every volunteer
Individual Volunteers
Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes, races and beliefs, professions and skills. One things that all Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati volunteers have in common: they are critically important to furthering the organization's mission in our community. Through construction, retail, repair, and more, volunteers help Habitat Greater Cincinnati impact hundreds of families each year. You can learn more about the different volunteer opportunities below!
Volunteering Overview
Individual volunteers sign up for opportunities through our volunteer hub, called Community Connect. Here you will find all of our available shifts, fill out your liability waiver, sign in each day, and track your hours. Setting up your account is easy! Just sign up below, and please be sure to sign your liability waiver before showing up for your first shift. For questions or concerns, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at Volunteer@HabitatCincinnati.org or 513-482-5614.
If you're looking to volunteer with a group, we'd love to have you! Please visit our Group Volunteering page to sign up so that we can ensure we find you an opportunity that can accommodate more than one person.
Subscribe to the volunteer opportunities newsletter
Construction
Volunteering on our construction sites are a great way to get directly involved with the mission! Volunteers work alongside our highly trained construction team and partner families on a variety of homebuilding projects. We provide all the training and tools you'll need for the job!
Tasks can vary widely depending on the different stages of our builds. A typical construction shift is from 8:30am to 4pm and you will be able to sign up by the location.
ReStore
Our ReStores sell donated new and used appliances, furniture, cabinets, building products, and households items. Volunteering in the ReStores include accepting donations, cleaning items, and helping customers.
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Because of our many locations, there are always ReStore opportunities available and it's a great way for younger volunteers to get involved! There are morning and afternoon shifts and we have locations in Bellevue and Florence in Kentucky; and Cheviot, Bond Hill, and Fairfield in Ohio.
Rock the Block
Rock the Block is a one day event that brings hundreds of volunteers to partner neighborhoods to support the beautification and repair goals of the community. It takes place twice a year, once in the Spring and again in the Fall!
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See the latest information by visiting our Rock the Block page.
Deconstruction
Sometimes local businesses wish to donate large amounts of office furniture and goods to our ReStores and we need help getting those items! Deconstruction volunteers help us get those items from inside the building and loaded into our trucks. No tools or experience are required, simply a willingness to help and the ability to lift these furniture items or to push carts to and from the elevators are needed!
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These shifts are only available if we have a deconstruction opportunity, and they vary depending on the needs of the team and location.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if there is inclement weather?
Should we see inclement weather on the day of the build, please check your email for cancellation notices. You will be notified 2 hours prior to the start time.
How do I sign up?
The first step in volunteering is registering on Community Connect. This is crucial to our ability to plan for your work day and keep you safe on the site. Once registered, you can then sign up online for our volunteer opportunities. Online registration for volunteer opportunities closes 2 days prior to the event to enable us to prepare for the event.
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Groups wanting to volunteer together should fill out our Group Interest Form to sign up.
Why can't I just show up?
In order to help us create a safe and enjoyable volunteer experience, every volunteer must register online in advance. This will help our site leaders to be better prepared with tools, materials, and projects for everyone. Online registration is required and closes 2 days prior to the event to enable us to prepare for the event.
How old do I have to be to volunteer?
Ages 18+: May volunteer independently.
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Ages 16 & 17: May volunteer independently at ReStore. May volunteer along with a parent/guardian/adult (over age 21), in a limited capacity, at a construction site. Volunteers ages 16 & 17 are not permitted to participate in roofing, demolition, the use of power tools, or use ladders over 6 ft.
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Ages 14 & 15: May volunteer at ReStore along with a parent/guardian/adult (over age 21).
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13 & under: While unable to volunteer at ReStore or on a construction site for safety reasons, there are projects they may volunteer on from home to help promote awareness, raise money, and support our Habitat homebuyers and volunteers.
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Contact our Volunteer Coordinator for details at volunteer@habitatcincinnati.org or 513-482-5614.
**For groups with minors (ages 14-17): At least 1 adult (over age 21) is required to accompany every 5 minors.**
What is my commitment?
The commitment is up to you! You may volunteer one time or as often as you wish. You may come as a part of a group, and then decide that you would like to continue volunteering as an individual. We are delighted to work with you to fit your needs and schedule.
What skills are required?
No specific skills are needed, just a willingness to learn and a positive attitude. Habitat provides an experienced site leader on each work site who will provide on-the-job training. Safety is important to us and, therefore, we provide free on-line safety training courses when you register on Community Connect.
What do I bring?
Closed toe shoes are required. No tools are necessary, but if you have them you are encouraged to bring basics, such as a hammer, nail apron, tape measure, utility knife, and a pencil. Please clearly label all of your tools with your name or initials. Hard hats and safety goggles will be provided. Water will be available, but you may wish to bring your own supply. It’s always a good idea to wear a hat and sunscreen when working outdoors.
Where do I sign the liability waiver?
You will be able to sign your liability waiver quickly and conveniently on Community Connect as you set up your account. If you have any questions about our system, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator for details at volunteer@habitatcincinnati.org or 513-482-5614.
What do I wear?
Footwear needs to be sturdy and closed-toe and closed-heel. Boots or sneakers are both considered appropriate footwear. Wear clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Please prepare for the weather by checking the forecast before you arrive at the work site. If it is sunny, please bring a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. If it is raining, please bring a jacket, raincoat, and/or rain boots. If it is cold, please dress in layers along with a hat, gloves and warm socks.
What will happen when I arrive at the site?
At the beginning of each workday, a Habitat site supervisor will begin the morning with a prayer, introductions, a safety talk and instructions. The group will then break into crews to work on the various building tasks.
How do I cancel my volunteer date?
You can cancel your volunteer shift by logging into Community Connect. You can also use the link provided in your confirmation email.
Do you provide lunch/snacks?
Unless you are working with a group that informed you they will provide lunch, please bring your own packed lunch/snacks. Water is available on the site. You are encouraged to bring your own refillable water bottle, labelled with your name on it.
What type of bathroom facilities are on site?
We have portable toilets on each build site.
What if someone is not comfortable building?
We are happy to have you in one of our ReStores! If you are scheduled with a group on our Construction site, there is something for everyone. Please inform your crew leader if you are not comfortable with the task that you have been assigned and we will happily find something that you are comfortable with.
What kind of tasks with volunteers be doing?
Tasks vary depending on whether you are in the ReStore, on a construction site, the different stages of a build, etc. In our ReStores you can expect to be unloading donations, cleaning them, placing them in the store, and helping customers. For a Build Day, you can contact the Volunteer Coordinator a week in advance to get a better idea of what to expect, as building schedules can change a lot from day to day.
Do you accept Court-Ordered Community Service Workers?
Yes! However, we are unable to accept Court-Ordered Community Service volunteers with violent, sexual, or theft charges. Other Court-Ordered Community Service volunteers may register for shifts in advance through Community Connect and should bring their court paperwork and a picture ID to their first shift.
How can I contact you for more information?
For more information, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at Volunteer@HabitatCincinnati.org
or 513-482-5614. To sign your group up, please fill out the Group Interest Form. Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Habitat!