Building a Habitat Women Build team: It takes a church

The proverb with African origins that “It takes a village to raise a child,” can be applied to what it takes to build a UU & friends Habitat Women+ Build team. For about 20 years, a team of primarily UU women has been one of the 12 or so teams from throughout Bloomington that have financed and built houses for qualified homeowners.

This year, our UU & friends team of 36 members raised $19,562, the largest amount ever raised by our teams. But it wasn’t just team members who contributed. Many UU members helped in different ways, as they do every year. Team members, who included friends, co-workers and relatives of UU women and a few women in the community, raised and/or donated $16,683 of the total. Five UU women each brought in $1,000 to nearly $2,000, as members of the Sisterhood of Habitat Empowerment. They promise to raise or donate at least $1,000 for each of five years.

Also this year, the UU Women’s Alliance and eight UU women donated $2,191, ranging from $50 to $500. Women who can’t build want to help others who can. These funds were divided among those who need a financial boost. Some team members also made goodies for several bake sales at UU and at the Habitat for Humanity office. A UU woman made jewelry we sold at these sales. They brought in $688.

What do all these figures mean?

They reflect the strong commitment of women – some of whom have built for many years – and the support they garner from donors and those who want to financially help others build. Then, there are generous UUers who donate $20, $50, even $100 to buy a few cookies or a cupcake at our bake sales.

For the second year in a row, the Habitat Task Force was a financial sponsor of the overall build. We contributed $1,500 this year from funds we’ve raised with the help of UUers who buy meals we make, chili/soup we offer, items we sell at the UU Holiday Bazaar.

On Sept. 20, our team painted the entire inside of the two Women Build homes in Osage Place, a new Habitat neighborhood that will have 79 homes. Overall, teams raised a record $233,036 this year.

Since 2000, the Monroe County Women+ Build community has built 35 homes and raised more than $2.9 million, helping to house 92 individuals, including 44 children. Our UU & friends teams, supported by the UU community, have contributed significantly to this success – for which we should be proud and for which I am grateful, as a long-time Women Build team leader.

Of course, we welcome UU men and women (16 years and older) to participate in other builds during the year. We periodically organize small build groups. Only the Women Build has a financial commitment for individual builders (minimum of $300). The Habitat Task Force regularly raises funds to help finance homes, buy tools or meet other Habitat needs, too.

To do all this, it does take a church – and a lot of individual efforts.

Barb Berggoetz, Habitat Task Force leader