The last week of August, Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk conducted Suffolk's first "Women's Blitz Build." Two hundred women volunteers of all ages and skill levels - most with no prior building experience - participated. Construction on the modest three-bedroom, solar-electric, 1,008 sq. ft. house on Bourdois Ave. in Bellport began Mon., August 23 and was completed Sat., August 28. Carpeting went in on Sunday.

"This is a six-day blitz build," said Kathy Schaefer, Director of Volunteer Services at Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk. "We started Monday morning bright and early with nothing here but a slab foundation. We work two shifts each day: 8 am until 1 pm with an hour break, then 2 to 7 pm. There is an hour-by-hour schedule of what we hope to accomplish and we've been sticking pretty much to it," said Schaefer, a veteran of 50 builds. She has been on site as early as 6 am every day, staying until 8 pm, still smiling on Day 4.

This home will be sold to Ronkonkoma native Nancy Sarrubbo, age 38, and her daughter, Rebecca, who will be eight in December. Sarrubbo applied in November and has been waiting for this house since. Applicant selection is based on three criteria: credit-worthiness, ability to repay the no-profit, no-interest, 15- or 30- year mortgage, and willingness to participate in home building, called "sweat equity."A prospective homeowner's annual income must fall within the $25,000-$38,000 range. "We have single moms, single dads, families with children and all ethnic groups," said Schaefer.

There was one special detail about Sarrubbo's interview with Habitat, Schaefer noted. "It was on my birthday, December 12, said Sarrubbo. "When I got the interview, I thought, Ôhow can I not get this; it's on my birthday!'" It was Kathy Schaefer's husband, Douglas Schaefer, a volunteer member of the family selection committee who interviewed Sarrubbo. "He'll be coming tomorrow," Sarrubbo smiled. "He likes to paint."

Three hundred hours of sweat equity participation is required to be a homeowner. Depending on weather, a participant can expect to swing a hammer on Saturdays, working on a total of four or five houses to fulfill the stint on a regular build. Normally, the non-blitz build houses take about six months to finish.

"Three hundred hours went really fast. I can't believe it's been that long!" Sarrubbo said. She began last Valentine's Day and was trained by Habitat to complete all the building tasks required. Sarrubbo insisted she had never done anything like this before. "I'm not used to hammering or doing the man stuff," she said.

It is rare to have two parcels next to each other and for them to be built simultaneously is even rarer. That was the incentive behind Women's Blitz Build 2004. "It's fun to have two houses going up side by side in one week," Schaefer said. The house next door is also a six-day blitz build but it is a "co-ed" work site, as opposed to the Women's Blitz Build. These are houses number 79 and 80 for Habitat For Humanity of Suffolk, building affordable homes since 1988. "One of the sponsors of the house next door was Symbol Technologies. A lot of women from Symbol volunteered to work on the Women Build. So the men from Symbol have been working there and the women from Symbol have been working here. It is much different with all women and only women. There is a camaraderie and cooperation of women all its own, very different from when there are men on the site," Schaefer said.

Sarrubbo added, "Last night when we were here until 9:30 pm, those who weren't going to come back were hugging each other. You wouldn't see that on an all-male site."

Volunteers are from all walks of life. As an example, Schaefer mentioned Pat Landry, construction leader, who is doing plumbing. Landry, who has trained with a master plumber to work on this site, has built her own bathroom. "Landry is a psychologist with her own practice. Four days a week, she helps us here. She really loves doing it."

Cindy Zeis, another construction leader, called Schaefer a few weeks ago to tell her, "I want to be a part of this build. I know a lot about building houses." A seasoned professional from a family of construction engineers, Zeis was there with the novices throughout training, giving them the confidence that they needed and providing support and advice.

"We were so lucky to find her at the last minute, only 10 days before groundbreaking. "We were short on women construction leaders. I had someone but at the last minute, she could not get off from work. You say a little prayer and all of a sudden the phone rings," she said. "There's Cindy. Just what we needed and she's been with us all week. She's a wonderful leader," Schaefer said.

