every team
Group Volunteering
Volunteering with Habitat is a great way to bond with your friends, classmates, coworkers, or peers!
Group Volunteering Overview
Your group can make an important contribution to Habitat's mission of building and repairing homes in partnership with families in need. There are two ways for your group to volunteer: by sponsoring a Build Day on one of our construction sites, or in one of our five ReStores!
Please fill out a Group Interest Form and we will contact you to coordinate a good time for your group to volunteer.
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Corporate Team Sponsorships begin at $1,500 per day. Partnerships, along with the donation of volunteers' time, help offset the cost of labor and materials for a home and are tax-deductible.
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Volunteering as a small group of individuals won't cost you anything, we just ask that you fill out the group interest form so that we can be sure to accommodate your team.
Team Build Days
Team Build Days are a great opportunity to involve your employees or members in a positive team-building activity. Your group will work alongside our highly trained construction team and partner families from 8:30am to 3:00pm. Activities and locations can vary widely depending on the different stages in our build. Team builds may be scheduled for single or multiple days, depending on your sponsorship level and site availability.
ReStore
Our ReStores sell donated new and used appliances, furniture, cabinets, building products, and households items to the general public and keep household items in homes and out of landfills. Volunteering in the ReStores include accepting donations, cleaning items, and helping customers.
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Because of our many locations, there are often more opportunities available and it's a great way for younger volunteers to get involved!
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?
Groups interested in volunteering should fill out our Group Interest Form. We will reach out with you shortly to schedule your group's volunteer day!
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 we register you.
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?
Volunteer services will coordinate with you to get all of the proper forms signed. This is done on our online systems, called Community Connect. If you have any questions, contact the Volunteer Coordinator 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?
Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator directly at 513-482-5614 with at least one week's notice to cancel or reschedule your group's outing.
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.
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!