Build Week Blueprint

Typical Volunteer Day

Many first-time volunteers have questions about volunteering with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. What if I have no construction experience? And what should I expect during a volunteer day? In this video, you can find answers to those questions and more!

There are some things you and your volunteers need to know before coming out to site. Please take time to read the following information and share it with volunteers.

What to Bring:

• Volunteers must wear sturdy, closed toe, closed heel shoes to participate (tennis shoes or work boots are great).

• Please bring refillable water bottles to site. We will have water on site to replenish your bottles.

• Bring work gloves if you’d like to use your own. All sites will also have some available for use.

• Lunch is not provided by Habitat. If your group is not providing lunch, please bring your own. Volunteers are discouraged from leaving site for lunch.

• Face mask if you choose to wear one.

• Please read our full Volunteer Guidelines for more details.

Still curious? Hear from past volunteers in their own words!

Health and Safety Guidelines:

• Vaccination or testing is highly encouraged but no longer required for volunteers to join us on site.

• Masks are optional, regardless of vaccination status, for all staff, volunteers, and visitors to our ReStore Home Improvement Outlets, offices, and construction and repair sites. As with all COVID-19 protocols, mask requirements may change based on case counts and public health guidance.

• Please read our full COVID-19 Safety Guidelines for more details.

VolunteerHub

VolunteerHub is Habitat’s volunteer management tool. This cloud-based platform simplifies registration, waiver completion, and tracking for volunteer groups. All volunteers coming to site must sign up through VolunteerHub. Waivers must be signed and completed annually.

How It Works

• Your Engagement Associate will send you a group page with signup instructions.

• Your group page only shows volunteer opportunities reserved specifically for your group.

• All volunteers need to create or log in to their user account to sign up.

• All volunteers have access to build details and will receive automated confirmation and reminder emails.

Benefits of VolunteerHub

• Group leaders, Engagement Associates, and construction staff can monitor signups for scheduling clarity and transparency.

• No need to print and bring your waiver. Waivers are signed electronically and saved in the system for reuse.

• Easy on-site sign in.

• Automated communication.

• User-friendly.

• Reporting capabilities with light workload internally.

Want to see who is signed up for your volunteer day?

Follow these instructions (PDF) >>

Volunteer Leadership

Providing volunteer leadership for your group's time onsite will help create a more efficient, organized, and successful build. This is a huge help to our onsite staff and AmeriCorps members. Here are the roles we recommend:

• Build Week Coordinator: The Coordinator has responsibility for your Habitat build. They chair the project’s coordinating committee and serve as the primary contact with Twin Cities Habitat. They may also serve as the on-site coordinator. They are additionally responsible for ensuring sponsorship funds and donations are sent to Twin Cities Habitat, communicating Home Celebration details to volunteers and committee members, and staying in close contact with their Engagement Associate.

  Want to make sure you are prepared to bring volunteers to site? Use our Build Week Coordinator checklist.

• General Construction Volunteers: Your group is expected to recruit the appropriate group size for your build site. Your Engagement Associate will provide you with this information.

  Want to make sure your volunteers are prepared for site? Send them this Volunteer Checklist.

• Optional Committees: There are many opportunities to spread work and build excitement by forming committees. Consider committees for volunteer recruitment and scheduling, organizing lunch and snacks, photography and social media, and fundraising.

Staff and AmeriCorps Roles

Our amazing staff are prepared and excited to make this a great experience:

• Site Supervisor: The Site Supervisor oversees the construction site and all volunteers. They plan the day’s tasks and manage the overall flow, progress, and safety of the build. The Site Supervisor spends most of their time at the worksite but occasionally leaves the premises for supplies, meetings, and coordination of other homes. When the Site Supervisor is away, the Onsite Volunteer Coordinator will be the onsite leader.

• Onsite Volunteer Coordinator: Onsite Volunteer Coordinators are typically AmeriCorps members giving a year of service to Twin Cities Habitat. They work alongside Site Supervisors and assist with overall construction and management of volunteers.

