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WHO CAN VOLUNTEER:Anyone who has a willing heart and is 16 years of age or older (this is a state law). An adult, (ratio 1:1.), must accompany volunteers to our construction site who are under the age of 18. Construction skills are a plus, but not mandatory. We ask groups of six or more to try to bring one skilled or semi-skilled volunteer for every three unskilled volunteers, and to schedule their workdays two weeks in advance with the office. If you are not scheduled to work, please don't "just show up" at the work site. This will result in too many workers on the site and no work for some of them. THINGS TO BRING:Wear work clothing, work boots or shoes with good soles (sneakers are not recommended, wear at your own risk), work gloves, a hat with a brim (such as a baseball cap), and a pencil. Bring your own work gloves and goggles if you don't want to wear used gloves or used goggles. Wear appropriate clothing for the weather and the task. You will get hot, sweaty, and dirty in the summer time and your clothes may get torn or stained. During the winter months, dress in layers. Heat is not always available at the work site. Long pants are a must for roofing work and long sleeves can help protect you from the sun. Habitat provides all of the tools and materials to perform the tasks assigned to volunteers. Volunteers are requested to care for Habitat's tools and materials as it they were their own. We discourage volunteers from bringing their own tools. Personal articles brought to the site are the sole responsibility of the volunteer. Habitat for Humanity is not responsible for replacing lost or stolen property. WHAT WILL YOU DO:You may be asked to do any of the tasks required to build a house, from demolition to framing, to painting, to sweeping. Your help is greatest when you do what needs to be done. Let us know if you have a special skill. Don't overstate your abilities so you won't be asked to do something unsafe. WORK DAYS AND HOURS:The work site is generally open Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday - 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Our site day starts promptly at 8:30 AM when job tasks are assigned. If you or your group cannot be at the site at the start of the day and special arrangements cannot be made with Habitat staff, please offer to volunteer for Habitat in another capacity where the hours are more flexible. Tentatively, there is a morning break at 10:30 and 30-minute lunch break at 12:00. Please bring your own lunch. Water will be available at the work site. If the weather is questionable, check the office voice mail message to see if the work site has been closed. SAFETYOur first priority is safety - if we build a house that's okay, too. We're not in a hurry. We'll take the time we need to build this house as carefully as if it were our own, with the best craftsmanship possible, and in compliance with all applicable building codes. Each construction site is staffed with a site supervisor or crew leader to provide overall direction of the project. The supervisor and crew leader are available to outline tasks for volunteers and to provide on-the-site training. There may be other ways to perform a specific task, and you're welcome to suggest one, but once the supervisor makes a decision, follow his or her direction. Be conscious of others as well as yourself. An observer can often see the danger far better than a worker who is engrossed in the task. Watch where you step. Be careful where you lay things down. Look out for others. Remove all nails from a board before you discard it. Keep electrical cords out of the way. If you see a potentially dangerous situation, immediately call it to the attention of the supervisor. Every work site is equipped with a first aid kit, gloves, goggles, ear protection, hard hats, and dust masks. Make certain you know where these items are. Habitat for Humanity Burlington County carries homeowners insurance to supplement a volunteer's personal medical coverage. Prevention is always the best insurance. No one should ever be working alone at the work site. Materials or tools should never be left in a precarious location where they might fall on someone or placed where they might block access. Avoid exposed nails, sharp tools, holes in floors, and the like. Stay clear of areas where power tools are being used. Disconnect power tools that are not in use, use extreme caution around portable heaters. Keep your work area orderly and free of debris. Do not leave your mess for someone else; cleanup is part of the job. Pick up your own nails, scraps, drink cans, cigarette butts, and other trash. At the end of the day, help re-stack and cover lumber, wrap extension cords, clean paint brushes and rollers, and return all tools to the place you got them from. It is Habitat's hope that you find satisfaction and fulfillment from meaningful work. The Site Supervisor will try to make the best use of your skills, but you will be of the greatest help when you cheerfully accomplish the task you are assigned - what needs to be done right now. We look forward to working with you in building homes for our Burlington County neighbors in need. We hope you find your Habitat experience safe, productive and rewarding. VOLUNTEER FORM:
To volunteer you must complete and mail in a volunteer form. You can download and then print out a form by clicking on either of the following links. Acrobat .pdf (6KB) |
Word .doc (23KB)
Copyright 2007 - Habitat for Humanity, Burlington County, NJ
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