Volunteer Orientations
The first step to volunteering is attending a Volunteer Orientation. This session will give you all the information you need about what we do here at Habitat for Humanity- Trenton Area, and the various opportunities we have for you to volunteer with us. It will also give you insight into the procedures for picking dates, our available dates and times, and how to get in here and help out.
Before you can volunteer everyone must attend a volunteer orientation session. They are normally held the second Saturday of every month. PLEASE CHECK THE CALENDAR TO BE SURE OF THE ORIENTATION DATE as certain scheduling conflicts alter the second Saturday of the month pattern on certain months. Orientations begin at 9 AM and end around 10:15 AM here at our headquarters 601 North Clinton Avenue in Trenton.
If you are planning to attend the next Orientation please contact our Volunteer Coordinator by phone or e-mail to confirm your attendance.
If the most current date and time does not work for you or you do not want to have to wait that long to get involved you can call the Volunteer Coordinator at (609) 393-8009 x228 and we will try to accommodate you.
Our next current scheduled monthly Volunteer Orientation is planned for
Saturday the 12th of June.
Forms
As well as attending a Volunteer Orientation, one must have both the appropriate waiver form and safety checklist form filled out and handed in before being allowed to work on our job site.
-Adults must fill out a waiver and skills assessment form
Adult Waiver & Skills Assessment Form
-Minors (volunteers younger than 18) must fill out a
Minor Waiver Form
(Note: Minors need a parent or guardian signature)
-All adults and minors must fill out a
Safety Checklist Form
You can receive these forms at the Volunteer Orientation or find them above in electronic form to be printed out, completed, and brought in with you when you attend your orientation.
As soon as you have completed these forms once and have handed them in they go on file and you do not have to fill them out or hand them in again on any of your future build dates unless your personal information changes. We ask that you resubmit the paperwork with your new information if there are any changes.
*The waiver form does not ask for your health insurance information, so it is best to bring your insurance card with you at the time of your build, just in case of emergency.*
General Build Day Details
If you have attended a volunteer orientation and called the Volunteer Coordinator to schedule a date to build with us, the following is a list of important points to understand before coming to the build site:
-The build day starts at 9am. Please try to get to our headquarters between 8:30 and 9am so that we can start on time.
-We are located at 601 North Clinton Avenue in Trenton on the corner of the intersection of North Clinton Avenue and Olden Avenue. Our building is tan and brown and looks like an old church (it used to be one) and it says “Habitat for Humanity” on both street facing sides.
-Across the street on another corner of the intersection is a large public parking lot where you can park your cars in the morning. You can then walk across the street to our headquarters to begin the day.
-No one needs to bring any tools or supplies with them for a build, we have everything you could need already on site. People can feel free however to bring their own tools if they like, it is actually a great help for volunteers to bring their own hand tools and safety equipment if they have them. If you bring your own tools you must make sure to mark them appropriately so that they do not get mistaken for a Habitat tool and lost on our work site. Only hand tools are welcome, DO NOT BRING POWER TOOLS TO THE WORK SITE.
-No open toed shoes or heels are allowed on the work site. People wearing open toed shoes or heels will be asked to leave. This is a very dangerous hazard on a construction site and we do not want anyone getting hurt.
-Appropriate attire includes work boots or a sturdy pair of sneakers. If you do not have a pair of work boots a sturdy pair of sneakers is fine, but we prefer work boots or something with a thick sturdy sole as there are nails and other hazards that can be stepped on and go through flimsy shoes or rip them. Steel-toed work boots are always best.
-We are aware that it is very hot out during the summer, but volunteers should wear jeans as they may be lifting things, using a power saw, or doing any number of other activities that might shoot debris at your legs or rub against them and cut them. Jeans might be a little bit warmer, but it has never been a problem and is the safest thing to wear on a construction site.
- If it is hot out, please drink plenty of water while working on the site to avoid dangerous dehydration.
- We do not always provide water on the work site, so it is in your best interest to bring a bottle of water with you or to bring money to purchase one down the street at the local deli.
-All volunteers should wear a T-shirt and sweatshirt but nothing too baggy as it can get caught on a nail or ladder and become a hazard.
-In the winter months it is in your best interest to bring gloves, a hat, scarf, etc..as the construction site is often drafty and not heated. Also, keep in mind you may be working outside. -Please only wear clothing that you do not mind getting dirty or permanently stained or ripped. This is a construction site- there are a lot of dirty and hazardous jobs that may ruin your clothing, and we do not want anyone shying away from a task due to their attire, or becoming upset mid day if clothing they like is ruined. The building tasks range from digging in dirt to putting up walls and even painting. No matter what the activity your clothes may get ripped or permanently stained.
-Lunch is not provided so you must bring it with you. There is a deli down the street from the construction site, so you may choose instead to bring money and buy something there. Consider eating at the local deli to support local business. Around noon you will break for a 45 minute to an hour lunch break.
Above are the important logistical details for your build day. Feel free to call the Volunteer Coordinator at (609) 393-8009 x228 or
e-mail us at
if you have any questions or concerns, or if you need any clarifications or more details.
Marissa Davis
Volunteer Coordinator
Habitat for Humanity-Trenton Area