PORT TOWNSEND — Nearly 50 local women volunteered their time last week building homes in Port Townsend for the annual Habitat for Humanity National Women Build Week.
In Port Townsend, 47 women came out to the Birkenfeld Community in Port Townsend to help build one new house and finish off two others.
This is the 10th year of National Women Build Week, according to Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County, an event that aims to empower women through construction skills while also giving them a way to use those skills to help their community through service.
“It’s just to prove to ourselves and everyone else that we can do this too,” said Kathi Boyker of Quilcene, who painted one of the homes Friday.
“I think that’s why a lot of us here have a fun time doing this.”
Starting May 6 and working in shifts of eight to 10 women, the groups poured concrete and framed what will soon be a three-bedroom house.
Other groups worked throughout the week laying tile inside and painting and caulking the exteriors of the other two homes.
“Most of the housing like this is for women, like single moms with kids,” said Nancy Wyatt of Quilcene, who came up to Port Townsend on Friday to volunteer. “I think that it’s important since it’s women helping fellow women.”
Once the three homes are completed, that will make 41 homes in Port Townsend built by Habitat for Humanity volunteers.
“It’s such a great organization, and this is a great way for women to work together,” said Ann Norton of Quilcene.
Norton, along with Boyker and Wyatt, came up as a group since they all volunteer at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Quilcene.
“We try to get a group together every year for the women build,” said ReStore manager Cheryl Patrick. “It’s a great way to show support for Habitat and it’s a great way to get out and learn new skills.”
Like all Habitat for Humanity volunteer opportunities, no experience is necessary for the Women Build Week. Three skilled women volunteered their time to teach some of the women the skills they would need.
Kathleen Croston, a former construction manger for Habitat for Humanity in King County; Rachel Williams, the former construction manager for Habitat in East Jefferson County; and current AmeriCorps volunteer and construction coordinator for Habitat in East Jefferson County Kegan Chay were all on-site helping women learn the skills needed to pour concrete, frame, tile and paint a house.
“These women have put in literally thousands of hours teaching volunteers the skills to build houses for their neighborhoods,” said Jamie Maciejewski, Habitat for Humanity’s executive director for Jefferson County.
“It’s such a gift to have them serving locally.”
A number of local businesses also provided support by donating lunches to feed the volunteers. Waterfront Pizza, Sunrise Coffee Co., Pane d’Amore, Aldrich’s Market, Pippa’s Real Tea, Lehani’s Deli, Subway and Elevated Ice Cream all participated.
The Women Build Week was a national event that brought in an estimated 17,000 female volunteers across all 50 states.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
