Opportunities: Volunteering Opportunities Current Needs Construction Volunteers: To Volunteer - Sign Up Here Volunteer Guidelines Volunteer Contact: Volunteer Desk (650)568-7342 volunteer@peninsulahabitat.org Home Volunteer Nearly 5,000 skilled and unskilled workers give their time each year (nearly 50,000 hours) in our office or on the construction site in support of our mission to build affordable ownership housing in San Mateo County. In addition to the unique experience of building homes, our volunteers become advocates for affordable housing because they see the need first-hand and they carry that message to their family and friends. When you volunteer with Peninsula Habitat, you help make the American dream of homeownership a reality for hard-working low-income families. Our Volunteer Department has developed a wide selection of work projects in an effort to meet different schedules and to ensure that you have a rewarding experience. We welcome everyone who wants to join us, regardless of the amount of time they have to give or their skill level. CONSTRUCTION Building affordable ownership homes based primarily on volunteer labor - more than 90 percent of the labor needed - is the Habitat model that has worked successfully in communities all over the world, including ours. For that reason, this is one of the most important jobs you can do at Peninsula Habitat. Without volunteer labor on the construction site, we would be unable to fulfill our mission and provide homes for low-income families. Whether you are skilled or unskilled; volunteering alone, or as part of a civic group, faith organization, or corporate team-building outing, your role is critical! Working on the construction site is hard work, but it is also fun and inspiring. You will often work side-by-side with Habitat families, helping to support their dreams of owning a home. To learn more about Construction Opportunities, please click here. OFFICE Office volunteers perform many of the clerical and supporting tasks required at Peninsula Habitat, helping to alleviate employee personnel costs and overheads, while providing a variety of options for individuals who are interested in supporting the Peninsula Habitat mission in ways other than construction work. These activities can be performed on a regular basis, i.e. weekly and monthly, or on an as-needed basis. Specific skill levels are needed in some cases, while others require no experience or skill. Typical office volunteering jobs include data entry, word processing, database management, filing, mailing, photocopying, warehouse support (manual), homeowner relations support (language translations, document reviews), photography, and notary services. For a list of Current Volunteer Needs, please click here. SPECIAL EVENT& COMMUNITY OUTREACH Special event volunteers, working under the direction of Peninsula Habitat's development department and special events committee, provide essential support for home dedications, groundbreakings, fundraisers and other events. Volunteers typically assist with site preparation and clean-up, parking control, food service, invitations and mailings, decorations, on-site deliveries, registration management, and other activities. Community Outreach Volunteers are specially trained and responsible for attending community events, such as job fairs, volunteer fairs and the like, to communicate Peninsula Habitat's mission and answer any questions that arise from the public. STRATEGIC VOLUNTEER Strategic volunteers work in positions requiring specialized skill sets and expertise obtained through education, training or prior work experience. These positions may include public relations, grant writing, graphic design, website programming, IT systems and technology, accounting, purchasing, procurement/construction management, and others. Volunteers who work in this capacity are intended to supplement the work of senior staff members and operate under the direction of a single manager who is accountable for their work. They are also under the oversight of appropriate Peninsula Habitat committees, including the construction, homeowner relations, finance or development committees. For a list of Peninsula Habitat committees, click here. YOUTH Sophia Cross provides lunch for a construction crew as part of the community service project for her Bat Mitzvah. Youth play an important role in the volunteer program at Peninsula Habitat, where we encourage your enthusiasm and involvement to help solve the housing crisis in the San Francisco Bay Area. Although you must be 16 years of age to work in construction, there are many other ways for youth to get involved, from fundraising and advocacy (how about spreading the word to all of your Facebook friends?), to stocking a fridge for a new Peninsula Habitat home or collecting holiday gifts for Habitat families. For more information about Youth Programs, click here. GROUPS We welcome any community group or partner company to roll up their sleeves and get to work at Peninsula Habitat, either in the office, at a special event, or on the construction site. From faith organizations to corporate team-building events, Peninsula Habitat is an ideal way to mobilize a group of people for a local cause. REGISTRATION Peninsula Habitat wants to ensure that every volunteer is productive, so pre-registration is required. In addition, we recommend that you book early-especially groups-to ensure you can reserve the date you want. Contacts: The Office of Volunteer Service Don Varney Volunteer Services Manager (650) 568-7341 dvarney@peninsulahabitat.org Jamin Sartor Volunteer Services Associate (650) 568-7342 jsartor@peninsulahabitat.org