Habitat makes certain that the former renters become confident homeowners. Habitat has partnered with the Community Development Corporation in Centereach, hosts of the First Time Homebuyer Education, one of three programs at CDC. Homeowners learn how a mortgage works, what an escrow account is, legal issues and the importance of having a will. Owners are taught home maintenance and how the oil burner works, which is especially important for single moms. What would new homeowner, Sarrubbo do if her oil burner broke down? "Daaaaaaaaad!" she howled.

Sarrubbo did every task she was asked to do. "I like vinyl siding," She said. It was easier than I thought! They charge so much to have it done commercially that I thought it would be harder!"

Schaefer said the same about roofing. "After I did a whole roof, I thought 'the next time I need a roof'" Well, she won't be thumbing through the yellow pages.

When asked if there were any unexpected surprises to building a house, most women said they were surprised at how easy it was. That's not to underestimate the workload.

Sarrubbo said with a laugh, "There were a couple of days that if it weren't for my getting a house" She glared ominously to make her point.

"Ed Miller, Director of Planning, is our architect," Schaefer said. Miller, like everyone else at Habitat, was hard at work on the build. "He does all the designs for houses and if we need to make modifications, he does them for us as well."

Habitat can be seen building houses through six Long Island townships - Islip, Brookhaven, Huntington, Southampton, Babylon and Riverhead - turning empty lots into homes for those who qualify. Land is donated to Habitat. Ed Miller is the man with the shopping list who approaches towns with requests for parcels to be built upon. Schaefer made his work seem as easy as playing Go Fish. Got land? "Miller will tell them, 'we need 12 pieces for next year. What do you have?'" she said.

Towns will then go through a list of properties that may be donated. Miller will visit each lot before the acquisition to make certain each piece of land is buildable. Towns then verify that the title is clear before turning the parcels over to Habitat. Most are empty lots. Only one in the last decade has been a renovation. That house will go to another single mom with one daughter. Sarrubbo worked on that house as well. "I love that one," she said. "It has a charm all its own because it's so old - built during the 1920s.

It is not unusual for the builders to become fond of the structures they had a hand in creating, forming close bonds with one another and with neighbors.

"I became good friends with my neighbors," Sarrubbo said. "It's so much better than moving somewhere where you don't know anyone, especially since it's just my daughter and myself. It's scary moving anywhere, but to move somewhere where you don't know anyone is harder. You can tell who the homeowners are. They're always kidding with each other," said Sarrubbo.

A couple of neighbors could be seen looking on during the build. "They all come over, " Schaefer said. But they're used to it in Bellport because we've built 40 houses here." The sight of the Habitat For Humanity trucks and crews has become commonplace here, what the Town of Brookhaven has designated an economic development area. "Yet," Schaefer explained, "every time we start a new house, the little kids come over and ask, 'Are you volunteering?' and 'how many people are working on this house?' They ask you a million questions."

What is Sarrubbo going to do with all her time once she moves in to her new home? "Clean!" she exclaimed.

In the late afternoon sun on this crisp blue-sky summer day nearing the finish of her new home, tears were shining in her eyes. "I'm going to cry," she announced. "I'm so close to everyone." After six months of Saturdays toiling in the late winter chill on everyone else's home, after loading, carrying, painting, siding, sanding, hammering, clearing and other necessary tasks on the construction site, Sarrubbo finally gets her own home.

Of the sudden and instant camaraderie, construction leader and plumber Pat Landry said, "People are getting a home. They are working together, giving of themselves because they care about others." Landry's words were underscored by the glitter of happy tears in her eyes. "Everybody is willing to teach other people," she continued. "No one is competitive or critical. It's really sharing."

For more information on Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk, Middle Island, NY, call (631) 924-4966. Email: info@Habitatsuffolk.org or visit www.Habitatsuffolk.org. For more information on the Community Development Corp., call (631) 471-1215 or visit www.cdcli.org .