School Committee member Pamela Farron volunteered her time Saturday to help with the construction.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Vera St. John will soon move into a completely renovated new home thanks to some strong women.

 

In just a few months, St. John will be handed the keys to the Central Berkshire Habitat For Humanities 28th home. The six-bedroom home spanning more than 2,000 square feet is being partially renovated by women as part of the fourth annual Women Build.

 

"The goal is to educate and inspire women," said Nicole Eigbrett, an Americore Vista working with Habitat and organizer of the nine-day women build.

 

The national program is sponsored by Lowes and rallies women from the communities to learn how to built homes through Habitat for Humanity. In the Berkshires, more than 100 women participate from the business and social world.

 

"A lot of the women leave with a sense of confidence that they can do things themselves," said Executive Director Carolyn Valli. "Corporations see this as great team building for their staff."

 

Companies like General Dynamics, Greylock Federal Credit Union and Guardian Life all send teams to participate in different days. On Saturday, a "women in government" group got their hands dirty including state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, City Councilors Kathleen Amuso and Lisa Tully, School Committee member Pamela Farron, and City Clerk Linda Tyer.

 

The response in the Berkshires to the women build has been so great the event has grown from one day in its first year to now being the longest in the country, Valli said.

 

This project on Francis Avenue entails the complete rehabilitation of a large home for St. John, her mother, and four children. The home dates back to 1910 and Habitat purchased it for $16,000. 

 

"It was in rough shape. We bought the house and within three days somebody broke in and stole all of the copper," Valli said. 

 

The home is one of the largest the organization has worked on, which is fitting for the needs of St. John's family. She currently lives in Riverview Homes in a small, cramped, apartment and her mother lives in a different unit, making it difficult for St. John to care for her. Now, each child will have their own room on the second floor and the family will all be in the same home.

 

But, St. John isn't just being given a home. She earned it. St. John has not only put in more than 500 hours of "sweat equity" and took an array of courses Habitat for Humanity requires. On Saturday, she had a big smile as showed her friends and family around the construction site. 

 

The rehab work is expected to take two to three months. 

 

Also on Saturday, a second group of Habitat for Humanity workers were building a shed at Coolidge Park to house the irrigation system. That will help to expand the community garden.