All-Female Construction Crew Volunteers in Montgomery Township for Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity Women Build Event
Montgomery Township, NJ (October 22, 2020) – An all-female volunteer construction crew came together on a beautiful October day to take part in a Women Build event at Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity’s newest home in Montgomery Township. The annual event welcomes individuals and volunteer teams who want to help build affordable homes for hard-working, local families in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties. This is the affiliate’s 54th home in Hunterdon and Somerset counties.
This year’s Women Build participants raised over $2,700 to help build a new home for Cicely Caldwell and her children. Over the last 16 years of Women Build events, RV Habitat has raised over $241,000. This year’s top fundraiser was Gemma Saujani from Belle Mead, who received a $100 gift certificate to Home Depot for her efforts. Gemma remarked, “It makes me feel great to help out another family and work with other women. It’s empowering and I’m grateful to have been a part of it.”
Overseeing the October 17th build day was Donna Moore, a long-time volunteer at Women Build events and former Site Supervisor for RV Habitat, and Adam Capone, an RV Habitat Site Supervisor. Together, Donna, Adam, Cicely and her two daughters Jordan and Awesome, and eight female volunteers built a large storage shed from the ground up. Jordan and Awesome were inspired by the women volunteers around them. “It was really empowering, a great experience being surrounded by strong women, physically and mentally,” said Jordan. “I’ve never done this before and never want to hear anyone say that women can’t do something,” remarked Awesome. Their mom, Cicely, told us that she is “grateful, grateful, grateful for meeting all the women on the build. It is so inspiring being around these women and to be a part of building our home.”
The Women Build workday was supported by Devra Keenan, a member of the Montgomery Township Committee who was on hand to welcome participants. Devra, the owner of executive coaching and leadership development company High Impact Advisors, donated lunch. Girl Scout Troop 60626 of Montgomery Township, who will be landscaping the property for their Silver Award, prepared snack bags with inspirational and motivational messages. Troop co-leaders Dawn Fogarty, Lisa Maddox, Jen Seamon, and Anna Quick oversaw the snack bag project and some of the co-leaders and scouts delivered the bags and had a chance to meet the Women Build participants, offering everyone a break in the day with good company, nutritious energy, and warm hearts.
Women Build participants expressed their gratitude for the day in many ways. Volunteer Tara McGauley of Gillette said it was “an absolutely amazing day! After months of not being able to do ‘normal’ things, to come together and work with strangers on a rewarding project was so refreshing.” Maria Rodriguez from Roselle shared that it was “fulfilling and wonderful to work on something so big and tangible for a great family, and to come together like this with so many issues in the world going on.” Kathy Fekete of Monroe remarked that “I learned new skills that I’ve always wanted to learn. It’s great watching how everything comes together.”
With an estimated completion date of June 2021, there are many opportunities for volunteers to be a part of building this home in Montgomery Township with the Caldwell Family. If you are an individual, part of a personal, work, church or other group, or a member of a youth group and 16 years of age or older, RV Habitat welcomes you to join in helping to build the Caldwell family’s future home.
About Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity
Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity (RV Habitat) puts God’s love into action and brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Our vision is a time when everyone in Hunterdon and Somerset counties has a decent place to live. Since 1991, RV Habitat has been building strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable home ownership opportunities for hard-working, local families. To support these projects by making a donation, please visit www.rvhabitat.org/give or mail a donation to Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 6275 Bridgewater, NJ 08807. For individuals (ages 16+) and groups who would like to volunteer on the Montgomery Township build site, visit www.rvhabitat.org/volunteer.
