Deanna Costello, a Lowe's Heroes volunteer was busy painting a wall of a home in White Center as part of Women Build Week and Habitat for Humanty's efforts to repair and restore homes.
Employee volunteers from Lowe’s Hardware joined forces with Habitat for Humanity on May 7 (though prep work took place before) to repair a home in White Center. 16 people from the company joined three Habitat for Humanity people to carry out an $8000 repair job at the home of Rithy and Bun Thong on 5th Ave. SW.
The work was part of National Women Build Week 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. The week also spotlights the homeownership challenges faced by women. Lowe’s donated nearly $2 million to this year’s National Women Build Week and each year provides the support of Lowe’s Heroes and conducts how-to clinics at stores to teach volunteers construction skills.
The homeowners have always made paying their mortgage a priority, and subsequently have had to defer fixing items around their home to stay on track. A broken roof and torn siding had let water to enter the house every time it rained. The paint on the exterior of their home was also chipping away. Rithy applied for Habitat’s Critical Home Repair program last July, and he and Bun are very excited to see their home fixed.
They have already attended more classes than required by Habitat to learn home maintenance and financial skills.
Habitat volunteers have already done some siding repair and window replacement in preparation for getting the house primed for paint.
More than 300 Habitat for Humanity affiliates are hosting Women Build events this year.
About Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County
Habitat Seattle-King County, an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, is a faith-based, nonprofit housing organization that brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Habitat Seattle-King County is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing through constructing, renovating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat Seattle-King County builds more than houses — we transform local communities. Habitat SKC has built, renovated or repaired more than 400 homes for families in need of affordable housing in 17 communities within King County. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitatskc.org, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitatSKC or on twitter @habitatskc.
