Volunteer

The heartbeat of Habitat’s Mission

Volunteer

The heartbeat of Habitat’s Mission

Help People Build a Stronger Future

Volunteers are the heartbeat of Habitat Kent. Everyone, regardless of race, age, or abilities, can make a difference to help build affordable housing for local families. No experience, tools or skills are necessary to participate – we will show you how!

Volunteer Code of Conduct

Volunteers like you represent Habitat for Humanity of Kent County! All volunteers of Habitat Kentmust comply with the following code of conduct as outlined below at ALL Habitat Kent sites including construction, ReStores, warehouse, and material recovery program. This code of conduct must be followed in addition to compliance with local laws, regulations, and other policies.

Volunteer Code of Conduct 2021

Together we build more

Volunteer as an Individual

Roll up your sleeves and start building!

At Habitat Kent we make sure each volunteer has the opportunity to work in a safe, friendly, inclusive, and fun environment.

What can volunteers expect from Habitat?

Safe work environments
A chance to learn new skills
Productive work days
Patience, perspective and a sense of humor

Volunteer as a Group

Build a home, build your team.

Bringing people together is what we’re all about. Gather up your group and spend a day working hard and building a brighter future for a local family in need of safe, stable, and affordable housing.

Corporate Groups: Create a unified environment for your corporate group to give back to the community.
Community Groups: We take groups of all shapes and sizes from faith communities, nonprofit organizations, service groups, clubs, and more.
Collegiate Groups: Join your fellow students in giving back to the community. See below for a list of Habitat Kent collegiate groups: Aquinas College, Ferris State University, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, and more.

Group Interest Form: Online

Group Interest Form: Download

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are the heartbeat of Habitat for Humanity of Kent County. With the commitment of people like you, over 400 local families have realized the dream of affordable homeownership. Making a difference starts right here!

Habitat Kent is an approved community service organization. Email volunteer@habitatkent.org for more info.

Construction

Build more with local families.

We have volunteer opportunities at our construction sites year round. No experience, tools or skills are necessary to participate – we will show you how!

Day at a Glance

No construction experience is required
Construction tasks may include deconstruction, framing, painting, trim carpentry, exterior trim, siding, final details, landscaping
The day begins with a safety orientation
Construction sites are open Tuesday – Saturday
- Normal workday hours are 8am to 4pm; Wednesdays begin at 9am
Dress for the weather and pack your own lunch

Age Requirements

Chaperones are required for youth under 18 years old
16-17 year olds may assist on most construction sites, but may not use power tools or work from a height of six feet or more
14-15 year olds may paint trim in our warehouse or landscape in our learning garden
Youth under 14 years may not volunteer on the construction site, but there are still many youth volunteer opportunities:
- Help to stock our ReStores by collecting donations
- Fundraise to help build a child’s bedroom (items range from a doorknob to carpeting)
- Say “thanks” to our volunteers by making snacks or lunches
- Make cookie or pizza kits to help kids feel at home when they move in
- Help us appreciate our volunteers by making fun seasonal gifts (great for big groups)
- Create a scrapbook of photos commemorating different steps in the homeownership/building process
- Practice building skills and provide families with personalized home accessories, or use your projects as a fundraising resource
These are our most popular projects, but if you have other skills or ideas on ways you’d like to contribute we are always open to new opportunities! Contact us!

Carpenter’s Club

Join the dedicated men and women who are the core of our volunteers.

This group helps fill our largest need – regular weekday volunteers. Carpenter’s Club includes individuals and small groups who come together at least once a month to help Habitat families while sharing their strengths and learning new skills. Consider getting involved in one of these ways: construction, gardening, photography, office support, homeownership education, and more!

Join the Carpenter’s Club

ReStore

Retail with a mission.

We’ll find the task that is perfect for you! Options include customer service, picking up or sorting donations, repairing or cleaning merchandise, stocking shelves or finding creative ways to use donated products. Half day (12:30pm-4pm) shifts are available, and each ReStore can have 1-2 people per shift

Day At A Glance

No experience is required
The day begins with an orientation
You’ll be helping sort materials, stocking shelves, or in-take donations.
Wear closed toe/heel shoes and comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty
ReStore warehouses aren’t heated, so dress accordingly
Pack your own lunch

Age Requirements

Chaperones are required for youth under 18 years old
Volunteers 16-17 years old may not use power tools or work from a height of six feet or more

Material Recovery Volunteers

Help our material recovery team deconstruct kitchens, bathrooms, etc. that will be resold at ReStore to help build more homes. Contact Jon for more info!

Volunteer at ReStore

Beyond the Home

We need more than construction volunteers to build safe, stable, and affordable homes.

