women build

COMING TOGETHER TO BUILD STRONGER, SAFER COMMUNITIES

Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity had another amazing Women Build project in 2021. Women from the FM area joined together during a multi-day effort to build a home for Jamie Roach and her children Kyla, 19; Trent, 14; Angel, 13; and Laila, 7. A committee of nine women and thousands of volunteers worked together to raise the funds for the project. Monies raised for Women Build supported the construction of the new, affordable home for the Roach family.

Roach was raised on the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota. As a young girl her home was broken when her alcoholic father murdered her mother, resulting in her family becoming homeless. Later in life she found herself struggling with teenage pregnancy, substance abuse and still needing a home. Thanks to help from people like Amy Feland with Lakes and Prairies Community Action Partnership, and Career Connect with United Way, she now has a great job as a certified nursing assistant, and has relocated her family to Fargo-Moorhead. And recently, another milestone — a brand-new home for her family.

The home is one of four builds that Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity will have completed this year. In the past 30 years they have built 63 homes for families in need. The land for this project was donated by Mary Tuttle.

Women Build committee chairwoman

Beth Brasel, facilities manager at BNG Team, had this to say about this year:

Roach is thankful for all of the love and support she has received through Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity Women Build. “To know there’s somebody out there that cares gave me hope, gave me faith to keep going, and showed my kids how to live through tragedy and come out with a beautiful life.”