Volunteer F.A.Q.
Build homes, communities and hope
Learn more about volunteering with B/CS Habitat
What should I know about volunteering with B/CS Habitat?
Embark on an inspiring journey where you can make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and communities. This page serves as your go-to resource for all your questions and curiosities about volunteering with us. Whether you have experience as a seasoned volunteer or are new to the world of service, we aim to provide you with valuable information, tips, and guidance. Let’s explore the exciting opportunities and meaningful experiences that await you as a volunteer with B/CS Habitat for Humanity. Join us in discovering how you can help us build strength, stability, and self-reliance for families in need.
Our affiliate conducts construction year-round at the following times:
- Tuesday-Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
The B/CS Habitat ReStore actively contributes to our efforts in eliminating substandard housing in Brazos County. It operates as a retail store, where we actively sell new, used, and surplus donated goods to the public at discounted prices. This initiative aims to help fund Habitat’s mission. Additionally, the ReStore actively participates in recycling and repurposing items that would otherwise end up in landfills.
Interested in volunteering with the ReStore? Here’s what you need to know:
- To assist at the ReStore, volunteers must be at least 14 years old or older.
- Volunteer tasks encompass customer service, store organization, basic furniture repair, and more.
- We enthusiastically welcome individuals with retail or merchandising experience, although no prior experience is necessary to volunteer!
If inclement weather is predicted on the day and/or time of your scheduled volunteer opportunity, please actively monitor your email for cancellation or site change notices.
To sign up for volunteering with us, the first step is to actively create an account with our new software: Volunteer Hub! After successfully signing up, you will gain access to explore the various opportunities available on the site.
No. Our organization has a mandatory requirement for all volunteers to sign up through our volunteer software. This step is crucial in creating a safe and enjoyable volunteer experience for everyone involved. By signing up through the software, our on-site leaders can better prepare with the necessary tools, materials, and projects for each volunteer. Furthermore, the online registration process ensures that liability waivers have been signed by every individual volunteering.
We have opportunities for many different ages.
- Ages 18+: May volunteer independently
- Ages 16 & 17:
- May volunteer independently at the ReStore
- May volunteer alongside a parent/guardian (over the age of 21) in a limited capacity at construction sites
- These volunteers are not permitted to participate in roofing, demolition, the use of power tools, or the use of ladders over 6ft.
- Ages 14 & 15:
- May volunteer independently at the ReStore
- May volunteer alongside a parent/guardian (over the age of 21) on the following construction opportunities:
- Painting
- Landscaping
- Ages 13 & Under: While unable to volunteer at the ReStore or on a construction site due to safety reasons, there are many volunteer opportunities and projects that they can take part in from home or school to help us promote awareness, raise money, support our Habitat Homebuyers and get involved in Habitat’s mission! Visit Habitat International’s At-home volunteering page for more information and ideas!
NOTE: For groups with minors (Ages 14-17): At least one adult over the age of 21 is required to accompany every 5 minors.
Please plan to work the entire shift as noted in your confirmation email. Timely arrival is important as Habitat representatives will provide safety guidelines and task instructions at the beginning of the volunteer opportunity.
How often you volunteer is up to you! Individuals may volunteer one time or as often as you wish. You can volunteer as a group or as an individual, we are delighted to work with you and your needs and schedule!
For teams and groups: All volunteers must arrive at the set time
- For construction, a three hour time commitment is required.
- For ReStore, a two hour commitment is required.
No specific skills are needed for our volunteer opportunities, just a willingness to learn and a positive attitude! B/CS Habitat will provide an experienced site leader on each work site who will provide on-the-job training.
- Closed-toe shoes are required
- Do not forget to bring a refillable water bottle if you are working outdoors
- It is also a good idea to wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- No tools are necessary, but if you have them you are encouraged to bring hand tools like a hammer, tape measure, pencil, utility knife, work gloves and a nail apron.
- B/CS Habitat will have a supply of basic tools such as these and safety equipment available at each job site.
- Things such as knee pads can increase comfort while working on projects such as landscaping, framing, finishing and floor tasks.
- Please label everything that you bring with your name or initials.
- To be environmentally friendly, we encourage carpooling.
