Volunteering
VOLUNTEERING WITH NSLCHFH
You can help build homes by donating, praying, and advocating for Habitat, but we also need hearts and hands to share time and talents on build sites and in the office. In our newsletters and on social media, you’ll see volunteers holding a sign that says “We helped build it!” Consider what you and other can do to build homes, communities, and hope with your neighbors in your communities.
Our staff and volunteer site supervisors can teach you skills that will not only benefit future Habitat homeowners, but also can help you maintain and repair your own home! At our construction sites, safety is essential, and smiles are abundant. Volunteering as a group is a great way to support Habitat, especially for those with no prior construction experience.
With your coworkers, friends, family, church group, or club, volunteering brings you closer together and makes a tangible impact on our area’s affordable housing crisis. Reconnect with roofing or enjoy fellowship while framing.
We’re also building teams of weekly volunteers. Our Wednesday group has tripled in size since November 2022, primarily because they’ve recruited people they know! We welcome groups whose members are available other days of the week. There is no obligation to show up every week, but when you’re there, you’ll be with old companions or new friends.
If you or your group are interested in volunteering, contact Community Engagement Coordinator Tucker Nelson at tucker@nslchfh.org or 218-780-4594. You can also fill out the form below.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
There are many different ways to volunteer with NSLCHFH. We match your skill, needs, abilities and wants to the different volunteer opportunities within NSLCHFH. Here are just a few different ways you can volunteer.
On a build site
One of the most common ways to volunteer with NSLCHFH is to help build the homes. We are always looking for individuals or groups of hard working people to help build the homes. Don’t have any construction experience? No problem! We will help train you in and help you along the way. We need volunteers to help with framing, drywall, flooring, landscaping, siding, roofing, painting, cabinets, doors, and windows, just to name a few.
Come prepared to be flexible—we perform a wide variety of work on our job sites, but we plan tasks in advance as much as we can. We will provide tools and personal protective equipment, but you are welcome to bring your own if they are safe to use. We will have water, sunscreen, and first-aid supplies on site. Close-toed shoes are a must, and please wear weather-appropriate clothing that you’re comfortable in and not afraid to get dirty.
Our staff will welcome you as you arrive, collect waivers, and complete sign-in for the day. We often give a brief talk at the beginning of the build day, sharing about the mission and history of Habitat as well as an outline of the program. We discuss safety for the day and give an overview of the day’s tasks, then we will get to work!
Our staff are on site to support volunteers throughout the day, giving instructions and keeping them aware of safety concerns given specific tasks. We strive to make our job sites welcoming places for anyone who is interested in helping. No construction experience is necessary to come make a difference on site! The Habitat job site is a low-pressure place to try to things and build skills, and our staff enjoy teaching and celebrating volunteer successes. Questions are welcome, breaks are encouraged, and while we work hard to deliver a home that our partner families will be proud of, we don’t do so at the expense of keeping our volunteers, subcontractors, and staff safe.
In the office
If working on a build site is not for you, then maybe volunteering in our office is! There are a lot of ways to volunteer in the office. One major way to volunteer in the office is to help fold our quarterly newsletters and our direct mail fundraising letters.
Serving meals
If you enjoy cooking (or know how to throw something in a slow cooker), bring lunch to volunteer builders. They’ve earned it, and they’ll let you know they appreciate the meal!
PO Box 24