A Scotland County business has joined an effort to help build homes for the needy.

Curves for Women in Laurinburg is participating in the “Curves Circuit Challenge” throughout the month of Janaury.

Similar to a walk-a-thon, women will collect pledges for the number of circuits they complete for the entire month. Other locations include Aberdeen, Carthage, Pinehurst, Rockingham, and Vass.

The Curves fundraiser is meant to benefit many - the women who take part in the challenge, the women who experience building this home, the family who will be living in the home they build, Habitat for Humanity of the NC Sandhills, and all in the communities when Habitat reaches their goal of eliminating substandard housing in the area.

“Women make up a huge portion of our volunteer force, but because they feel they don’t have the skills, very few come to work at the construction site,” said Sue McKenzie, Project Leader for the 2009 Women Build. Kay Whitlock, owner of Curves of Vass, will be the Curves contact for this month-long event.

Women can make a difference by building homes and communities.

Thousands of houses have been built by women crews around the world – by the end of 2008, more than 1,400 homes since Women Build’s official creation in 1998. Each year, hundreds more homes are added as affiliates, donors and sponsors discover the impact of women volunteers and their resources. Join Habitat in this effort in 2009. Habitat for Humanity of the NC Sandhills is raising the necessary funds now and plans to start construction in September 2009.

Women Build is a program that encourages women to make a difference by building homes and communities. Women Builds provide an environment in which women can feel comfortable learning construction skills they might not otherwise have the opportunity to learn. Habitat for Humanity of the NC Sandhills nurtures, recruits and trains women to build and maintain decent, healthy and affordable homes.

Habitat for Humanity is a housing ministry that offers interest-free mortgages to individuals in need of simple, decent housing. They partner with families, volunteers, churches and community organizations to work toward their goal of ending sub-standard housing.