. Each year, Lowe's provides the help of Lowe's Heroes and conducts how-to clinics at stores to teach volunteers construction skills. This year, Lowe's contributed nearly $2 million to National Women Build Week. Since its partnership with Habitat began in 2003, Lowe's has committed more than $63 million and helped more than 4,000 Habitat families improve their living conditions.

"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 encourage women across the country to get involved this week and be a part of something bigger with Lowe's and Habitat."

Habitat for Humanity's Women Build program recruits, educates and inspires women to build – and advocate for – simple, decent and affordable houses in their communities. The event's goal is to provide an opportunity for women to learn construction skills in an inclusive environment. More than 62,000 women from all 50 states have volunteered at the seven previous National Women Build Week events, constructing 2,300 Women Build houses.

For more information on Habitat for Humanity's Women Build program and to learn about Women Build projects in communities across the U.S., visit Habitat.org/wb or the National Women Build Week tab on Facebook.

About Habitat for Humanity International
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.

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SOURCE Habitat for Humanity International