Jody Claman was ready to get dirty at Habitat for Humanity’s latest build site on Mary Street Thursday.
The Real Housewives of Vancouver star, decked out in work boots and a bright pink hard hat with her signature shades, was excited to get to work Thursday morning before getting ready for her appearance at Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay’s Shoes and Champagne 2 fundraiser at Bight Restaurant this evening.
“I think it’s so important in this society to give back to people and be charitable,” Claman said.
“I’ve always said it’s not a crime to be poor and it’s not a crime to be rich, but when you live in a country of democracy, I really, really believe you have to give back and these people are prime candidates,” she said.
Although the star of Canada’s only Real Housewives franchise, Claman doesn’t see herself as a celebrity and has been in the workforce for 35 years.
She started a catering business with $800; it has since grown into a multi-million dollar business. The mother of three is also the owner of a popular West Vancouver boutique.
Claman also runs a non-profit lunch program for the impoverished in Vancouver’s East Hastings District and Shoes and Champagne was a cause she was happy to help out.
“I hope this evening we raise a lot of money,” she said, adding she has a special pair of shoes that will be auctioned off.
Claman and future homeowner Sameral Taw worked the power drill on the home’s front steps and Taw said to see the progress on the house is wonderful.
“I’m so excited,” she said, noting this will be the first house she’s owned.
The mother of four boys came to Canada in May 2006, a refugee from Burma.
When comparing her future home to houses in Burma, Taw said it would be for rich people in her home country.
“It’s not for the kind of people like me,” she said.
