Overview

Build with Beaches Habitat! Whether you are an experienced carpenter or have never touched a hammer, we will find a place for you on our construction site! Though we are a Christian ministry, we welcome volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds to be a part of our organization.

If you are completing community service to fulfill a legal requirement (probation, pre-trial, etc.), need your hours verified or are younger than 18 years of age, please contact us before scheduling hours at (904) 241-1222, option 1 or volunteer@beacheshabitat.org.

Volunteer opportunities are typically available 5 mornings each week and are open to volunteers who are at least 16 years old.

Schedules and age requirements may vary, so please be sure to review the details in the Volunteer Calendar for project-specific information.

Volunteer Requirements

It is required that construction volunteers:

  • Be at least 16 years old;
  • Register to volunteer, either online or over the phone, and complete a release and waiver of liability before volunteering and at least once per year;
  • Sign up for a volunteer shift to so our team can be prepared to provide you with a great volunteer experience;
  • Dress appropriately for construction work, including wearing sturdy shoes that cover your whole foot (work boots are preferable but athletic shoes are okay);
  • Are ready to get dirty! This is a real construction site.

Volunteer Recommendations

It is recommended that construction volunteers:

  • Complete the safety course offered by our partner, Lockton Affinity, prior to volunteering.
    • Please visit HFHAffiliateInsurance.com/courses
    • Enter the Employee Access Code W8NAEBTG
    • Select "Volunteering On A Habitat for Humanity Job Site" from the list of recommended courses;
  • Have a moderate level of physical fitness;
  • Have the ability to perform moderately strenuous bending and reaching activities;
  • Have the ability to balance on stairs and uneven surfaces;
  • Have the ability to work in a dusty and active environment without climate control of any sort (dust masks and other protective equipment will be available);
  • Have the ability to meet other moderate physical demands associated with the day's activities.
  • If you have any concerns about your ability to meet these recommendations or need accommodations, please contact us so we can do our best to work with you!

Get Started

Step 1: Create an account in the Volunteer Calendar

Step 2: Sign up for a shift (or two or three!)

Step 3: Complete a release and waiver of liability form (linked on the calendar and in your confirmation email)

Step 4: Come to the site and make a difference in the life of a local family!

Questions?

Call (904) 241-1222, option 1 or email volunteer@beacheshabitat.org.

Get Ready to Build

What to Expect

  • Volunteering on the construction site is a fun and rewarding experience. Please remember, this is a real construction site. You’ll be helping us with hard work, and you will get dirty.
  • Please plan to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the scheduled start time. It may take a few minutes to park and make your way to the site. Upon arrival, find the registration table and sign in.
  • As a Christian ministry, we begin our day with prayer. Everyone is welcome, regardless of your faith. If you prefer not to participate, please join in after the prayer for safety information. Sites and/or tasks are assigned after the safety overview.
  • If you’re unable to stay for your full volunteer shift, please let us know as soon as possible!
  • If you are uncomfortable with a task or need more information to complete it, please talk to your leader. They will teach you how to safely and effectively complete a task or help you find an alternative task.
  • Volunteer safety is our top priority. No matter what tasks you are asked to do, rest assured that our team will do their best to teach and train volunteers to meet the day’s goals safely!

What to Wear

  • Thick soled shoes that cover your entire foot are required on the construction site, preferably work boots or athletic shoes. Sandals, Croc, clogs, and other shoes that expose part of your foot are not allowed.
  • Most work is outside – please dress appropriately for the weather. We encourage pants to protect your legs from scrapes and scratches, but shorts are acceptable.
  • Clothes that can get dirty are strongly encouraged – rips, stains, and drips are common on the construction site.
  • Out of respect for our diverse population of volunteers, we request that all volunteers wear modest attire and refrain from wearing clothing with offensive, suggestive and/or profane designs.
  • Hard hats are required on most sites. They are used by many volunteers, so you may want to bring a handkerchief or scarf to cover your head under the hard hat. Gaiters are available on construction sites.
  • For your safety, please be sure to follow the construction team’s instructions for proper use of hard hats.

What to Bring

  • Water is provided on site. Please bring a water bottle and feel free to refill from our coolers.
  • Snacks are provided for break. If you have allergies or restrictions, feel free to bring a snack with you.
  • Tools will be provided on site. You’re welcome to bring your own tool belt and small hand tools. Please do not bring power or pneumatic tools, such as saws, nail guns, etc. Be sure personal tools are labeled with your name. Beaches Habitat is not responsible for lost or damaged personal items.
  • It is preferred that you use the hard hats provided on site. Hard hats expire! We monitor our hard hats for wear and to be sure they are used within the lifespan recommended by the manufacturer.
  • There is no safe place to store valuables. Please leave valuables at home or locked in your vehicle.
  • Please do not bring pets, other than service animals specifically trained to aid a person with a disability.

