National Women Build Week

Volunteers for Habitat for Humanity work on landscaping at their construction site in downtown Alamogordo, N.M., May 9, 2015. The volunteers were participating in National Women Build Week, an annual event hosted by Habitat for Humanity where multiple volunteers devote their time to come together to help the members of the community who are less fortunate. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Leah Ferrante/released)

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National Women Build Week

Colonel Leslie Knight, 49th Medical Group commander, helps finish landscaping at a local Habitat for Humanity site in downtown Alamogordo, N.M., May 9, 2015. Knight participated in National Women Build Week, an annual event hosted by Habitat for Humanity where multiple volunteers devote their time to come together to help members of the community who are less fortunate. Knight also spoke to the volunteers and new homeowners during the event. “The theme Women Build really struck me because women do build, we build our homes we build our communities and families, and now we’re building houses,” said Knight. “What a great theme and idea, and I’m so glad I could be a part of it.” (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Leah Ferrante/released)

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National Women Build Week

Volunteers from Team Holloman and the local community finish painting for Habitat for Humanity at a construction site in downtown Alamogordo, N.M., May 9, 2015. The volunteers and the future homeowners completed various projects in preparation for move in day for the family. The all-female crew took on different tasks from painting, landscaping, and construction with the help from local experts also volunteering their time. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Leah Ferrante/released)

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National Women Build Week

Volunteers and the future homeowners pose for a group photo during National Women Build Week hosted by Habitat for Humanity in downtown Alamogordo, N.M., May 9, 2015. This year, members of Holloman Air Force Base volunteered their time with Habitat for Humanity for a women empowering event to give one of the best gifts of all, a new home for a member of our local family. This event also teaches women different skillsets while getting them out to volunteer in the community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Leah Ferrante/released)

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National Women Build Week

Volunteers lay gravel outside of a Habitat for Humanity construction site in downtown Alamogordo, N.M., May 9, 2015. The volunteers were participating in National Women Build Week, an annual event hosted by Habitat for Humanity where multiple volunteers devote their time to come together to help the members of the community who are less fortunate by providing them with shelter above their heads. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Leah Ferrante/released)

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National Women Build Week

Published May 9, 2015
By Senior Airman Leah Ferrante
49th Wing Public Affairs

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M., -- Holloman and the local community have always had a close working bond, coming together for those in need. This year members of Team Holloman joined together with Habitat for Humanity for a women empowering event giving one of the best gifts of all, a new home for a member of our local family. This event also taught women new skillsets while getting them out to volunteer in the community.

National Women Build Week, an annual event hosted by the Otero County Habitat for Humanity, brings together female volunteers to give back to women in the Otero County area. The May 9th construction marks the seventh year the Otero County Habitat for Humanity participated in the event, completing construction on their 40th home with an all-female crew.

Volunteers from Holloman and the community, and even the new homeowners themselves, completed various construction projects in preparation for "move-in day." The all-female crew took on different tasks from painting, landscaping, and construction with the help from local contractor and experts that also volunteered their time and experience.

"At least 50 percent of our volunteers are members of Holloman," said Kuia Taiaroa the local director of Habitat for Humanity. "If it wasn't for Holloman I don't know what we would do on our construction sites, they consistently help on our jobs and I don't know what we would do without them."

Holloman's 49th Medical Group commander, Col. Leslie Knight, along with the Mayor of Alamogordo, Susie Galea, and, Alamogordo City Commissioner, Nadia Sikes, spoke with volunteers during the event.

"The theme, Women Build, really struck me because women really do build. We build our homes, we build our communities and families, and now we're building houses," said Knight. "What a great theme and idea, and I'm so glad I could be a part of it."

The home was built from the ground up in about 22 weeks, the culmination of work from various people, organizations, and Team Holloman. The new homeowners are prepared to move into their new house as early as next month.

If you are interested in volunteering for future construction projects, you can contact the Otero County Habitat for Humanity office at www.oterohabitat.org