PotashCorp employees went the distance to help out the Saskatoon Habitat for Humanity during the 2004 Cameco Women Build in August.

Not only did 27 Saskatoon employees volunteer to help with the project, nine employees from Northbrook joined them to help build a home for a deserving local family.

PotashCorp sponsored a build day for the project, which included sending women volunteers to serve as the construction, painting and cleanup crew at the build site. During the cool but sunny day, volunteers had a chance to hone their drywall skills inside the house, help construct a shed, remove fences, paint and pitch in for general cleanup.

There were so many Northbrook employees who volunteered to go to Saskatoon that names were put in a hat to decide who would make the trip. Even though there are Habitat for Humanity projects in the United States, many of the volunteers had never before been involved with the organization.

"While we were working on the house, I spoke with an electrician who filled me in on the Women Build project, and what exactly Habitat for Humanity is all about," said Valerie Gish, Executive Secretary in Northbrook. "I hadn't really known much about it before but now I'm hoping to look into doing something like this in Northbrook."

The employees agreed that it was a great opportunity to meet, but more importantly, it was a chance to combine their efforts for a worthwhile cause.

"We had a great time but at the end of the day, what stayed with us was knowing that we helped out a family who needed it," said Pickett. "And we got to do it together. It really reinforced the idea that we're one company."

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