I don't swing a hammer during Women Build. Instead, I do the behind-the-scenes hammering managing the campaign. I'm there telling our stories, bringing volunteers and community partners into the mission, keeping a hundred moving pieces on track, solving problems before they become problems, hyping up our people, and, of course, asking everyone to squeeze together for just one more photo. 

I get the best seat in the house watching what happens when a community decides that safe, affordable housing is not someone else’s problem. It is something we can help build together.

Here’s the thing: I work at Habitat, so I know how the sausage is made. I see the budgets, the material costs, the construction schedules, the unexpected expenses, and the incredible amount of work it takes to move a home from an idea to a set of keys in someone’s hand.

Because I see all of that, I can honestly tell you that these funds matter. They are not extra. They help buy the materials, keep construction moving, and make it possible for local families to build safe, stable, affordable places to call home.

I also get to see what happens after the work is done. These homes become the backdrop for birthday mornings, family dinners, homework at the kitchen table, holidays, laughter, and the everyday memories a family gets to make year after year. That part never stops meaning something to me.

I feel incredibly lucky that this is the place I get to call work. I’m putting my own name behind this campaign and asking my people to help me support it.

If you can give, I would be so grateful. Truly, every donation helps, and I can personally vouch for how much your support means here.

This year, our Women Build community is working toward an ambitious $100,000 goal to help build homes with local families. If you believe everyone deserves a safe place to call home, I hope you’ll make a gift through my page.

No donation is too small to become part of something life-changing.

I may not be building the walls, but with your help, I can help make them possible.

Why does Women Build matter?
The path to homeownership is often harder for women than it is for men. Just a few reasons why:

• Income inequality | Men have broader access to credit and financing, allowing them to purchase higher-quality homes in safer neighborhoods.

• Caregiving responsibilities | from raising children to caring for aging parents, these responsibilites fall disproportionately on women, making it more challenging to maintain consistent employment.

• Bias in lending | Single women are turned down for mortgages more often than single men, even though they statistically outperform men in repayment.

Owning a home changes everything, from financial security to health, education, and community engagement. But the barriers are real, and they hold too many women back.

That’s why Women Build exists: to shine a light on these inequities and help more women build the future they deserve. Together, we can make homeownership possible for a woman-led family right here in our community.