by Christy Heitger-Ewing
Home Artisans Members Participate in Women Build Habitat Project
The first time Jamie Gauker volunteered with a Women Build Habitat project, the concept of women helping women hooked her immediately. When she joined Home Artisans, she became their team leader for the project.
“I had 24 hours to get 12 people pulled together, but we kicked butt,” says Gauker, who deliberately seeks out team members who are committed to the cause. She’s been involved in the Women Build Habitat project for seven years, and each year her goal is to raise more money than the previous one.
This year, she assembled two teams, totaling 24 women, and together Home Artisans raised $34,413. This was the fourth Habitat build for Millie Hindes, owner of Watergate Roofing.
“I like working hard all day with a bunch of girls,” says Hindes, who has donated the labor to install six roofs over the past three years. “Memories of girls getting all sweaty and dirty and learning something new every year builds camaraderie and gratitude.”
When Lauren Ramsby joined Home Artisans as an interior designer, she and her family had already been involved with the Women Build for years. She was pleased to learn that Home Artisans has a large, dedicated Women Build team for her to join.
“It’s so fulfilling,” says Ramsby, Interior Designer with Four Stories Design Studio. “It’s been a terrific experience to be involved before, during, and after our build day [and] getting to meet, congratulate, and support the four single mothers earning their first home.” Gauker is quick to educate those who assume that this is a free house for the recipient.
“If these women are awarded an opportunity to get a home, they have to go through Dave Ramsey classes and learn how to write a check, follow a budget, and fix things,” says Gauker. “We want these women to be successful. It goes to the adage, ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’” Much like the well-known Habitat for Humanity program, Women Build homeowners apply to be selected to receive one of the homes built each year. They need to qualify financially, but if selected, they purchase the property with an interest-free loan, and begin payment on an affordable mortgage.
“It’s proven that when you get people out of these awful renting situations, kids do better in school and families have a more solid foundation,” says Gauker.
To learn more about how you can help support the Women Build Habitat, contact Home Artisans.
