Individual Volunteer Opportunities | Habitat for Humanity EBSV

Volunteer Home Building

Helping on a Habitat construction site is one of the most unique, hands-on volunteer opportunities in the Bay Area. Whether you have never swung a hammer or you're a seasoned professional, we provide the training and tools needed to make a difference that you’ll see and feel at the end of the day. From building new homes to repairing existing ones, all construction volunteers build the strength and self-reliance a family needs to change their lives through homeownership.

ReStore

Volunteering at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore is an exciting way to give back to your community. ReStores, Habitat’s home improvement stores and donation centers, sell new and gently used home goods and building materials. Sales then fund the construction of Habitat homes. By volunteering at the ReStore, you help Habitat build more affordable homes. With locations in Oakland, Concord, and San Jose, the ReStore offers Bay Area volunteers a variety of opportunities to make a difference.

Interested in making a difference on an ongoing basis? Click here to see our available regular volunteer opportunities like Digital Marketing Volunteer, Sales Volunteer, and much more!

Playhouse

Our Playhouse Program is one of the many innovative fundraising tools we use to work with community volunteers to broaden our impact and empower more families through affordable homeownership. Playhouse volunteers spend a full or half day at our Oakland or Milpitas workshop, getting playhouses ready for assembly. Once completed by sponsoring groups, playhouses are donated to children through partnering organizations like Blue Star Moms. We provide all the tools and training necessary to put together the start of a child’s dream playhouse!

Committees

Joining a committee gives you a unique look into our organization while deepening Habitat’s reach in the community.

Interview applicants, conduct home visits, and review applications to help us select our future homebuyers through the Family Selection Committee.

Help Habitat stay connected with our homeowners long after move-in as part of our Family Resource Committee.

Engage with faith communities by making presentations at services, promoting volunteerism, and providing prayer support on the Faith Committee.

Represent Habitat at tabling events, speaking engagements, and other community events. Be a Habitat ambassador as part of the Speaker’s Bureau.

How do I get there? Where do I park and meet?

We encourage you to carpool or take public transportation, to meet us at the worksite. We usually have a Volunteer Kiosk on site for registration. Parking is typically available on the street; exceptions will be noted when you register for a workday. Please pay close attention to any posted street signs restricting parking for local residents.

What kind of skills or experience do I need?

No skills or previous experience is necessary. Our sites provide all the training you will need!

Can I complete Community Service with Habitat?

We are happy to have volunteers complete community service with us as long as the community service is not related to theft or aggression. All of the volunteer opportunities listed on our online sign-up system welcome community service volunteers. While we cannot guarantee you 'll complete all volunteer hours with us, we do have many volunteer opportunities available. Click here to sign-up!

Do I need to bring any tools?

We provide all the tools you’ll need. If you have a favorite hammer or other tools you’d like to use, please be sure to label personal tools with your name.

What should I wear?

Please wear comfortable clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty and sturdy, closed-toed shoes. Most volunteers wear:

Sneakers
Jeans or shorts
Old t-shirt
An old sweatshirt
Layers and sun protection to be prepared for any changes in the weather!

Can I leave early or arrive late?

We ask that volunteers commit to the full time span of any event. That way, everyone receives all the key orientation and safety instructions at the start of the event and helps through cleanup at the end. If you are unable to commit to a full day, some volunteer opportunities offer half day options.

How can I get proof that I completed my hours?

Habitat staff will be happy to sign any forms that verify volunteer hours once your hours have been completed. So please remember to bring your forms with you.

If you do not have a form, we are happy to provide an hours verification letter after your last day of service by:

Emailing Volunteer@HabitatEBSV.org and request an hours verification letter
Include the site, date, and number of hours for each volunteer event you would like verified (only include volunteer events that have already occurred).
Please allow up to two weeks to get your hours verification letter.

Do I need to attend a volunteer orientation?

No! We start each volunteer day on site with a short orientation about Habitat and our current projects, safety information, and task assignments/instructions.

How old do I have to be?

For safety reasons, all volunteers must be at least 16 years old– even with a parent/guardian. Volunteers under the age of 18 must bring a signed minor waiver form with them to site.

If you are 15 or younger, we have a few alternative volunteer options such as fundraising, handing out flyers, or preparing lunch for site volunteers.

What should I bring?

Be prepared with: a reusable water bottle; sturdy, closed-toed shoes; work clothes; clothing layers; a hat; and sunscreen. We will provide tools and safety equipment, but you can bring your own tool belt, gloves, and tools if you wish. If you have a favorite hammer or other tools you would like to use, please be sure to label personal tools with your name.

What about rain or other conditions?

For safety reasons, we will close the site in the event of heavy rain, but we generally work through light showers. After 7:00am on the morning of your volunteer day, call 510-251-6304 and follow prompt #7. If the site is closed due to rain, the message will say so. If the message makes no mention of rain, assume the site is open.

How do I bring out a group?

We offer a variety of different volunteer opportunities for groups of any size. If you are part of a company looking to volunteer, please visit our Company Team Building page for more information. If you have five or more participants and are part of a school, community, faith, or other group, please visit our Faith & Community Groups page for more information.

Is lunch provided?

Lunch is not provided, with special exceptions. Volunteers bring a sack lunch or plan to purchase lunch nearby. Your lunch break is short, so bringing a lunch is recommended.

How do I give feedback?

We would love to hear your feedback! Feel free to fill out our survey here or contact us directly at 510-803-3322 or Volunteer@HabitatEBSV.org.

Can I volunteer more than once? Can I make it part of my regular schedule?

Absolutely! If you are volunteering short term or would like to volunteer at more than one program, you can click here sign up for multiple volunteer days.

If you would like to make a long term commitment (at least 3-6 months) to volunteer at least once a week or 3 times a month, we would love for you to become a Regular Volunteer. To get started, volunteer at least three times at one site and let site staff know you're interested in becoming a Regular Volunteer.

Perks of becoming a Regular Volunteer include flexible scheduling directly with program staff, learning skills alongside fellow volunteers & staff, invitations to appreciation & special events, Habitat swag, and becoming an integral part of our Habitat family! For more information about becoming a Regular Volunteer, please email Volunteer@HabitatEBSV.org.