Donate Purses and Jewelry: Your Closet Can Help Build Laura’s Home

We need your help stocking the Build In Style 2026 boutique! As you shop for the holidays or tackle your post-January closet cleanout, please consider donating your new and gently used purses and jewelry. 

Every item donated is sold at the event, with 100% of the proceeds directly funding the construction of a home for Laura and her family. 

How to Donate:

• Drop-off Location: You can drop off donations anytime during business hours at the Summit County ReStore (2301 Romig Rd. Akron, OH 44320). 
• Organize a Community Drive: We encourage you to help us spread the word! If you are part of a club, workplace, or church group, please consider hosting a donation drive for us. Share the flyer below in your community. Together, we build up local women finding strength, stability, and independence! 

Tickets coming soon:

• Delicious Lunch
• Unlimited Shopping of Gently Used Purses and Jewelry
• Connecting Community, Women’s Networking Opportunity
• Event Raffle Baskets & 50/50 Raffle
• Meet our 2026 Women Build Family
• NEW: Empower yourself with a quick home maintenance demonstration by Laurie, our Women Build site supervisor

Women Build 2025: Laura

Laura, a caseworker at Job and Family Services with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, applied to Habitat’s Homeownership Program hoping to create a more stable life for her two sons, Johnny and Tylan. The recent passing of her grandfather brought back cherished memories of family gatherings, laughter, and love in his yard, and inspired her to provide a similar safe haven for her children.

Outside of work, where Laura enjoys helping others, she and her sons love watching movies, being outdoors, cooking, and playing pranks on each other. They eagerly anticipate owning their own home, where Johnny and Tylan can have their own rooms and a safe yard to play in. For Laura, homeownership represents the biggest investment she can make in her sons’ future, a legacy to pass down.

Expressing her gratitude to Habitat’s donors and volunteers, Laura said, “Thank you for your continued support and donations. Lending a hand in building the foundation and walls of what will be a beautiful house is a wonderful start. I’ve gained another family through this experience—a family brought together by Habitat, donors, and volunteers. Your love and generosity are overwhelming; a simple ‘thank you’ isn’t enough! My children, future grandchildren, and I thank you and appreciate you for building our family’s foundation.”

Women Build Fundraising Event

Since 1991, Women Build volunteers from all walks of life have come together with Habitat for Humanity affiliates to build stronger, safer communities across the U.S. Women Build events provide the opportunity for women to take a proactive step in serving their communities. Any woman who wants to learn how to build and construct a home is invited to join us. No experience is necessary!

Volunteers work under the guidance of construction professionals, and also alongside other volunteers and future Habitat homeowners. Whether you are learning new skills or simply adding a few to your tool belt, this is a rewarding experience for all involved, and improves the community that you share.

The goal of Women Build is to empower women to help families build strength, stability and independence. We at Habitat have the ability to provide opportunities for hands-on learning, and given these tools, women can succeed in changing their communities. 

2024 Future Homeowner, Emily

Meet Emily and her three children; Evelynne (22), Chloe (19), and Jack (9).
Emily and her children’s lives drastically changed in March of 2023 and
purchasing a safe home became an overwhelming concern. Emily did some
research on Habitat and knew it would be the perfect fit for her family of four!
She applied for the program to give her kids a solid foundation for the next
part of their lives together. After prayers and patience, the family was
accepted into the program!

Emily is a Fine and Performing Arts Teacher at a small, private school. Her
oldest daughter, Evelynne, is a senior at The University of Akron and is
earning her Bachelors of Nursing. Chloe is studying Fashion Merchandising
at Kent State University. Jack, Emily’s youngest child, attends the school
where she works and enjoys swim classes, baseball, and singing in the
church choir.

When asked what the family would like to share with our donors and
volunteers, Emily stated, “Our appreciation cannot be explained in words.
We thought homeownership, after a devastating divorce, was just a dream.
This home will significantly impact our lives now, and in the future thanks to
you!”

2023 Homeowner, Ashley

In 2023, Ashley achieved her dreams and became a homeowner in the Rolling Acres neighborhood. Her hard work and dedication to completing her sweat equity volunteer hours through Habitat’s homeownership program provided a stable and safe home for her two daughters.

This project was made possible thanks to the many local women who supported Ashley and built with her, side by side, on the built site as well as donated to her home. Not all women are comfortable or able to volunteer on the construction site so we offer other ways women can support our Women Build project and the priciples it stands for.