Habitat For Humanity of Omaha

With more than 40 house sites waiting for homeowner families to arrive, Habitat Omaha has a lot of land to care for! We’re asking for your help to make sure these properties look shipshape all year long. This is a great volunteer opportunity for youth groups and families looking to keep our community clean. By adopting a lot, you help Habitat Omaha save money on mowing and snow removal, so that we can build more Habitat homes in the Omaha area! For more information contact Viv Ewing.

Be part of one of Habitat Omaha's most exciting annual events. This July Habitat Omaha is building three homes in one week and we need your help with our hospitality efforts. Volunteers will work in the Builders Blitz Command Center at the build site and help with registration, information, name tags, refreshments, set-up, clean-up and traffic control. The Builders Blitz will take place July 17-24; the days will be broken up into three volunteer shifts: 6 am-12 pm, 12 pm - 6 pm and 6 pm-8 pm. Visit the Habitat Omaha Volunteer Calendar to sign-up for this event. For more information contact Viv Ewing.

An easy yet worthwhile endeavor for your workplace or church, Cans for Habitat raises much-needed funds while protecting the earth. Organizations collect soda cans, which Habitat Omaha will pick up or a volunteer may deliver. The cans are then sold to a recycling center, and proceeds go to build more Habitat Omaha homes. Collection bins are provided. For more information contact Viv Ewing.

Our construction sites operate Wednesday-Saturday of most weeks. Volunteers work full days shift from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., but it is also possible to work a half day. On the day of your build, you should arrive at our main office, 2204 Ames Avenue, at 8:30 a.m. for directions to your build site. Volunteers must sign up for a build day at least 48 hours in advance by either phone or email. No special skills are required, but volunteers must be 16 or older.

To participate, please first attend a volunteer orientation or HabiTour. Once you’ve attended an orientation, you’re free to sign-up for upcoming build days! For more information contact Viv Ewing.

Do you know how to perform basic construction tasks? Do you like working with groups? We need your help in making sure volunteers have a great experience on the construction site, learn new skills and – of course – build a beautiful home! Crew and Support Leaders supplement our construction staff and make it possible for us to build bigger and better. For more information contact Viv Ewing.

Habitat Omaha FRIENDS is a volunteer group dedicated to the advancement and growth of the organization through fundraising and friend raising efforts. Visit the Habitat Omaha FRIENDS page to learn more about the group and to become a member today.

This year the Metro Omaha Builders Association (MOBA) and Habitat Omaha are partnering for MOBA's 2010 Street of Dreams. For every event ticket sold MOBA is donating $1 to Habitat Omaha. Also, Habitat Omaha will have an informational booth at the event. We need your help to greet the guests. All volunteers will be able to tour the homes free of charge after their shift ends. The Street of Dreams will take place July 10-25. Weekday volunteer shifts: 3 pm-6 pm and 6 pm-8 pm. Weekend volunteer shifts: 11 am-3 pm and 3 pm-7 pm. Visit Habitat Omaha's Volunteer Calendar to registere now. For more information contact Viv Ewing.

Great for schools and youth groups, Nickels for Nails is a service-learning program that gives you the chance to make change, with change. By collecting nickels, dimes and quarters you will help end poverty housing in our community. It’s hard to believe, but even the smallest amount can make a difference. One nickel buys one nail. It takes about 5,520 nails or $276 to build one house. You decide if you want to raise enough for 1, 2, 3 or more houses. We’ll let you do the math!

Habitat provides all the program materials. Through presentations and hands-on activities, participants learn about the need to end poverty housing right here in Omaha. For more information contact Viv Ewing.

Construction isn’t your thing? We have occasional opportunities in the office for data entry, mailings, filing and light house keeping. For more information contact Viv Ewing.

The Habitat Omaha ReStore has three goals: to help build more homes, to help the environment and to help other homeowners. It accomplishes these goals by recycling and reusing saleable building materials; generating funds to build more Habitat Omaha homes; and providing new and used home improvement materials at affordable prices to people of all income levels.

