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SPRINGVILLE -- Women from Utah Valley University and Brigham Young University took the day off Tuesday, but they weren't taking a break. As part of Habitat for Humanity's National Women Build Week, they joined forces to build a home for a single mother in need.
"The whole idea of National Women Build Week is to empower women," said Kena Mathews, executive director of Habitat for Humanity in Utah County. "It's to encourage women to learn that they can build, that they can make a difference in their community."
Tuesday's collaboration came about when the Women's Resource Center at UVU was approached by Habitat, asking if they would gather university women to help build the home.
"It's a natural extension of the Women's Resource Center to be able to be here and help with a home for a single mom," said Center coordinator Peggy Pasin.
Female students, faculty and staff from both universities -- and even UVU President Matthew Holland's wife, Paige Holland -- came together for the cause. The group spent the day shingling the roof and putting up drywall throughout the home, currently being built in Springville.
While the work wasn't easy, the women said they actually had a lot of fun.
Beyond the new skills learned, Habitat for Humanity hopes these women take home the lesson that they have the power to affect change in their community with their own hands.
"I think it's very valuable to have these women working together, you know, developing friendships and serving families in need in our communities and realizing that there are issues and problems, but they can be empowered to help those problems," Mathews said.
The groups hope to have the whole house drywalled and shingled by the end of the week.
Email: lmaxfield@ksl.com
