FOX CITIES HABITAT ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATES. PLEASE READ THE DETAILS HERE.

every
volunteer

can help families build strength, stability and independence

We have a variety of volunteer opportunities at Habitat for Humanity and are certain that we can find something that is just right for you.

WHY VOLUNTEER WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY?
Your skills can help our organization provide affordable housing solutions for deserving families in the community.

WHAT VOLUNTEER ROLES ARE AVAILABLE?

  • Construction – new, rehab, home repair
  • Site Support Host – be the host at a Habitat construction site (AM only)
  • Meal Donor – prepare and serve lunch to a crew of approximately 8-20; snack donations are also needed occasionally
  • ReStore– cashier, floor/customer service, back room, deconstruction, donation driving crew, greeter, office
  • Rock the Block – painting, landscaping, cleaning, light construction, community projects
  • Logistics and Warehouse – help with inventory, tool trailer organization, prep construction sites, etc.
  • Office – data entry, prepare build schedules, thank you letters and more
  • Speakers Bureau – staff local fairs or speak at events to spread the word about Habitat
  • Special Events & Behind-the-Scenes – this will vary but could include committee work, class facilitating and more
  • Senior Crew – our core group of regular volunteers who fill in all roles listed above (you do not need to be retired to join – see below for more info)

No experience is needed to volunteer. We will teach you everything you need to know!

New to Habitat? Watch our online volunteer orientation before you start!

Are you interested in volunteering? Click here to create an account and register on Volunteer Hub!

What is the Senior Crew?

The Senior Crew is a group of individuals who give their time to Habitat on a regularly scheduled basis. While the majority of the members are retired, we have plenty of members who are not but simply have the time and heart to volunteer on a regular basis.  

Members receive priority scheduling, extensive communication and specialized training.  Perks include free Senior Crew clothing, name tags, social activities and more! For more information on joining Senior Crew, contact Jodi Isom at (920) 967-8882 or via email at Jodii@FoxCitiesHabitat.org

Are you already a Senior Crew member and need a little help with our VolunteerHub software? Check the video below for helpful hints in signing yourself up for shifts. Remember, you can pause at any time!

 

Individuals

Looking to further the mission of Habitat for Humanity through volunteering? Want to learn or hone your construction, retail, or other skills? Or you simply want to give back to others? Whether its all or none of the above, we would love to have you volunteer with us. All volunteer sign-up is done online. For individual opportunities, check out our options on foxcitieshabitat.volunteerhub.com.

Groups

Existing Home Sponsors

If your organization is financially supporting Habitat through partial or full home sponsorship, we reserve opportunities for your volunteers. The Volunteer Services Department will contact you with information including team specific volunteer sign-up pages and links for volunteer spots reserved for your group. 

Is your organization interested in learning more about a partial or full financial home sponsorship with Habitat? Contact Development Director, Amy McGowan, at (920) 967-8883 or via email at AmyM@foxcitieshabitat.org for more information.

 

General Group Opportunities

For all other group opportunities, start by contacting Volunteer Services Director Jodi Isom at jodii@foxcitiesabitat.org. Jodi will guide you in the various ways your group can volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.  

Minors Age 14-17

We believe that volunteer service is great for those of all ages; however, due to our insurance regulations, we are required to have age restrictions for volunteers ages 14 to 17. Please see list of restrictions below. 

Court ordered community service hours must be served through our Habitat ReStore. Service hours through church, school, etc. can be completed at either a Habitat ReStore or on our build sites as available.

How does a minor sign up to volunteer?

  • The minor goes on VolunteerHub and selects an open volunteer shift
  • An adult, over age 18, must sign up for the same volunteer shift WITH THE MINOR
  • The VolunteerHub system will prompt the minor to print, fill out and bring paperwork with them to volunteer
  • **Parent or guardian must sign the minor waiver/forms** regardless of the adult volunteering with them (youth group leader, etc.)

Additional waiver forms are available below:

Minor forms require the signature of a parent/guardian and minors must be accompanied by an adult over age 18. No one under age 14 can be onsite when construction is taking place.

Are there age restrictions for volunteers under age 18?

Yes, our insurance company mandates our age policy:

  • No one under age 14 can be on a Habitat worksite when construction is going on
  • Youth ages 14-15 can help with painting, landscaping or cleaning with an adult present
  • Youth ages 16-17 can help with general construction tasks and must have one adult to every three youth
  • No one under age 18 can work on a roof, go on a ladder or use power tools
  • Youth ages 14-17 can work independently at Habitat ReStore.  Contact ReStore Volunteer Coordinator Amy Christensen for details – amyc@foxcitieshabitat.org

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps is a national service program supported by the U.S. federal government, foundations, corporations, and other donors engaging adults in public service work with a goal of “helping others and meeting critical needs in the community.”

