Women Build brings together Chattanooga area women each year to fund and build a Habitat for Humanity home for a deserving family. It is focused on empowering women by giving them the opportunity to build a home in partnership with other women and with the family who will live in the home. Since 1996 Chattanooga women have helped build homes for 14 families in our community. Construction Kick-Off Construction of the home will kick-off from 9-10 a.m. Saturday, April 19, with a light breakfast, opportunity to meet the future owner of the home, tour a Habitat home, and learn about EarthCraft TM building methods at the build site at 37 Scruggs Street in Chattanooga. R.S.V.P. by April 18 to 756-0607, ext 16. Mother's Day Event Mothers and daughters will be working with Lowe’s employees on the Women Build house to celebrate Mother’s Day and National Women Build Week from 1-7p.m on May 8th. Volunteers are needed to help build. Call 756-0507, Ext 22 to register. Volunteers Needed Whether you work in the contruction industry, or are interested in learning some basic building skills, there is a place for you at the Women Build jobsite. Construction of the home begins April 19 and will continue Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until approximately August 1. Volunteers are especially needed on weekdays. Contact Linda sneary at 423-756-0507, ext. 22 to volunteer. Please note: you do not have to have any construction skills to volunteer - trained workers and volunteers will be on the jobsite to show you what you need to do to help! Give! Building the Women Build 2008 home will take $65,000. Your support is needed to help the Kirk Family's dream of a simple, decent, affordable and safe home a reality. If you can help, write your check to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga and mail to us at 1201 East Main St., Chattanooga, TN 37408. About the Home This year's Women Build Home will be an EarthCraft House. Earth Craft homes incorporate features that conserve energy and lower the homes impact on the environment. The 2007 Women Build Home will be located on Scruggs Street in Chattanooga and is a part of a small development of seven Earth Craft Homes that Habitat has built there. About Our Partner Family Twenty four year old Latrice Kirk and her son, Joshua who is two years old became a Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga partner family in August of 2007. She began to see hope that her future was going to be better for not only her, but her son too. Before Habitat, Latrice had many struggles in her life. “I didn’t know how I was going to make it working at Waffle House as a cook part-time, going to Chattanooga State part-time, being “mom and dad” to my son, and paying over a thousand dollars in bills every month so that my son and I didn’t have to live in the projects.” For three years, rent alone was $650 a month. She found out about Habitat through a conversation with a friend. They were discussing the hardships of paying rental home bills every month and never being able to put money away for a home she wished to have so much. After her divorce, she decided that now was the time to take charge of her future and went to the Habitat office for an application. Ten months later she and her son were approved to be a partner family. “When I told my son that we were getting a home of our own, he repeated what I said with a great big smile.” “A house to me means a lot of things. It is a warm shelter, a place to call home, and something of sentimental value that comes from hard work and respect. It is a place to raise a Godly family, a place of peace and honor.” Latrice was selected for the Women Build home in January. “At first I was a little worried because as a woman I don’t know the first steps about building a home, but all things are going to work for this little woman who loves the Lord. It is a wonderful blessing to know that so many women volunteers will be helping to build my home.” The first thing Latrice is planning on doing when her home is complete is to praise God. “I love to thank Him for all the wonderful things He has done for me.” Latrice is currently taking prerequisite classes to become a nurse practitioner at Chattanooga State College. She and her son love to play at the park and play on the swings. She and her son were baptized at Olivet Baptist Church in 2006. In her free time, she attends church on a regular basis and is involved in Bible study, choir, women’s fellowship and nutrition ministry at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church where she and her son are faithful members. “I know I would have never made it with without the good Lord.”