A House For The Pucketts

About 30 people stood in the drizzling rain Saturday morning to break ground on a new habitat for Humanity home that will eventually be the residence of Andrew and Chrysti Puckett and their two children.

And while the sky might have been gray, the color of the morning was definitely pink.

That's because this Habitat home will be built a bit different from others: It will go up using an all-female construction crew.

And so the reason for the proliferation of pink T-shirts, displaying a hammer and a flower.

This is the first time in 10 years a Habitat home will be built by all women.

And that is perfectly all right with the Pucketts, who are anxious to move from their current single-wide rented mobile home in Nobleton to what will be a 12,000-square-foot, three bedroom house off California Street.

"This will be our first home," smiled Chrysti Puckett, as she stood next to her husband Andrew, son Luke, 5, and daughter Cali, 7.

"This is basically the only opportunity, with the economy the way it is, to own our own home," Chrysti said.

And the kids, she said, are looking forward to finally having their own bedroom.

Chrysti said she contacted Habitat for Humanity after she spotted a flyer on the way to cheerleading practice for Cali.

She called the number, sent out an application, found out she met the income eligibility requirements and the rest is history.

The Pucketts put $2,000 down, got an interest-free loan and a mortgage to fit their budget.

"I think it's great that the community comes together and works together for a common goal," Andrew said.

On Saturday, Habitat organizers held a groundbreaking, complete with pink-adorned shovels, to spread the word among those gathered to solicit more volunteers - even those who don't know much about construction.

Alex Quintard, the construction supervisor, said volunteers would be trained in the ways of drywalling, painting, landscaping and other constriction methods.

He hopes to complete the layout of the home by the end of the year and start full-fledged construction early in 2009.

The home will be built using ICF construction - using an interlocking polystyrene frame reinforced with steel and filled with concrete.

The project drew females who volunteered to help with construction, drywall, painting, landscaping and more.

And even though the idea is to employ all women, don't be surprised if a few men help out with the heavy lifting - especially when it comes time for those trusses to go up.

But the men will have to abide by the dress code.

"They will have to wear pink," Quintard joked. "That will be a treat in itself."

To volunteer to help build the Puckett home or for more information about Habitat for Humanity, call 754-1159.