Members commit to full-time or part-time positions offered by a network of nonprofit community organizations and public agency, to fulfill assignments in the fields of education, public safety, health care, and environmental protection. The program is often seen as a domestic Peace Corps. It employs more than 75,000 Americans in intensive service each year.

AmeriCorps National Positions

Construction Crew Leader – Positions Available 
Ensure positive volunteer engagement on our homebuyer work sites with this exciting position! Serve with Fox Cities Habitat for Humanity for 10.5 months and receive a living stipend, health benefits, education award at the completion of service and MORE! Contact COO Amy Ristow at amyr@foxcitieshabitat.org for more information.

 

Court-Ordered Community Service

The ReStore has a great history of offering volunteer shifts to those that need to fulfill court-ordered volunteer hours. Court-ordered volunteers must comply with the following: 

* You may not volunteer if: 

  • You are registered with the Wisconsin or National Sex Offender Registry 
  • Your offense(s) involved theft or weapons 
  • Your offense(s) caused bodily harm 
  • Your court-ordered requirements restrict your computer usage or contact with minors or other members of the public.

Other factors impacting your eligibility to volunteer at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore include (1) frequency of and time elapsed since other offenses; or (2) any other factor that Habitat for Humanity deems relevant to your eligibility as a volunteer at the ReStore. All applications will be reviewed by management. Applicants will be contacted regarding their eligibility to volunteer at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. 

* Must complete a minimum of 20 hours for service to count as valid 

* Must pass a background check, read and comply with volunteer guidelines and complete an online orientation prior to signing up for shifts

** By clicking CONTINUE, you acknowledge that your court-ordered volunteer hours do not violate the above statements.

All hours will be void if this policy is not strictly adhered to. 

To continue as a court ordered volunteer, CLICK HERE

Power Couple…

It is time for you to meet another ReStore Power Couple.

Marv and Barb Gossen

This fun couple joins us at ReStore East every Wednesday working the floor as Customer Service. Andy, ReStore Manager and Jan, ReStore Assistant Manager shared with us how they enjoy when the two of them are here.

Barb has such an eye for seeing purpose in the used items that are donated and the right eye to keep this place organized. Marv is just one of those guys that always makes you smile or laugh, a ray of sunshine that always has a good joke.

We asked Marv and Barb a few questions, here is what they had to say.

“We have been with Habitat for about 13 years. We worked on a few builds in our younger years and decided we needed a lighter work load and a regular schedule to work with. We keep coming back because we enjoy the people we work with and the customers who come to our store.

The advice we would pass along to a new volunteer, try it out for a few months. It gets addicting.”

Thank you Marv and Barb for bringing joy, warmth, and organization to our days.

 

Meal Donors in the Spotlight!

Last Friday we held our very first “Thank you” breakfast for our wonderful volunteers who provided meals in 2019. We wanted to say thank you in a special way – and what better way than to provide a meal for them!

As we sat around the table enjoying the breakfast, it reminded me of the family meals I had growing up, when we gathered around the table and shared our day with the family. For many, this breakfast was the first time meeting each other, but by the end our the breakfast, it was like we were one happy family!

The group shared some humorous stories of meal proving; like chili being spilled all over a back seat of a car, to being a little late to delivering a meal, to not having any leftovers for hubby at home. One thing these people had in common was they all have a very generous heart and we so appreciate all they do for our Habitat volunteers!

A huge THANK YOU to all those who provided a meal and/or snack at our construction sites, the ReStores, or to the many other events we have throughout the year! If you’re interested in becoming a meal or snack provider, please email Jodie Tiede at jodiet@foxcitieshabitat.org or call (920) 967-8904.

This Week on Amy’s Avenue…

Happy trails to you…

This week we said farewell to one very special volunteer, Earl. Earl has been volunteering at ReStore West since 2018. His infectious smile and kind, warm energy were always one of my favorite parts of Wednesdays at ReStore West. Earl had recently embraced the role of Donation Ambassador in the back room of ReStore. This role plays a very big part in the day to day success of the ReStore. The minute a customer pulls up to drop off donations, they are critiquing their experience.

If we are able to have a volunteer available to be there to greet them right away, and to greet them with a warm welcome and gracious attitude, they are much more likely to return. Better yet, they may not only return, they could tell their friends and family about their great experience and encourage them to donate. If we are really lucky, they might become a volunteer!

The back room is our chance to embrace all that the Habitat for Humanity ReStore stands for and educate our gracious community of donors on how they are making a difference.

I am certain our donors and ReStore family will greatly miss Wednesdays with Earl, but we thank him with all of our heart for the time he chose to spend with us and his belief in the Habitat mission.

We wish you well.

Warm Regards,

Amy C

Stay Tuned…

We’ll be adding volunteer role descriptions here soon! 

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