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Franni Kropp said she likes working with power tools. "Well - correctly," she added, laughing.

With the help of on-site supervisors, Kropp, like other female volunteers Saturday, took the Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity's five-home duplex construction site on Mahaffey Street by storm.

The duplex, called the Renaissance Project, is in the city's west end.

Volunteer work completed throughout the day was in celebration of National Women Build Week, sponsored by Lowe's. The celebration challenges women to devote one day in an effort to eliminate poverty housing, an initiative of Habitat for Humanity's Women Build programs, according to the organization.

To some, it did seem challenging, but Kropp, while given a brief lesson on a miter saw, said she enjoyed spending the day working among a group of women, learning new skills in carpentry and giving back to the community.

Kropp was hard at work taking measurements and making cuts for one of the homes designated for Hope Enterprise clients.

"(It's good) knowing the houses are being built for Hope Enterprise people," Kropp said. "It enables me to give back, maybe not in a monetary way, but in labor."

Others, like volunteers Gayle Whitesell and Gail Bair, were busy tape-coating the walls and ceilings in a room of one of the houses.

"I've done this before at my own house, but here I want it to be perfect," Whitesell said. "It's a good experience, it's fun and we have good teachers. There's a lot of good people here."

Bair, equipped with a mud pan, joint tape dispenser and a taping knife, said she thinks everyone was learning something they can use down the road.

"I'm enjoying it a lot," Bair said, sliding a coat of mud along the ceiling. "I'm anxious to see them (the Hope Enterprise clients) get in it. The layout is beautiful. I think they're going to enjoy it."

Jaime Hartley, a volunteer from Lowe's, said she tries to help with Habitat as much as she can.

"I'm enjoying working here," Hartley said. "It's kind of tough, but it's fun."

Melissa Conlin, zone manager for Lowe's, said it's nice to help the group do a good thing. She and one other volunteer were tape-coating the front room of the home, amid buckets, wires and tools.

"Lowe's tries to give back every way they can," Conlin said. "This is one way to give that time and money."

Kay Dando, Women Build Project manager, said she likes coming out and working with other women to learn new skills in the trade, while working and seeing future homeowners.

One of those future homeowners, Rosa Hill, stopped by and watched the women as they worked. Hill eventually will own a home, possibly built by the same hands, on Memorial Avenue by the end of the year, she said.

"This is amazing - I love it," Hill said. "I feel blessed. It's great seeing a lot of women doing this."

Todd Fox, executive director of Habitat, watched as the work was being completed. He said it was encouraging to see the women work.

"It's rewarding to know they can do as much as the men can do," Fox said. "Their willing hands can make just as much of a difference."

With two homes already completed at the site in February, Fox said the last three homes are scheduled for completion by the end of the summer.