Age Restrictions

  • Beaches Habitat's guidelines for participation by age are as follows:
    • Volunteers age 18 and above may engage in all available tasks.
    • Youth ages 16-17 may engage in general construction work but are not permitted to engage in the following activities:
      • operating, setting up, adjusting, cleaning or repairing power-driven tools or machines;
      • operating circular saws, band saws, chain saws, wood chippers, or cutting discs;
      • wrecking or demolition;
      • roofing operations or activities in close proximity to a roof;
      • excavation, working in, or back filling a trench deeper than 4 feet;
      • driving a motor vehicle;
      • or working from a height of over six feet.
    • Youth ages 15 and younger are prohibited from working on an active construction site, however, they may engage in limited activities such as snack sponsorship or tours of an inactive construction site.
    • Youth ages 14-15 may participate in landscaping, painting, and cleaning activities when only those activities are being completed on a site.
  • A parent or legal guardian’s signature is required for all volunteers younger than 18 years of age.
  • For their safety and to ensure compliance with age restrictions, all volunteers under 18 years of age will be given a colored wrist band or name tag during volunteer check-in to identify them as minors.
  • When volunteering as a group, one adult supervisor (age 25 or older) should accompany every four youth volunteers. Adults are responsible for assuring all applicable Beaches Habitat construction site and age restriction policies are followed.

Other Information

  • There is no smoking or vaping on the construction site. Designated smoking areas are available.
  • Please silence cell phones for safety purposes and step away from the construction site for any calls, texts, etc. When possible, wait for scheduled breaks to use cell phones.
    There should be no head phones or ear buds on the construction sites to ensure that volunteers can hear directions, announcements and safety warnings. When it is appropriate, leaders may play music appropriate for a Christian ministry.
  • Volunteers are welcome to take photographs. Please try to minimize disruption to construction activities while doing so.
  • Construction locations, workdays and assignments are subject to change due to the unpredictable nature of volunteer construction work. Your patience and cooperation is appreciated so that we can ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for all.

Construction Volunteer FAQ

Where is the construction site?

Our service area includes Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach and Eastern Jacksonville. Most of our work is in the Mayport area of Atlantic Beach.

Construction sites can change often - if you don't see an address when you register on the volunteer calendar, please contact our Volunteer Services Department at (904) 241-1222 option 1 or volunteer@beacheshabitat.org for more information.

When do you build?

Volunteer opportunities are typically available Tuesday through Friday from 8 am to 12 pm and Saturday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. To see available dates and times, please register with our volunteer calendar.

Can I just show up at the construction site?

For safety, we have a maximum number of volunteers who can be on the site each day. We want to be sure we have enough supplies and work for you to do, so please sign up!

You can use our volunteer calendar or contact our Volunteer Services Department by calling (904) 241-1222 and selecting option 1 or sending an email to volunteer@beacheshabitat.org.

Do I have to attend an orientation before volunteering?

No, you don't have to attend an orientation before volunteering. At the beginning of each day, our construction team will orient you to the construction site, so it's is important that you arrive on time!

I registered with the calendar. Now what?

After you have created an account, you can sign up for specific dates and times on the calendar.

If you can't find what you need or have any trouble signing up for an event, please contact Volunteer Services by calling (904) 241-1222 and selecting option 1 or emailing volunteer@beacheshabitat.org.

I need a letter or a form signed to verify my volunteer hours. Can you do that?

If you need your hours verified for court or other legal reasons, please visit our Community Service Volunteers page to check if you are eligible to complete mandated hours with Beaches Habitat.

If you need your hours verified for school, work, or military service, and have a form to be completed, please bring it with you when you volunteer. At the end of your shift, one of our construction staff or AmeriCorps members will sign it for you.

If you need a letter and you'll be volunteering for 4 hours or fewer, you can request a letter by emailing volunteer@beacheshabitat.org after you've completed your hours.

If you need a letter and you'll be volunteering for more than 4 hours, please download a copy of our Documentation of Hours form. When you've completed your hours, submit the form by email to volunteer@beacheshabitat.org, by fax to (904) 241-4310, or in person at the office. Please allow 1 to 2 business days for the completion of your letter.

Can I work with you to serve hours for probation, court-ordered community service, pre-trial intervention, etc?

Maybe. Before signing up to volunteer, please read our policy for Community Service Volunteers. You must be approved for service prior to scheduling hours.

What do I do if the weather is bad?

Decisions to cancel are typically made on the day of a volunteer opportunity. All registered volunteers will be notified by text and/or email if there is a change to the schedule.

If the weather is bad and you haven't heard from anyone, give us a call! You can reach the Volunteer Services Department at (904) 241-1222, option 1.

Do I need to bring my own tools or other equipment?

Beaches Habitat has all the tools and equipment that you’ll need on site, but you are welcome to bring your own tools. Items that we recommend are: work gloves, hammer, utility knife, tape measure, etc.

Please be sure that all of your personal items are labeled with your name.

Please do not bring pneumatic or power driven tools (like circular saws, nail guns, etc.).

Beaches Habitat is not responsible for lost or damaged personal items.

Do you provide water and snacks for me when I come to build?

Beaches Habitat provides water coolers on-site and snacks. Be sure to bring a water bottle with a removable mouthpiece if you plan to refill your water bottle from our coolers. Paper cups will also be available.