NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!  TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED ON SITE

Shawnee Habitat for Humanity is a volunteer-driven organization. We welcome people from all walks of life to join us as we build simple, decent, affordable houses in partnership with God and families in need. Though the vast majority has no construction experience or building skills, volunteers are involved in most phases of construction.  Our crew leaders are willing to teach anyone interested in learning.  This is a fantastic way to learn a new skill, by working side-by-side with families who will live in the house, our volunteers experience for themselves the joy created when people are able to realize their dreams of home ownership.

Habitat volunteers contribute more than muscle. Creativity, strategy, and technical skills are among the many invaluable traits volunteers bring to the organization. With a minimal staff, Shawnee Habitat depends upon volunteer committees such as Family Selection, Family Support, Public Relations, Fund-Raising, Church Relations, and Construction. All of these committees are a tremendous help that combine to produce the result of simple, decent, and affordable homes in Shawnee.

What do volunteers do on site?

Volunteers perform a huge range of tasks on site, depending on the stage of construction. On the day you volunteer you could be assisting with framing, porch building, installing windows, insulating, tiling, sheet rocking, painting, siding, landscaping, site clean up or any of the other numerous things that make a house complete.

Some of the work is menial and grubby. We ask that volunteers be willing to undertake the tasks assigned to them. If you are wary of heights, please alert the construction staff when you sign in so that they can plan accordingly.

I am unskilled, does that matter?

While we welcome skilled volunteers and want to encourage those in the building trades to join us on site, the majority of our volunteers have few construction skills to begin with. Many of our volunteers remain with us on a long-term basis and volunteer regularly in order to build skills. You will be able to learn all aspects of construction with the hope that you will continue to volunteer, and even perhaps share your skills with unskilled volunteers in the future.

What kind of commitment is Habitat asking for?

Habitat needs volunteers who are able to make a regular commitment. However, occasional workers are welcome. In Shawnee we work every other Saturday, and sometimes on additional Saturdays or on weekdays. We encourage volunteers to make a substantial commitment to working with us.

What do I need to bring to the site?

We provide water at the work site, and sometimes a church or other group will provide lunch. In case no lunch is provided, volunteers should bring money for take-out. Volunteers should wear clothes that can get dirty and are appropriate for the weather. Heavy-soled shoes (athletic shoes are fine) are also important. No open-toed or open-backed shoes (e.g. clogs, crocs, etc.) are permitted. We recommend volunteers bring work gloves to the site, and if possible, basic tools such as a hammer, measuring tape, pencil, and utility knife. Tools should be labeled or easily identified.

FAITH BASED RELATIONS
Habitat of Shawnee depends upon the support of the faith communities in our area for volunteers, prayer and donations. If you are a member of a faith community in our service area and would like to arrange for your group to volunteer, to make a donation, or would like to have someone come speak to your group, please contact the Habitat office at 214-0434.