The two most common volunteer opportunities are to help on the build site or volunteer at the Surplus Sale.
Construction: Current build hours are Thursdays 8-3 and Saturdays 8-3. Hours change to 9-4 in the winter.
- Construction volunteers help with various tasks, including framing, painting, and siding.
- There is a small, recurring band of volunteers called the Codger Crew that volunteer regularly and their efforts are supplemented by individuals and groups volunteering on the build site.
- We also look for help providing lunches for construction volunteers on build days.
Surplus Sale: The Surplus Sale is currently open Tuesday-Saturday 10 AM-6 PM, but volunteers can start working at 9. 9 AM volunteers can expect to help set up for the day by cleaning/organizing, preparing donations for sale, or helping out with our social media. The Surplus Sale is located at 304 North Main in Moscow. A wide variety of jobs are available, including front desk help, cashier, prep and test donations, accepting donations, donation truck crew, etc.
Other: Check out our volunteer information page for more volunteer opportunities with Palouse Habitat.
Yes, you need to sign up in advance to volunteer on the build site or at the Surplus Sale. Please fill out the form on the appropriate page so we can contact you with more information.
For construction volunteers, yes! All volunteers must complete an online registration form (or one at the build site) and sign the waiver on the back of the registration form the first time they volunteer.
BEFORE YOU COME: Please review this online safety course. Go to http://hfhaffiliateinsurance.com/volunteers/ and click on “Begin Now”. You should see “Online Training Course Instructions” and the access code “W8NAEBTG”. Click on “Take Training Course Now”, enter the access code, and click “Submit”. You are welcome to take any of the courses listed however we would like everyone to take “Volunteering On A Habitat for Humanity Job Site”.
Everyone on the build site must be at least 16 years of age. Those under the age of 18 must have their waiver signed by a parent/guardian. If you are 16 you can volunteer at the Surplus Sale store by yourself if your parent signs the necessary paperwork.
Yes! Please make sure to sign in and out on our volunteer tracking sheet so we can confirm your volunteer hours if necessary. Please bring with you any forms you need to have filled out and have the construction site supervisor or store manager sign it at the end of the day. Volunteer tracking forms are stored at the office and you can call 208-883-8502 for assistance afterwards in confirming hours.
Cancellations do happen, but it is important that they be minimized. Keep in mind that once you are scheduled to volunteer, our construction and store plan accordingly. If you need to cancel, please do so as soon as possible by calling the office or contacting us. The office is not open Saturdays.
Contact us or fill out the form to request to schedule your group. Depending on the work, we may need to limit the number of volunteers on the worksite. Once you have scheduled a work day, we will email you information to help coordinate your volunteers. Each volunteer should review the online safety video and sign our volunteer registration form and liability waiver.
All volunteers must follow state and local guidelines on mask wearing to stop the spread of COVID-19. Face masks are currently required in the office, Surplus Sale, and when working indoors at the Uniontown build site. (Last updated October 2021)
On the build site, whether the task is painting, landscaping or roofing, your clothes and shoes WILL get dirty, so please dress accordingly. You MUST wear closed-toe shoes. T-shirts or long-sleeved shirts are also suggested. Sunscreen and a hat are also recommended if seasonally appropriate. Avoid loose fitting or baggy clothes.
At the Surplus Sale, volunteers must dress appropriately for a retail setting. Close-toed shoes are essential, and long pants are preferred. Clothing should be comfortable and provide good coverage. Please do not wear clothing with crude/offensive messages or language. Long-term volunteers will be provided a blue Surplus Sale Crew t-shirt.
You will receive an email confirming the time period for volunteering. Build site work days generally start at 8 AM (9 AM during winter hours, which start around October). When you arrive, please check in with Brent Bradberry or Dave Ostrom for orientation and a quick safety briefing. It is very important to arrive promptly so we can begin on time! For safety reasons, late comers or those not registered to work can and will be turned away.
Typical build site work days last for 6 hours or until we're done. If you need to leave earlier, feel free to ask.
The Surplus Sale is open 10 AM-6 PM, and you can fit your volunteer time anywhere within that timeframe. Our staff get there at 9 AM if you want to arrive before the store opens.
We sometimes have morning and afternoon shifts available. Please contact us to discuss available slots. If you only volunteer in the afternoon, you will still need an orientation and safety briefing.
Our Habitat Surplus Sale maybe also be a good fit for your volunteer needs - your shift there can start at any time and be however long you want.
Sometimes on the build site. Keep an eye out for weekly construction updates (Facebook, this website, or email) to confirm when lunch is being served. We will ask you to let us know beforehand if you have any food restrictions so we can plan ahead. We have bottled water on the site (look for a black metal cooler box) but you are welcome to bring your own water and snacks. A microwave is available on site, as well as any appliances that are currently installed in the house. (Want to cook or buy a build site lunch? Fill out our volunteer interest form and we'll get in touch with you.)
At the Surplus Sale, you should generally expect to bring your own lunch. However, large groups or particularly tough work days may call for a surprise pizza or Jimmy John's delivery. The Surplus Sale does have a fridge, freezer, microwave, and coffee machine for volunteers to use, as well as two areas (mezzanine and break room) to eat lunch outside of the shopping space. Water is also provided, either bottled or from our Culligan water cooler.
No, volunteers of all skill levels are welcome! We have skilled staff and volunteer leaders on site to explain and supervise each task. Safety is our highest concern. When you arrive, you will be given an orientation and safety briefing. If you are not comfortable with a task, you can simply ask to do something else.
If you are scheduled to volunteer, please report to the job site regardless of weather conditions. Sometimes work days are cancelled due to inclement weather forecasts and we will contact you beforehand if it changes your work day. In some cases, we'll be able to switch to indoor work. If weather changes quickly on a build day, we will release you from the jobsite if it gets too extreme for work. In case of a major weather event, please follow all government restrictions and regulations.
We will have all the necessary tools and supplies onsite, so you are not required to bring any tools with you. If you do choose to bring your own, please label them as yours (ideally with your last name) so we can return anything that gets lost. Certain tasks may require more tools than we own; if that is the case, it will be mentioned in our weekly schedule update.
Most tasks at the Surplus Sale do not require tools. If you do need anything, it can probably be found in the supply closet, tool testing area, front office, or as merchandise.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact our volunteer coordinator by selecting "Volunteer" on the contact form.