• Engagement Associate: The Engagement Associate helps recruit, schedule, and coordinate volunteer groups. They act as a liaison between group leaders and Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity’s on-site construction staff. They are responsible for communicating all logistics and build day specifics (date, location, contact information, etc.) prior to the build day, as well as coordinating details of the sponsorship pledge and pledge reminders.

Volunteer Expectations and Policies

These guidelines are to make sure the volunteer experience is as productive, meaningful, and safe as possible. See all volunteer policies >>

Safety is Priority

Volunteers are expected to follow all instructions set by the Site Supervisor and/or AmeriCorps member. Enforcement of the safety rules is the responsibility of the Site Supervisor and AmeriCorps member. Violations will be addressed quickly and in a constructive manner. If a volunteer continually violates safety expectations, they will be asked to leave.

Health Guidelines

Help keep our staff and volunteers healthy. These guidelines are to ensure a healthy volunteer environment, prevent the spread of illness among volunteers and staff, protect the well-being of all participants, and contribute to a safer workspace.

• Volunteers are encouraged to prioritize their health and the health of others. If you are feeling unwell or exhibiting symptoms of illness, please stay home. If symptoms begin during your volunteer shift, please notify your supervisor and go home.

• These preventive measures are suggested:

  • Wash hands frequently

  • Use hand sanitizer

  • Practice good respiratory hygiene

  • Consider getting vaccinated for preventable illnesses

Volunteers are responsible for the following:

• Informing staff of physical or experiential limitations and working within them.

• Following all instructions presented by staff.

• Respecting the inherent dangers in construction work by maintaining a high level of awareness and taking responsibility for their actions.

• Asking questions when unsure how to perform a task safely.

• Staying home when sick: Please do not come to site if you are experiencing fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, or other symptoms of illness.

• Inform site staff if an injury has occurred; even a minor scratch or cut should be reported.

Group Numbers

Build Week groups are expected to provide a full group of construction volunteers per day. Your Engagement Associate will clarify the group size for your site, which depends on the size, type, and stage of the build. Volunteers who have not completed the safety waiver will not be allowed on the worksite.

Volunteer Hours and Late Arrivals

Each construction volunteer is asked to show up on time and stay for the full day (8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. except on Wednesdays, when we end at 2:30). Groups are not allowed to schedule split shifts or longer build days. Volunteers who show up late (after 8:30 a.m.) can be prohibited from volunteering that day. Site Supervisors will have full discretion over whether to allow a late volunteer to participate. If they are able to participate, the Site Supervisor or AmeriCorps member must ensure the volunteer receives proper safety instructions and is incorporated effectively into the group.

Youth Volunteers

Youth working on the construction site must comply with the following age guidelines:

• All volunteers onsite must be at least 16 years old. Volunteers under 16 will be sent home. The only exception would be if there was a group delivering lunch to the build site while it is inactive.

• One adult crew leader (over the age of 21) is required for every group of four 16 to 18 year-olds.

• Individual volunteers who are 18 years old do not need to have a supervisor but cannot act as supervisors of younger volunteers.

• Adult supervisors are required to work directly alongside the youth they are supervising.

• If a group arrives without the appropriate level of adult supervision, or does not have completed volunteer waivers for all volunteers, youth under 18 will be sent home.

• The youth waiver is now available online at VolunteerHub.

Share Your Volunteerism!

You can now easily become a part of a home's story by uploading or emailing photos from your volunteer day. Share selfies and other photos from your build.

View albums or upload here >>

Don't forget to follow and tag us on our social media accounts.

• Build Forward Together Strategic Plan

• Build Week Coordinator Checklist

• Directions to Use Volunteer Points

• Directions to View Registrations in VolunteerHub

• Habitat 101 and Build Forward Together PowerPoint (automatic download)

• Home Locations

• In-kind Donations

• Pledge Fulfillment (automatic download)

• Respectful Workplace

• Tax Exempt Status Letter

• Volunteer Checklist

• Volunteer Guidelines

• Volunteer Policies and Conduct (automatic download)

• Yogile Photo Sharing