Volunteer to build Habitat Homes with Greater Lynchburg Habitat for Humanity
Partner with the Habitat families, our staff, and our incredible volunteer crew to build safe and affordable homes. If you don’t have construction experience, our crew will teach you the skills you need. We will provide all safety equipment, tools, and materials.
We accept individuals and group volunteers at our jobsites. One-time volunteers are welcome, and we also encourage volunteers to look into becoming part of our Regular Crew. Please talk with our construction manager or volunteer manager onsite for more information about joining the regular crew.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the workday schedule?
- 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- 8:00 – 8:15 am: Volunteer check-in, orientation, safety overview, and tasks assignments
- 11:30 am – 12:00 pm: Lunch break (Lunch is not provided unless otherwise indicated.)
- 2:30 – 3:00 pm: Site Cleanup
Please plan to carpool, if possible. Being courteous to our new neighbors is vital to ensuring our new homeowners are welcomed to the community.
What should I do when I arrive?
Please locate the Volunteer sign‐In station. Checking in is your priority when you arrive on the site. The volunteer or staff at registration will give you further directions.
What if there is inclement weather?
If the weather forecast for your scheduled workday is questionable, we will notify you by email of any delays or cancellations before 7 a.m. Our greatest concern is your safety. For less than optimal weather conditions, we will do our best to find work indoors. If you feel uncomfortable driving to the build site, please stay home and reschedule your volunteer day to a later date.
What should I bring?
Lynchburg Habitat provides all the necessary tools for your workday. If you choose to bring your gear (such as work gloves, hammer, tape measure, tool belt or nail apron, pencil) label any tools you bring with your name.
We will have big coolers of water and cups on site, so please bring your water bottle. You will also want to bring sunscreen and bug spray. You’ll also need to bring any food or other beverages that you would like throughout the day.
When is lunch?
Please bring lunch (or plan for your group to provide it) and a cooler, if needed. We’ll break for lunch around 11:30 a.m. and will need everyone to be ready to start working again at noon. If you plan on having someone deliver lunch to you on-site, please ask for delivery by 11:15 a.m.
What is the bathroom situation?
There are portable toilets on every site.
What is the minimum age for volunteers?
Anyone over 18 can participate on the construction site. Youth of ages 16 to 18 can work construction but there are some limitations. Those aged 14 to 16 years of age are permitted on the construction site when no construction work in the house is taking place. This could be projects like planting trees, spreading mulch, placing gravels, etc. Sorry, but children under the age of 14 are unable to volunteer on our construction sites. Child-friendly activities off-site can be pre-arranged. Call the Volunteer Coordinator to discuss options.
What should I wear?
- Wear good work shoes – boots are best, sturdy sneakers are fine. No sandals, open‐toed shoes, or light canvas shoes.
- Wear clothes that can get dirty. Avoid loose-fitting or baggy clothes.
- On hot days, bring a good hat and an extra shirt. Sunscreen is essential for most days in March through October.
- On cold days, bring extra layers such as a jacket, long-sleeved shirt, hat, gloves, and socks that will keep you warm
How should I prepare?
First, sign up with VolunteerUp at least 24 hours before volunteering. This will allow us to communicate with you with any specific information about the build day.
It is very important to arrive on time. Familiarize yourself with your route from your home or office to the site and email volunteer@glhfh.org if you have questions about how to find the site.
To familiarize yourself with basic safety and job site expectations, please watch this Habitat safety video.
Do I need to have construction experience to volunteer?
No, we will train you to safely complete all the tasks for the day.
Safety is our highest concern. When you arrive, staff will provide safety instructions and training on how to perform tasks. If you feel uncomfortable with a task or tool, be sure to ask for help or ask to be re-assigned to a different task.
We value quality over speed. Relax and have fun! We are happy to teach you! We can have many volunteers at our worksites, so it may take some time for staff to assign you a task. Please be patient with our process.