For Bozeman resident Lezlee Black, Women Build Week provides more than an opportunity for volunteer service. It's also a learning experience.
Black is one of the women taking part in Habitat for Humanity's Women Build 2009. The group is working to construct a house on Buckrake Avenue.
During the project, Black has worked all kinds of jobs on the house, from framing to shingling and hanging sheetrock.
When asked how much of the work was new to her she said:
"Everything. Everything."
A lot of the women here have little to no construction experience, but industry professionals carefully teach every task.
Volunteer Jennifer Morrical said she feels empowered.
"Well, when I first started, I didn't have a clue about mudd and how to hold the spatula and cover the screws and now I know how. What was nice is when we first started, we started in the garage, so there was not as many, we could have more errors and then we moved into the bedrooms when we were more comfortable with the taping and so forth," Morrical said.
And Morrical said she is getting pretty good.
"As a matter of fact, I got a few compliments and we're all complimenting each other. That's what's great about working with women, we totally support each other in the process," she said.
Black gives these women a lot of gratitude as well. Her husband, four children and her will own and live in this house before long.
Black said when Habitat for Humanity approved her family for assistance she was thrilled. But it seemed sort of abstract.
"And then as things go on and you're part of this process of building a home, it just gets more exciting. We just now are just realizing, ‘Oh my gosh, here's our house and it's almost done,'" Black said.
At this pace, her new home might be finished by the beginning of June, Black added.
(From May 7, 2009)
Women from around the Bozeman area are volunteering to help build a home for one of their neighbor's.
The event is hosted by Habitat for Humanity of Gallatin Valley's Women Build program.
Habitat for Humanity of Gallatin County Women Build brings together women from all walks of life to actively address the problem of children in poverty by building Habitat for Humanity houses, according to its Web site.
The Gallatin Valley women are building a house for Bozeman resident Lezlee Black and her family.
Many of the women working on the Buckrake Avenue home have little to no experience with construction work. But industry professionals guide them through each particular job.
Thursday, the group was covering sheetrock seams with tape and a binding compound.
Volunteer Jennifer Morricle described the experience as empowering.
"Well, when I first started, I didn't have a clue about mudd and how to hold the spatula and cover the screws and now I know how. What was nice is when we first started. We started in the garage so there was not as many, we could have more errors and then we moved into the bedrooms when we were more comfortable with the taping and so forth," Morricle said.
The Women Build program is about challenging women to get their hands dirty building safe, healthy homes for families, according to the Web site.
"Women Build is not about excluding men; it is about including women. The Women Build program enables women to discover for themselves that they can build Habitat homes. No construction knowledge necessary to participate," the Web site states.
Bozeman's Women Build project and fundraiser lasts through Saturday.
