|
About
volunteering at a Building Site...
Do I have to have previous building
experience?
No. All
you really need is enthusiasm and a willingness to help. The number and
variety of our diverse tasks
can accommodate every skill level.
What types of jobs do volunteers do?
Anything and everything having to do with the start-to-finish building
of a house. This includes:
carrying materials, rough carpentry, finish carpentry, roofing,
insulating, installing windows/doors/cabinets/flooring,
hanging vinyl siding, painting, caulking, sweeping,
shoveling/raking/grading/planting, you name it.
Plumbing, heating and electrical
are typically donated by generous local service companies.
Are there any
non-construction jobs available at a build site?
There sure are! We need people to organize & oversee the tool pod,
people to coordinate & help set up lunch, people to register & sign
in volunteers, people to help carry equipment & materials, and
people to do site cleanup & safety patrol.
Is there an age
requirement to volunteer?
Yes and no.
Macomb Habitat imposes different
requirements and different restrictions on different age groups.
►Volunteers 18 years of age and older are
required to sign a Waiver of Liability.
►Volunteers
16 and 17 years of age are required to have a signed Parental Waiver
of Liability AND they are restricted from using ladders and power
tools.
►Volunteers
14 and 15 years of age are required to have a signed Parental
Waiver of Liability AND they are restricted from all building tasks
other than painting, landscaping, and cleanup.
What is the time commitment?
The time commitment is
whatever you'd like it to be. You may register to work as often as you'd
like. Work days begin at 9am sharp and end at 4pm. Evening work crews
begin at 5pm and end at 9pm.
Does it cost to participate?
No, there is no cost other than your time and generosity.
How do I get started?
First, you need to register with Habitat and sign a
waiver form. Next, you'll visit out
Volunteer Hub to check out dates and locations of our current builds.
Then simply pick your work day/days and sign up.
Do I need to bring
anything with me to the work site, like tools or lunch?
Macomb Habitat supplies all the
task-related tools that volunteers might need, though you are welcome to
bring your own if you would like. Tool belts, hammers, tape measurers,
pencils, razor knives, speed squares, and safety glasses are the
tools used most often.
Lunch, beverages & snacks may or may not
be provided on any given day, so it's a good idea to bring something
along just in case you need it.
As for clothing, what's
usually best?
Sturdy shoes or work boots are
recommended footwear, along with long pants, work gloves, and layer-able
weather-appropriate comfortable work clothes. Gym shoes are not
advised.
What happens if the
weather's bad on a scheduled workday?
Neither rain nor sleet nor snow keeps
Macomb Habitat from its mission - dangerous weather, however, does. In
the event of questionable weather, please contact our Volunteer
Coordinator at 586 263-1540.
Tell me about a regular
workday - what should I expect?
In brief...volunteers usually arrive
about 8:30am, get themselves organized, then help with the setup for the
work day. As it draws closer to 9am, everyone gathers and the day's
tasks are outlined by the Construction/House Leader and work crews are
formed, followed by a short safety spiel and a Habitat devotional.
Shortly thereafter, crews spring into action. Around noon, work
stops for lunch, then after lunch, work continues until 4pm-ish at which
point everyone helps collect and stow tools & equipment.
|
