volunteer FAQ

all you need to know about volunteering with Franklin Hampshire Habitat for Humanity

Construction volunteers

You can find brief instructions on our main volunteering page, or see this document for a step-by-step process with screenshots. Email volunteer@fhhabitat.org if you have any questions or difficulties!

At construction shifts, you will join 2-3 volunteer leaders, up to 8 regular volunteers, future homeowners, and Habitat interns on the job site.

Please remember to:

  • Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for construction
  • Bring water and snacks/a lunch
  • Follow any parking instructions included in the shift description
  • Arrive on time to receive the day’s instructions from site supervisors – they will go over everything you need to know about the day’s workflow and tasks
  • Be flexible! There may be some down time or waiting as site supervisors get organized
  • Ask questions about anything you’re unsure of

Our fall 2016 intern, Sam, made this video so new volunteers can see how much fun it is to be on site.

People of all ages — business people, craftspeople, lawyers, architects, accountants, plumbers, carpenters, college students, exchange students, vacationers, faith communities, service groups, retirees — in other words, a cross-section of the population. Retirees are a special resource and often work during the week or parts of the year, depending on their schedules. We also recruit skilled volunteers to be team leaders and supervisors. Volunteers are needed for construction and also for non-construction work.

All court-ordered volunteers must fill out and turn in our Community Hours sheet, and read our Community Service Policy. Please contact our office (email volunteer@fhhabitat.org) to discuss your situation before you sign up.

You must commit to a whole shift (from 9am-4pm or morning only on Saturdays and some weekdays, from 12-4pm on the 3rd Sunday). If you know you can only commit to 4 hours, please register for an available half day shift or a Sunday work day. If you need to leave early, please inform that day’s Site Supervisor.

It depends on your skills, where we are in the project, and the weather – most of what it takes to build a house, from framing to roofing to interior work (drywall installation, painting, tiling, and more) is completed by volunteers like you! All jobs on site will include training from the site supervisor on the day you volunteer.

Some tasks are performed by paid professionals instead of volunteers; these include electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and other skilled jobs that require specialized training.

No, you do not need to be skilled – just willing to learn! Our team leaders and site supervisors will give you instruction on the job. You may wish to look at Habitat for Humanity University’s online Residential Construction Basics. Additionally, we sometimes partner with Lowe’s of Hadley to hold skills clinics.

Group volunteers

Yes, Habitat families working on their sweat equity are always accommodated at the site. Volunteer leaders are also always on site, regardless of day, to help coordinate the day’s tasks and manage volunteers. Groups from organizations which fund or sponsor a house are given priority scheduling. Otherwise, a reserved day belongs to your group and is restricted for regular volunteers.

Please contact the office at volunteer@fhhabitat.org to schedule a group team build day, and do so as far in advance as possible! During certain seasons, there is a high demand for weekend dates. Weather and the schedules of skilled professionals may delay or alter the proposed schedule, so volunteers need to be flexible. 

To ensure that our sites do not become overcrowded, GROUPS ARE ASKED TO SIGN UP WITH NO MORE THAN 8 MEMBERS. This includes adults for youth groups. Groups that wish to bring more people must check with the FH Habitat office first.

We welcome youth groups who are prepared to work hard and learn. We require adequate adult supervision (21+, around 3 or 4 youths per adult) while the group is on site.  We encourage youth to work on Sundays – this is a shorter day (12-4pm).  Please note: our insurance policy requires youth to be at least 16 years of age to be on an active construction site. This age group should expect to perform light duties, but not use cutting power tools or be on roofs.

All youth (under 18) must bring a waiver signed by their parents or legal guardians, and all youth under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. If you are the leader of a group of young people (ages 16 – 17) coming to a Habitat site, please read the statement of expectations for these groups.

Other

A safe, positive experience is our priority for volunteers on site. Please review our site safety page for more information.

Extreme cold, heat, or other hazardous weather including rain or snow may cause us to cancel a work day. Unforeseen circumstances may come up in the construction process which are beyond our control (permit timing, contractor delays, etc). We do our best to anticipate potential problems like this and give volunteers ample warning of cancellations, however, there are times when we must cancel a work day at short notice, and we apologize for the inconvenience.

You may take photographs at the site. Feel free to wear promotional clothing or bring a banner publicizing your group. If your group is scheduled as a team build in advance, we can also coordinate shared social media postings and other publicity upon request.

Volunteering is not limited to construction! The full list of committees and special roles can be found on our volunteering page. Other opportunities include:

  • Data entry
  • Committee work
  • Help in the office
  • Fundraising help
  • Event volunteering
  • Help with families
  • Volunteer recruitment
  • Work with faith communities
  • Other off-site projects