About the Project
Volunteer Information
Other Resources
Episcopal Habitat for Humanity Project
Information for Project Workers
Page Updated 09/29/10
Volunteer Packet
Full information and the volunteer waiver form for the 2011 build are available in the downloadable volunteer information and waiver packet.
Age Restrictions
Young adults must be 16 or older. (Children that you see on site are members of the homeowner’s family, and an exception is made for them.)
Waiver forms for volunteers aged 16 or 17 must be signed by a parent or guardian.
Only volunteers 18 or over are allowed to use power tools or work above ground level.
Work Hours
Receive instructions from the House Leader at 7:45 AM, start work at 8:00 AM, lunch is on site from 11:30 to noon, work finishes at 3:00 PM, and cleanup finshed at 3:30 PM. Volunteers are expected to put in a full workday. It is important to arrive at the site by 7:45 AM so that the workday can start smoothly and efficiently!
What to Bring
- Work gloves if you have favorites, otherwise Habitat will provide them for you.
- Hat
- Laced shoes (no sandals, flip-flops, open-toed shoes.) Running or tennis shoes are allowed but you may prefer some sort of work boot or hiking boot with a stiff sole and ankle support.
- Keep your shirt on! (Literally.) And no bare midriffs, short shorts, sagging pants or shorts, halter tops or spaghetti straps. Wear clothes which can get dirty and stained. Dress in layers.
- Your choice of drink - water is provided. (No alcohol or glass containers allowed onsite!)
- Lunch will be provided by Habitat. Our Project will be charged for and unused lunches, so an accurate count of volunteers is important.
- Sun screen in the hot months.
- Tools will be provided. You may bring your own but be sure to mark them.
- Please bring signed Habitat waivers to the site. Check in at Site Support (as shown in the map). You may also fill out the waivers at Site Support. Waivers are required ony before your first workday, and then are good for the rest of the build.
- Please do NOT bring: children under 16, pets, glass containers, or alcohol.
Location and Where to Park
Full details are available here.
Cancellation
If work is cancelled for a day, you should expect to hear from your church’s volunteer coordinator. If it looks like rain, just remember to dress accordingly and be prepared to be flexible in what work can be done this day! You can also check for a message on the home page of this website or via our RSS feed. Finally, if the weather is inhospitable, Habitat - Saint Louis will update its weather hotline at (314)371-0400 Ext 45 after 6:30 AM. Of course, the more people who call this, the more clogged it will become. . .
Safety
You will be in unfamiliar space and doing new and different physical tasks. Please THIN safety and work within your limits. We will have a safety observer with us to remind us of our “momentary lapses”! Health insurance is your personal responsibility.
Whenever someone is or could be working above you, you will be required to wear a hard hat.
This is an exciting project which will cause another quality home to be provided to a family who in no other way could own such a home, and allow Episcopalians in the Diocese of Missouri to work together on a project which will both engage them and provide them deep satisfaction.
Other Information
Upon arriving on site we will have a time of prayer, general safety instructions, and task assignments and instructions. If you need help or do not know how to do something, please ask. Please be patient. While we expect to have a sufficient number of Crew Leaders to help volunteers, it may take a few minutes for one to become available.
Portable restrooms are available at the work site.
If any of your volunteers need community service credit you will need to inform the Habitat staff when you sign in at the Site Support trailer and receive an orange card that will be used to track your hours. Otherwise Habitat will have no record of their service. See complete community service information.