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Family Focus: The Mung-Niang Family
For almost four years, Mathias Mung and Lun Niang have lived in a two-bedroom apartment with their young son and daughter. Mathias works as a custodian to provide financial stability for the family, while Lun is a stay-at-home mother. Their current apartment is an unhealthy environment for small children and Mathias and Lun worry that the lack adequate housing will negatively affect their children in the future.
Volunteer Spotlight
Gloria Halper
In 2005, an email appeared in Gloria Halper’s (on right) inbox that read, Travel to Guatemala with Habitat for Humanity.
“When I saw the email I told my husband, ‘Let’s do it!’” said Gloria.
After traveling to Guatemala and then Bolivia to build houses, Gloria decided to get involved with Habitat for Humanity at the local level and looked into joining Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East’s Women Build.
“My first day volunteering was one of the best days of my life!” said Gloria. “It was a fabulous day and I was hooked.”
Since then, Gloria has contributed to Habitat’s mission in multiple ways. She advocates for Habitat as part of the affiliate’s Speakers Bureau, assists the Family Selection Committee in identifying potential homeowners and regularly volunteers on the build site. Her biggest contribution, however, is her continued roll as a leader and advocate for the Women Build Committee.
“As a woman later on in her years who had never held a power tool in her hand before, Women Build is very empowering,” said Gloria. “Now I can borrow a tool at the Tool Library, bring it home and do things around my house that my husband never thought I could do before. I get it done!”
On May 12, in honor of Mothers’ Day, Gloria and the rest of the Women Build volunteers will be raising the walls of the home they are sponsoring at Southeast 171st and Division Street. This will be the eighth home completely planned, fundraised and built by Habitat’s Women Build in the Portland Metro area.
Thank you, Gloria, for your helping hand in creating affordable homeownership and for empowering other women to do the same.
Want to join Gloria and Women Build? Contact Jennifer Perkins at Jennifer@habitatportlandmetro.org for more information and to get involved!
