Habitat’s Women Build Week: Campaign to Raise $10,000 and

COMMUNITY NEWS Habitat’s Women Build Week

Campaign to Raise $10,000 and Awareness of Local Housing Challenges

Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay its reaching out to the community to promote International Women Build Week March 8-15 to raise awareness of challenges women face in securing safe, affordable housing in the counties of Santa Cruz and Monterey.

The events will celebrate women as volunteers, recruit new volunteers, and focus on fundraising from private and corporate donors to finance home construction.

Community members and leaders can participate in three activities: An online conversation noon to 1 p.m. Friday, March 12 with women leaders on Habitat’s work, an opportunity to virtually volunteer, including an interactive “scavenger hunt” to educate people about how Habitat works and the diverse roles of women in the organization, and the fundraising campaign.

Panelists include Santa Cruz Vice Mayor Sonja Brunner, Monterey County Supervisors Mary Adams and Wendy Askew, former Watsonville mayor Rebecca Garcia, Habitat volunteer and Otto Construction project engineer Toni Little, Housing Trust Silicon Valley CFO Julie Mahowald, and future Habitat homeowner Kali Campbell. To register for the panel or to virtually volunteer, see https://secure.givelively.org/event/ habitat-for-humanity-monterey-bay/2021women-build/2021-women-build

The outreach campaign has adopted COVID-19-safe practices that leverage online participation.

The fundraising goal for this year’s Women’s Build campaign is $10,000 to support construction of a home for Kali Campbell, a Santa Cruz mom chosen to move into a home on Rodeo Creek Court.

She joined Habitat eight months ago when she applied for and met the requirements to be considered as a candidate for the lottery system that guides the selection process. Sponsorship levels for the March fundraising campaign start at $250, which can be made online at https://www.habitatmontereybay.com/womenbuild.

“Owning a home was unattainable before I connected with Habitat Monterey Bay,” said Campbell, who is scheduled to move into her new home in four months. “This month I started my required volunteer hours, and I have never been more excited to support our mission. I am working to secure a home for my family, and I am investing my time to strengthen Habitat.”

A central focus will be to educate people about the power of community in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Salinas, among other cities.

“Build Week” page 21