Volunteers at the ReStore run the cash register, answer phones, help with yard work, light house keeping, customer service and help load/unload trucks of donations – all critical pieces toward accomplishing the store’s three-fold mission! ReStore is located at 1003 South 24th Street, one block south of Leavenworth. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm, and Saturday, 9 am-4 pm. For more information contact the Habitat Omaha ReStore at (402) 934.1033.

Women Build is an all-women coalition that builds homes in partnership with hardworking, low-income families. The coalition is comprised of all kinds of women, many of whom are first time builders the first time they come out. On May 7, 2010 the Women Builders will raise the walls of a new home at 2852 Manderson Street and we need all the help we can get. The coalition will work Friday and Saturday each week throughout the summer until the house is complete. No experience is necessary. For more information contact Viv Ewing.

The new Habitat Omaha Young Professionals group is comprised of people who are passionate about fighting poverty in our community. The focus of the group is advocacy, volunteering and fundraising. This is a great opportunity for visionaries and organizers looking to get in on the ground floor of something new, in partnership with a widely-known nonprofit organization. For more information contact Kathy Wells or check out the Habitat Omaha Young Professional's page.

I want to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. How do I get involved?
It's easy! We offer several ways to sign up to volunteer. Register any hour of the day at volunteer.habitatomaha.org. There you can create an account, pick your days and hours, and print off the forms needed to become a Habitat Omaha volunteer.

If you prefer, you can also contact Viv Ewing, Director of Volunteer Services directly at (402) 457.5657 x111.

Is there an orientation I can attend?
Yes! We ask that all volunteers attend either an orientation or HabiTour prior to beginning service with us. This is a great opportunity to learn more about how you can help, important information about volunteering and the work of Habitat. Sign up for orientation or a HabiTour by visiting our Volunteer Calendar.

What kind of work will I do at the construction site?
Though we'll try to let you know what you'll be doing before your work day arrives, weather and other factors make predicting construction work a challenge. Some examples of what you might do include the following:

• Framing
• Roofing
• Installing insulation
• Installing cabinets and closets
• Landscaping
• Painting
• Light cleaning
• Loading and unloading materials

Whatever job you're assigned, make sure you're comfortable with it! If you are unable to complete a task, or feel afraid (not everyone wants to be on the roof!), tell your crew leader. You'll either be given another project or asked to break for a bit while crew leaders prepare for the next phase.

Do I need construction experience to help build?
No! It's great if you have construction skills but certainly not necessary. Your crew leader for the day will ensure that you receive training for the task at hand. Before you know it, you'll have picked up handy new skills you can use next time you volunteer!

For those who do have expertise in some aspect of construction, let us know! Though we can't guarantee that we'll have work in that area on the day you'd like to volunteer, we'll certainly do everything we can to put your skills to good use.

What should I wear?
If you're volunteering at a construction site or at our ReStore, wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty, torn, or even ruined. Closed-toe shoes are a must, so put on your sneakers or work boots.

If you're volunteering at our office, staff members wear business casual. We just ask that you refrain from wearing overly revealing or offensive clothing.

What should I bring?
Forms. These are available online at http://www.habitatomaha.org under "Get Involved." Each volunteer must complete and sign a Release and Waiver form. Volunteers who are 16 and 17 years of age must fill out and sign a Minor Waiver form and have a parent or guardian sign as well.

Tools. You are welcome to bring your personal tools. Please make sure to label them! We suggest bringing:  

• Hammer (at least 16 oz.)
• Tape measure
• Nail apron or tool belt
• Safety glasses
• Gloves
• Hard hat

If you don't have the above items, don't worry! The tools you need will also be available at the construction site. Other items like water, sun block, hat, sunglasses, and a camera all will come in handy.

What will I do at the ReStore?
ReStore volunteers can help with the following:

• Organizing
• Light cleaning
• Loading and unloading trucks with donated items
• Customer service
• Answering phones
• Running the cash register

To volunteer at the ReStore, call (402) 934-1033.

What will I do at the office?
Office volunteers can help with data entry, mailings, filing and answering phones.

How old do I have to be to volunteer?
For construction volunteers, everyone must be 16 or older. At the ReStore, volunteers must be 14 or older. If you are younger than 14, don't give up! Contact us, because other opportunities do come up for all ages.

For more information about volunteering with Habitat Omaha contact Viv Ewing.