More than a dozen women traded in their high heels and business suits Wednesday for a pair of dirty sneakers, blue jeans and a hammer.

The women worked on the construction site of the Women Build home, which is part of the Habitat for Humanity Fourth Creek Village.

On this day, they left their makeup and purses at home and traded them in for tape measures, buckets of nails and ladders.

Jamie Morrison, who is affiliated with Iredell County Home Builders Association, was proud to lend a hand to the project.

“It’s a great experience,” she said. “It’s always good to help when somebody’s in need.”

This week is the National Women Build Week. The local Habitat affiliate was one of 175 chosen to participate.

Homeowner Lillian Dye was on site doing her part to build her first home.

The 66-year-old had little to say, but was clearly ecstatic about occupying her two bedroom, two bathroom home in just a few short weeks.

She was happy women in the county have come together to build her home.

“They’re showing love and their concern,” Dye said.

Construction of the home began in February and is scheduled for completion in three weeks, according to Executive Director Scott Loudermelt.

Some 200 women have had a hand in building the home.

Loudermelt said he is amazed by the participation and interest in the project.

“It’s remarkable the amount of help and the amount of caring,” he said.

For Maggie Shoobridge, being part of the Women Build was a dream fulfilled.

She has been involved early on since the fundraising began, but was excited to work on site.
“The idea has been close to my heart,” she said.

Shoobridge, who took a vacation day from work to participate, said she is humbled to be part of the process.

Pat Abell began volunteering after retiring following a 30-year career in physical therapy at Iredell Memorial Hospital.

She to devote as much time to volunteering as she possibly could.

She has done just that.

Her parents built homes and she always wanted to be part of the process. Getting to work with women of all ages and backgrounds is a bonus.

“I support the ideals of Habitat for Humanity and I wanted to learn how to build,” Abell said.