Today, I was fortunate to be involved in an extraordinary program put on by Habitat for Humanity called Women Build in San Carlos, FL. I was informed of the opportunity to participate last week, and jumped right on board, along with a few of my colleagues.  I mean, who wouldn’t? When given an opportunity to either spend the day in the office or to give back to the community while representing your company in a positive light? I believe the answer is very clear, at least it was for me. 🙂

I have to admit: I TRULY believe I may have missed my calling in life, I was utterly impressed with my drilling and building skills in general! Just call me the next DIY Diva on HGTV. 😉 I do admit, I was not alone -The Cooper Hotels team was unstoppable today, give us a task and we took it on without fear. From putting the finishing touches in the  kitchen, painting the lanai, installing doors (I was shocked at my lumberjack skills in this department), planting trees, landscaping, etc. You name it – we did it! Not only was there a tremendous sense of accomplishment in what I had learned throughout the day, but knowing that this home was going to forever bring joy to a family in need was the best part of all. I was able to leave my mark on their home, something that will be sacred to them for years to come. It is truly a life-changing experience when strangers in the community come together to help out a family in need, and leave feeling like a family themselves.

Although we may have felt like we were starring in our own HGTV special, we were definitely not the stars of the show today. The Women Build program  brings together women from around the community to learn critical building skills and bond with each other. Around Mother’s Day every year, Habitat builds houses
for a family in need that are lead by remarkable mothers who deserve nothing but the best. The true stars of the show were the home’s future owners, Michelle Benitez and her two little boys. The family will be given the keys to their new home, and new life for that matter, on Saturday, the day before Mother’s Day. All of the volunteers are asked to attend the dedication in a special ceremony showing how many helping hands helped to build this home.

Today, I may have hung up my construction hat and put away my toolbox, but I definitely will not forget about the amazing experience I had today. I can only urge you to get involved with Habitat, given it is such a fantastic organization, and there is a tremendous need for housing in every community. You are not only helping yourself, but you are lending a helping hand to those in need, and take my advice: I guarantee you will enjoy getting down and dirty – and leave with a sense of empowerment!