Female volunteers participate in 25-hour build for local Habitat's 25th anniversary

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Kyle Lederle is just months away from having a brand new home, but first -- she'll have to put in her sweat equity.

Made possible by the Cedar Rapids Valley Habitat for Humanity, Lederle, 28, is working with a group of primarily female volunteers to build a house for her and her two young children.

The build will go on for 25 hours -- through the night -- in celebration of the Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity's 25th Anniversary. Volunteers include women from across the area who are members of the national Women Build initiative. Because Habitat for Humanity has a partnership with the local Lowes, many of the volunteers have had the chance to receive training on how to use power tools and other home-building training through classes at the store.

Patti Kunz, director of development for the Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity, said the local women build initiative is in it's third year.

"The women build is about bringing women in a community together, empowering them to learn about things that they maybe have not done in their lifetime," Kunz said.  "And it's not about excluding men, but including women."

The group will work in three 8-hour shifts into Saturday morning building a new house at 1607 12th Ave. SE. Kunz said they expect to complete most of the home's exterior by the end of the 25-hour build, with the rest of the work continuing over the next 10-12 weeks.

She said women associated with the women build have formed a committee, and planned everything from the fundraising, to volunteering and providing lunch.

"They were very excited about doing this and organizing it and it's happening," Kunz said.

Lynda Barrow, a volunteer at the site who has worked with Habitat for Humanity for the last 15 years through her role as a faculty adviser for Coe College's chapter, said she enjoys every build, and encouraged more women in the area to get involved.

"I like to call it the sisterhood of the hammer," Barrow said. "A lot of women have not had much construction experience, so it's really great to have people who show us -- this is how you frame a door, for example -- and so we get to learn these skills and teach them to other women and have a lot of fun."

In order to be eligible for a Habitat for Humanity home, Kunz said those who apply have to meet income guidelines, have the ability to pay their loan to the organization, and be willing to partner with the group by putting in between 300 and 400 volunteer hours, which are also called "sweat equity."

Standing across the street from her soon-to-be new home, Lederle said she's most excited to open a new chapter in her life.

"Being a homeowner and taking the next step in my life and being able to provide that for my children, and not having to move every year with leases and townhouse and apartments, it's a big deal for me. but a bigger deal, I think, for my kids," Lederle said.

After 10 Saturdays of building, Kunz said the house is expected to be complete by late October.