FAQ
| Q: | Do I have to know anything about construction to volunteer?
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| A: | No. Previous construction experience or knowledge is not necessary. Habitat staff and skilled volunteers will teach you the skills you need and will provide expert supervision. If you are not comfortable with a task, you can simply ask to do something else.
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| Q: | What is the age requirement to volunteer?
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| A: | Volunteer Age Restrictions:
Volunteers under the age of 16 should never be on site while construction is going on, but 14 & 15 year olds are permitted to work on landscaping days, fencing days, and in- and outside painting days (as long as no construction or work with power tools is going on).
16 & 17 year olds:
· Permitted to do general construction and general carpentry.
· Volunteers under the age of 18 cannot do excavation, demolition, roofing, use power tools or work at heights above six feet.
Anyone that is 18 or older is permitted to do any of the various construction-related jobs on the site.
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| Q: | What do I need to bring to the construction site?
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| A: | Habitat will provide all of the equipment / tools on the jobsite, but you are certainly welcome to bring your own (especially if you have a favorite paint brush, hammer, carpentry pencil, tape measure, tool belt or utility knife, etc.; but make sure your name is on each). Water and Safety goggles are provided on site. We do not usually have gloves on site, so if you require them, please bring your own. You may also want to bring snacks for the morning. For outdoor work, bring Hat, Gloves and Suntan Lotion. Please wear comfortable work clothes with protective footwear (NO SANDALS OR FLIP FLOPS)
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| Q: | Is lunch provided to volunteers?
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| A: | Habitat does not provide lunch on site. Please pack a lunch, or make arrangements for your lunch to be brought to the site. Construction usually concludes by 12:30 PM. Groups are more than welcome to provide lunch for themselves or the site.
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| Q: | What time do I need to arrive at the jobsite?
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| A: | Please arrive at least 5 minutes before the start of your shift in order to sign-in and get the instructions which are given at the beginning of the shift.
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| Q: | What should I wear?
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| A: | Whether painting, landscaping, or roofing, your clothes and shoes WILL get dirty, so please wear old clothes as they may not come clean. No open-toed shoes are allowed on the jobsite. Tennis shoes are a great choice. You may also want to bring a hat or visor since the sun can be quite bright. Please wear sunscreen!
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| Q: | Can I do my community service hours with Habitat (court or school assigned)?
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| A: | We have many people who complete their community service hours with us, whether court ordered or for school. Please make sure you bring your form and have the supervisor on site sign it at the end of the day. If volunteering on the construction site does not fit your schedule, you can always get community service hours at the Habitat ReStore.
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| Q: | Can I bring a group of friends or co-workers out to the jobsite?
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| A: | We would love for you to bring a group, but if you want to bring more than 5 people, you must sign up as a group, which involves scheduling your workday in advance. Please click here for more information on scheduling a group of volunteers.
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| Q: | Who is responsible if someone gets hurt while working at Habitat?
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| A: | Each Habitat volunteer must sign a Release and Waiver of Liability form and fax it, mail it or bring it to the jobsite on their first volunteer date. We keep them on file, so it only has to be filled-out once a year. Your and your group’s personal health insurance plan should cover the individual while engaged in volunteer work; however, each volunteer should verify that he or she has this type of coverage prior to signing the Release Form.
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| Q: | Will my car be safe while I am busy volunteering?
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| A: | When there are a small number of people volunteering, everyone can park at the jobsite while they are working. When large groups come out, we try to have designated parking attendants who direct you to the volunteer parking location. You are responsible for your vehicle or personal belongings. Please take the precaution of putting all valuables out of eyesight (the trunk is a great spot).
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| Q: | Is there an orientation for first time volunteers?
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| A: | No. Once you are on the jobsite, we will give you directions for your tasks.
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| Q: | How do I volunteer to work on a home?
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| A: | Individuals are welcome to show-up on a Habitat for Humanity work day, preferably for an entire shift. The website’s volunteer schedule will tell you which house. If you have a group of interested volunteers, please contact our office so that we may schedule accordingly. Information and directions can be found on our website within the “Want to Volunteer” section.
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| Q: | How many volunteers are on a work site at a time?
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| A: | In general we only need 20-25 volunteers on the work site at a time.
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| Q: | When do you build Habitat homes?
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| A: | Normal construction hours observed by Habitat for Humanity South Palm Beach County:
Thursdays and Fridays: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon (A-Team Volunteers)
Saturdays: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sundays: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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