MetLife Supports Women Build Day
On Saturday, June 29th a group of women from MetLife’s Women’s Business Network at Bridgewater’s MetLife corporate campus extended their work week to do work of a different kind. They gathered in Franklin Township to help an area woman, Anita Fredericks, build her Habitat for Humanity home. Although these women worked for the same company and were all part of the MetLife Women’s Business Network, many had not known each other personally before the Women Build. By that afternoon, new friendships were forged, and a strong foundation was built for working relationships at MetLife and for the family working hard to build a stable and bright future.
The women happily worked as masons for a day, doing the important job of applying stucco onto concrete blocks (also known as “parging”), to form the foundation of Anita’s new home. The work quality and dedication of the women exceeded expectations — the entire job was finished that day! As one MetLife volunteer described, “It was great working with a group of co-workers doing something so different from what we normally do every day. The best part was getting to know the homeowner – I can already picture her kids running around in their beautiful house. ”
While the day surely met Anita’s needs on a practical level, she unexpectedly gained much more. “I am humbled and grateful,” shared Anita, “I was delighted by the heartwarming smiles and genuine love everyone showed for me.” The volunteers also were touched by the experience, “It was so inspiring to meet the homeowner and speak with her about her dreams for her home. I felt blessed to be able to help her family achieve those dreams in a very small way.”
One volunteer took a moment to inscribe well wishes on a support beam of the frame of the future family home. It read: To Anita and family, best wishes in your awesome house! –Tricia and your friends at MetLife. It was truly a day of women working hard and lending friendship and support to one another.
Thank you, MetLife, for making another positive impact in our local community. “Women Build is a fantastic, empowering, one-day event. For more information on Corporate Women Build Opportunities email sharkins@rvhabitat.org.
