Volunteer FAQ’s

An elderly man with glasses working on electrical wiring in a ceiling, using a cordless drill, in a room with exposed wooden beams and insulation.

  • Volunteers must be 16 years old or older to work with our organization. Volunteers under the age of 18 must bring a waiver signed by a legal guardian with them to the construction site or ReStore for their scheduled volunteer shift, even when attending with a larger group. Volunteers under age 18 may not operate power tools or work at heights above six feet. There is no upper age limit for volunteers.

  • The construction sites have shifts available depending on the phase of construction. All shifts can be found on POINT. We may have multiple construction sites running, we will send you to the site where you are most needed.  It is important to arrive on time so that you do not miss sign-in, safety instruction, and work crew assignments. All volunteers must sign up for their volunteer shift in advance. Volunteers who show up to the site without pre-registering may be asked to leave if we are at our volunteer capacity for the day.

  • We welcome volunteers of all skill levels and we provide all the training that you need! We assume no skills or prior construction or ReStore experience, and the Habitat staff will provide plenty of instruction and supervision throughout the day. 

FAQ’s

A woman wearing a gold construction helmet and glasses working at a construction site. She is wearing a white t-shirt with a blue graphic that says 'The store you've been waiting for' and is holding a cordless drill. In the background, there is a partially built wooden structure and a man wearing glasses, a blue shirt, and a pink cap.

Volunteer Day FAQ’s

    • Water bottle (we have a limited number of bottled water available)

    • Close-toed shoes

    • A face mask

    • Lunch and snacks (unless provided by your volunteer group)

    • Sunscreen – if working outdoors

    • Optional: gloves, hard hat and safety glasses if you have them (if not, you can borrow ours)Optional: personal tools (hammer, measuring tape, etc.). Please leave your personal power tools home, as they are not allowed on the construction site.

    • Smoking, drugs, and alcohol are not allowed on our construction sites, in the office or at the ReStore.

    • We recommend you do not bring valuables, including jewelry, when you volunteer with Habitat.

    • All volunteers must be 16 years of age or older. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years old. All youth must have a waiver form completed and signed by a legal guardian prior to volunteering on site.

  • We recommend completing your hours at one location, such as the ReStore, to make it easier to track your hours.

    You will need to be screened by our Executive Director before signing up to volunteer. 

    Complete the appropriate Eligibility and Waiver Form and indicate that you are signing up for community service. Call our office at (540) 828-6288 M-F 9 -1 or after 1 by appointment to expedite your screening. Once your form is reviewed by staff, if we haven’t received a call we will contact you. 

    Do not sign-up for shifts until you have been approved, any shifts prior to screening will be removed.

    Sign up for a volunteer shift after receiving approval.

    Please arrive at least 5 minutes early for your scheduled shift. Find the supervising Habitat staff member and inform them you are there to complete community service hours. Be sure that you are checked in on POINT with the staff member. We recommend you keep your own copy of your hours as well, you can see hours volunteered in your POINT account. You will receive a letter.

  • Throughout the Central Valley, Habitat works in partnership with neighborhoods that have their own unique identity and in many cases their own unique challenges. We encourage and ask all of our volunteers to embrace our community partners and neighbors as you build with us on site. As you work with us, please remember to remain mindful of your environment and utilize sound judgment at all times. If you have any concerns or questions, please communicate with the staff members working on the site.

  • The safety of our volunteers is paramount to us. We also encourage volunteers to view the safety videos linked above and in your volunteer shift information.

  • All types of building tasks and operational tasks are performed on a Habitat construction site and in the ReStore. More details can be found on specific volunteer shifts. Please be prepared to assist in whatever the day’s tasks may be. Remember… every task performed helps to build homes! While tasks often include using power tools or working at heights, volunteers will not be expected to do any task that makes them uncomfortable or does not fit their age restrictions.

Group of young people and an older man gathered inside a wooden building under construction, listening to the man who is holding a tool and explaining something.

More FAQ’s

Construction worker operating a small red bulldozer in front of a partially built house with sheathing and windows, on a clear day with blue sky and a leafless tree in the background.

What to Expect

    • We do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, ethnic origin, or sexual orientation.

    • Be conscious of the safety of others and yourself.

    • Do not continue working on a task that you are unable to do or feel uncertain about.

    • If you have any questions please ask.

    • Hard hats are to be worn when any overhead tasks are being performed. Bring a hard hat if you have one. If not, one will be provided.

    • Volunteers must wear protective glasses anytime he or she is operating power tools.

    • We work year-round and work outside in the elements. We only cancel work when there is dangerous weather.

    • Comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Light clothing is recommended for the hot weather. Layering clothing is recommended for cold weather. Please wear rain gear when working in the rain.

    • Closed-toe shoes or boots. You will not be allowed to volunteer on site if you wear sandals, flip flops or slip-on shoes. All shoes must be tied properly.

Two men standing in front of a partially constructed house on a clear day, with exposed wooden framing and blue insulation and being built on a brick foundation.

Uh-Oh FAQ’s

  • Construction will often continue during rain, depending on the stage of construction. Usually, we will have enough work to do indoors to continue working in inclement weather. Unless you receive a cancellation email or phone call, please report to the assigned location. You can also call our office or check your POINT account for cancellations.

  • We take the safety of our volunteers extremely seriously and pride ourselves on our safety record. Central Valley Habitat for Humanity staff are trained in First Aid and CPR and can attend to minor cuts and scrapes. Please notify staff of any pre-existing conditions or allergies and of any necessary precautions, such as a bee sting kit, inhaler, etc. We ask that all injuries, no matter how minor, be reported to the site manager. If a serious injury occurs, a staff person will assist you in getting emergency medical care.

    If you have an existing injury or have limited mobility, you can still volunteer in our ReStore! Our store is handicap accessible and disability-friendly. 

  • You will receive a letter by email mid-month that is a verified PDF stating your total hours completed with us from our Community Outreach Coordinator. We cannot guarantee that we can provide your letter earlier, so please plan accordingly.

Volunteer Resources

Construction Site and ReStore Safety Videos

All volunteers will be directed in safety, but please watch our safety videos before showing up for your volunteer shift on the construction site or at our ReStore.