Volunteer FAQs

How old do I have to be to volunteer?

Volunteers must be 16 years old or older. Volunteers under the age of 18 must bring a youth waiver signed by a parent, with them to the construction site on their scheduled build day. Minor volunteers may not operate power tools or work at heights above six feet.

When can I volunteer for construction?

The construction sites are open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and we ask that volunteers commit a full work day. It is important to arrive on time so that you do not miss sign-in, safety instruction, and work crew assignments. All available days can be found on our Volunteer Calendar.

What if I have never done any construction before?

All skill levels are welcome. We assume no skills or prior construction experience, and the construction staff will provide plenty of instruction and supervision throughout the day. 

What kind of work will we do?

All sorts of work takes place on a Habitat construction site. Please be prepared to assist in whatever the day’s tasks may be and remember that every job helps to build homes! If you have special skills, don’t be shy! Let construction staff know upon your arrival in case you can be of unique assistance. While tasks often include using power tools or working at heights, volunteers will not be expected to do any task that make them uncomfortable.

Should I bring anything?

We recommend bringing a water bottle, some sunscreen, a lunch and some snacks (unless lunch is provided by your volunteer group). If you have any personal tools you’d prefer to use over the ones we provide, feel free! For example: a hammer, tape measure, carpenter’s pencil, work gloves, safety glasses, etc. Power tools will be provided on site.

What should I wear?

Please wear closed-toe shoes or boots. (Tennis shoes are most common on the work site.) We recommend comfortable clothes (tshirt, jeans, or shorts) that you don’t mind getting paint on or getting dirty. And remember to dress for the weather. You will not be allowed to volunteer on site if you wear sandals or flip flops.

What isn’t allowed on site?

We strongly discourage you from bringing valuables, including jewelry, to our worksites. Personal power tools are not allowed. There is no smoking, drugs, or alcohol allowed on our worksites.

How do I sign up to volunteer?

Click here to register online. Volunteers must schedule their build days in advance. Because it’s important to us that all our volunteers have a productive and rewarding experience, we only recruit the number of volunteers that we can safely and comfortably accommodate on each day. Therefore, volunteers must reserve a spot for themselves before their build day. When we have recruited the maximum number of volunteers that we can host on a particular day, we will no longer recruit additional volunteers.