Natchez — In the days leading up to Mother’s Day, construction crews of women volunteers, including recording artist Trisha Yearwood, will be pounding nails and raising walls at Habitat for Humanity construction sites across the country in recognition of National Women Build Week, May 2-10. Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity in Natchez are looking for local women volunteers to work one day, Saturday, May 9, on a Habitat construction site during the nine-day event. Construction or home improvement experience is not necessary.

Across all 50 states, more than 7,000 women volunteers are expected to build at more than 200 Habitat for Humanity construction sites.

Developed through the partnership between Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity, National Women Build Week challenges women to devote at least one day to the effort to eliminate poverty housing. The event is an initiative of Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program, underwritten by Lowe’s, which brings women from all walks of life together to learn construction skills and then use those skills to build simple, decent ,affordable houses.

The Mother’s Day timeframe was selected for its significance to many volunteers, as families with children make up a staggering number of those in need of adequate housing: more than 12 million children – one in six — live in poverty housing in the United States alone. To date, women volunteers have built more than 1,400 Habitat houses nationwide. This is the first Women Build event for Habitat for Humanity in Natchez-Adams County.

To volunteer or donate to this project, please call Duncan McFarlane at 601-445-8639 or 601-807-4956.

Natchez’s Women Build Day is from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on May 9. The house, located at 34 Claiborne Street, will be the 13th home since 1993. Claiborne Street runs to the west of the 1000 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Street. It is just north of Minor Street and one block south of Smith Street.

The local goal is to have at least 75 percent of the workforce be women. No special skills or tools are needed — just the willingness to help others. Refreshments will be served. Volunteers need to be at least 16 years old.