APPLETON, Wis. (Aug. 1, 2022) – Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity, a leader in affordable housing solutions, is celebrating women with its Women’s Build wall raising event on Wednesday, August 3 at 10 a.m. in Appleton at 2322 W. Prospect Avenue (map). This event is a chance to celebrate the volunteers, sponsors and staff who are helping to build this home. This year’s homeowner is Shaunna Toohey. Shaunna is a single mother of a 10-year-old son.
“As a child to a single mother of three, I remember us moving around a lot when I was a kid,” recalls Shaunna. “I’ve always wanted to provide stability for my son, but with rising rental costs, finding a safe and decent place to live was always a struggle. I was excited when I got accepted into the Habitat for Humanity rental program a few months ago and now with hard work and dedication, I am about to be a homeowner. I’m so happy to be able to finally give my son what I never had growing up: a stable place to call home.”
Shaunna spent over a year going through the Habitat for Humanity Homebuyer Program, learning how to care for a home both physically and financially. After more than 300 hours of sweat equity, Shaunna will also be helping with the building of her new home. This home will be right next to the first-ever Fox Cities Habitat Women’s Build recipient, Zorica Kravic.
“I received my Habitat home in 2000 through the Women’s Build,” explained Kravic. “At the time I received this house, I was just starting over again in the U.S. after fleeing Bosnia from the war. I was told the home could be built in seven days and that women were going to be at the forefront of this work. I had my doubts because where I came from, women had defined roles, but as I’ve learned over the years, women in the U.S. are powerful and assertive and can do just about anything.”
Kravic says she is excited to have a new neighbor and another woman who is receiving a home through the Women’s Build. She will be out helping to build her neighbor’s home along with the sponsors and volunteers from Fox Cities Habitat.
“The Women’s Build is an event that is all about celebrating women in the community,” explained John Weyenberg, president and CEO of Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity. “It’s really inspiring to see how the community comes together to help those in need and I’m glad Habitat for Humanity can be a catalyst for this great work.”
Families in need are not just given Habitat for Humanity homes. The families who receive these homes must put in the sweat equity to help build their home, learn to maintain it and financially sustain it. The homes Habitat for Humanity builds are not for profit, and the new homeowners are making zero-interest mortgage payments thanks to the supporters of Habitat for Humanity. This is only possible through the efforts of supporters, donors, volunteers and community leaders who believe in the Habitat for Humanity mission to give everyone a decent and affordable place to live.
The Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build is made possible through the following generous sponsors: Miron Construction, US Venture, Pierce, Red Shoes Inc., HYPE Solutions, Network Health, Employment Resource Group, Kimberly-Clark Cares, Community First Credit Union, McClone Insurance, Katapult and Plexus.
Partners on this project included: A.O Smith, Blue Print Service Company Inc., Broan-NuTone, LLC, Closet 1 Interiors, Cree, Inc., DuPont, First Supply, Fox Valley Technical College – Electrical Trades Program, Levolor, MCC Concrete – The Murphy Corp., Milwaukee Tool, Nest, Northstar Environmental, Pinnow Sheet Metal, Schneider Electric, Security-Luebke Roofing, Square D, Stevens Equipment Supply, The Boldt Company, Valspar, Weather-Tite Exteriors. Whirlpool Corporation, Wisconsin Focus on Energy and Yale Lock & Hardware.
To learn more about the Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity, or how you can donate or volunteer, please call 920-954-8702 or visit foxcitieshabitat.org.
