Governor to help power Habitat build

By NANCY KIMBALL

The Daily Inter Lake

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and his wife, Nancy, will be swinging hammers in Columbia Falls on Saturday as they participate in a unique initiative to build a Habitat for Humanity home.

Missy Sweeney and her children will be there, too, helping with Saturday's wall-raising at what will become their own home - and their chance to break out of the cycle of poverty housing.

The Schweitzers plan to be at the Habitat site at the north end of Third Avenue East in Columbia Falls around 1:30 p.m. for a brief press conference. Some time at the build site will follow. The public is invited to stop by. To reach the site, turn north off U.S. 2 on Third Avenue East at the building with the "Art and Antiques" sign.

Kalispell Mayor Pam Kennedy will join the Schweitzers in the only Montana stop of "First Families Building Homes Across America," a two-year Habitat for Humanity drive underwritten by Lowe's home improvement stores.

It aims to enlist first families and other dignitaries to build one home in every state and the District of Columbia by the end of 2007. The first home went up in Mobile, Ala., in May 2006.

Every "First Families" home is part of a larger plan to build 1,000 homes under Habitat's Women Build Program. In that, homes are built entirely by women volunteers.

Flathead Valley Habitat for Humanity has lined up a crew of more than 30 women leaders in the Flathead to help with the Sweeney house Saturday.

Construction on the home started when the foundation was poured in May, and will continue with a series of work sessions every Saturday through the rest of the summer. Smaller groups of volunteers also are building on Wednesdays.

Anyone interested in joining the effort is encouraged to contact Women Build coordinator Jan Shanahan at 862-2363 or janshan@wildskyindustries.com.

Another home also is being built next to the Sweeney home, with the same work schedule and the same offer to all volunteers, men and women. Call Habitat volunteer coordinator Jackie Neumiller at 253-7552 to learn more.

Lowe's will host a series of six how-to clinics for anyone interested in helping on the Women Build. The first is at 5 p.m. today in the Kalispell Lowe's store, and will show how to safely use hand and power tools. The clinic is limited to 25 participants, and Lowe's will provide all supplies. Participants are asked to wear comfortable clothing.

To sign up, contact Jan Shanahan at 862-2363 or janshan@wildskyindustries.com.