Building safe, stable, and affordable homes takes more than saws and nails. We need volunteers in office support, hospitality, photography, gardening, coaching, finance, interior design, and more!

Office Support

Do you have a passion for organization and efficiency? Our office staff needs support to our mission moving forward. Tasks might include answering phones, logging data, helping with mailings, and more. Contact us to learn more .

Gardeners

We can always use landscape help on construction sites, home beautification projects, and in our Learning Garden. Our Master Gardeners design landscaping plans and you can help bring them to life. We are also an approved location for participants in MSU Extension’s Master Gardener program. Contact us to learn more.

Hospitality

Help volunteers feel like the valuable part of Habitat’s team they are by visiting volunteers on the work site with purchased or homemade snacks and lunches. Contact us to learn more.

Volunteer Frequently Asked Questions…

Do we need construction experience to volunteer?

No, you do not need any experience. Our site supervisors will give you all the onsite training you need each day. All skill levels are welcome and appreciated!

What should we expect volunteering with Habitat?

Expect to have some fun, learn new things and work hard. We meet on site each morning and start the day with orientation and training, including a safety talk. We will work in the morning and break for lunch at noon. (Please pack a lunch.) Work resumes in the afternoon until cleanup. Our skilled site supervisors are there all day to lead you.

What days can I volunteer?

We build year-round on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8am-4pm and Wednesday from 9am-4pm.

Can I bring a group?

Yes! Our construction sites provide many volunteer opportunities for groups of 10-15 people. To sign up a group, please contact Habitat Kent at volunteer@habitatkent.org.

Can I volunteer as an individual or small group?

Yes! Individuals and groups of less than 5 people can sign up on the Volunteer Hub or by emailing us.

Are there age restrictions for youth?

Chaperones are required for youth under 18 years old
16-17 year olds may assist on most construction sites, but may not use power tools or work from a height of six feet or more
14-15 year olds may paint trim in our warehouse or landscape in our learning garden
Youth under 14 years may not volunteer on the construction site, but there are still many youth volunteer opportunities.
If you have other skills or ideas on ways you’d like to contribute we are always open to new opportunities! Contact us!

What should I bring?

A packed lunch
A refillable water bottle
Habitat will have all the tools you will need, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own work gloves if possible. Feel free to bring your own tools if you prefer working with them.
Foldable chair to use if you’re staying on site for lunch.

What happens if there is inclement weather?

We work in light rain, but if there is heavy rain or lightning we will break and allow the weather to clear. If inclement weather persists we will try to move to an indoor site.
We do work while it is snowing, but we advise all volunteers to use their own best judgment regarding road conditions.

How physically demanding is the construction?

Some construction tasks are more demanding than others, but clear communication with your site supervisor will help him or her adapt tasks to your desired level. All volunteers are encouraged to work at their own pace and take breaks when needed.

What can volunteers expect from Habitat?

Safe Work Environments: Whether at a construction site, the ReStore, or a special event, we work hard to keep you safe. Safety orientations kick off every construction day, and safety equipment is provided.
Productive Work Days: Everything you need (tools, supplies and work plan) will be waiting for you, and by the end of the day you’ll see tangible results of your labor.
Learn New Skills: No experience is necessary—we mean it! Our site supervisors are trained to teach you everything you need to know.
Patience, Perspective and a Sense of Humor: We work hard and we have fun doing it!

What can Habitat expect from volunteers?

Prompt Arrival: A prompt start to each volunteer shift ensures we can finish our homes on schedule. Plus, having everyone on hand for orientation makes our work sites safer and more efficient.
Safety: Please use tools and equipment as instructed and adhere to safety procedures. Closed-toed shoes are required, and each volunteer must sign a liability waiver before working.
Commitment: If you sign up to volunteer, we count on you, and so do our homebuyer families!
Flexibility: Sometimes weather doesn’t cooperate, a task doesn’t go exactly according to plan or we need to refocus our efforts on a special project. Either way, we’ll make it work and hope you will too!

What should I wear?

Dress modestly in layers appropriate for the weather with a water resistant outer layer
Bring a hat to shade you from the sun or a winter cap to fit under a hard hat
Assume the house is not air conditioned or heated
Shirts must be worn at all times
Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes
Wear clothes that can get dirty or get paint on them

We Believe in You

ReBuild, ReNew, ReStore

Find out more

We’re Here To Help

Volunteer

Volunteer

Help People Build a Stronger Future

Volunteer Code of Conduct

Together we build more

Volunteer as an Individual

Volunteer as a Group

Volunteer Opportunities

Construction

Carpenter’s Club

ReStore

Beyond the Home

Volunteer Frequently Asked Questions…

A Home Can Change Lives

Veteran Homeownership Application List

Home Repair Wait List

Group Interest Survey