- The parking available is on-street parking.
- Be sure to lock your cars and keep valuables at home or out of sight.
- Please be mindful of the neighbors! Do not park in front of driveways or alley entrances.
- Footwear needs to be sturdy and close-toe/closed-heel. Boots and sneakers are both considered appropriate footwear.
- Wear clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
- Please prepare for the weather by checking the forecast before you arrive at your worksite.
- If it is sunny, please bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- For rain, please bring a jacket, raincoat and/or rain boots.
- If it is cold, please dress in layers along with a hat, gloves and warm socks.
The site provides a fast and efficient online system to register for volunteer opportunities, including the process of completing our Volunteer Information and Liability forms. If you have any questions about our system, please contact our Director of Volunteers, Lacey Peters, at lpeters@habitatbcs.org.
At the beginning of each workday, a Habitat site supervisor will check all volunteers in and begin the morning with introductions, a safety talk and instructions for that day’s work. The group will then break into crews to work on the various building tasks.
While we sometimes have local businesses sponsor and/or donate lunch for our volunteers, this is not a guarantee. Please bring your own snacks and be prepared to provide your own lunch. Be sure to bring your own refillable water bottle, labelled with your name.
Each build site has portable toilets available to those working there.
There is something for everyone on-site. Please let your crew leader know if you are not comfortable with performing the tasks you have been assigned. Our goal is to make you feel comfortable and have a great experience!
Tasks vary depending on the construction schedule and the type of opportunity you signed up for. Our volunteer experiences don’t require any experience as everything will be taught on-site! Tasks will be sent to our volunteers in their confirmation email, and may include:
- framing
- siding
- painting
- caulking
- flooring
- landscaping
- fencing
Please be aware that our build schedules are often adjusted due to issues like poor weather, contractor schedules, permits, etc. Last minute changes sometimes occur due to circumstances outside of the direct control of B/CS Habitat. Be sure to check your email regularly before your volunteer date for any updates. Thank you for your cooperation and flexibility!
Yes! Please check out our court-ordered community service page for detailed information.
Donate today by visit our donation page on our website!
Interested in sponsoring a home? Click here!
You can also shop with or donate to the ReStore to build more homes!
At our affiliate, construction takes place year-round at the following times:
- Tuesday-Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
The B/CS Habitat ReStore plays an important role in our efforts to eliminate substandard housing in Brazos County. It is a retail store where new, used, and surplus donated goods are sold to the public at discounted prices in order to help fund Habitat’s mission. The ReStore also helps to recycle and repurpose items that would otherwise end up in landfills.
Interested in volunteering with the ReStore?
- Volunteers with the ReStore must be at least 14 years old or older to assist.
- Tasks include customer service, store organization, basic furniture repair, etc.
- We welcome those with retail or merchandising experience, but there is no necessary experience to volunteer!
If inclement weather is predicted on the day and/or time of your schedule volunteer opportunity, please keep an eye on your email for cancellation or site change notices.
The first step to signing up to volunteer with us is creating an account with our new software: Volunteer Hub! Once you are signed up, you can check out the different opportunities available on the site.
No, we require all of our volunteers to sign up through our volunteer software in order to create a safe and enjoyable volunteer experience. This helps our on-site leaders to be better prepared with tools, materials and projects for all volunteers. In addition to this, our online registration ensures that liability waivers have been signed by each volunteer.
We have opportunities for many different ages.
- Ages 18+: May volunteer independently
- Ages 16 & 17:
- May volunteer independently at the ReStore
- May volunteer alongside a parent/guardian (over the age of 21) in a limited capacity at construction sites
- These volunteers are not permitted to participate in roofing, demolition, the use of power tools, or the use of ladders over 6ft.
- Ages 14 & 15:
- May volunteer independently at the ReStore
- May volunteer alongside a parent/guardian (over the age of 21) on the following construction opportunities:
- Painting
- Landscaping
- Ages 13 & Under: While unable to volunteer at the ReStore or on a construction site due to safety reasons, there are many volunteer opportunities and projects that they can take part in from home or school to help us promote awareness, raise money, support our Habitat Homebuyers and get involved in Habitat’s mission! Visit Habitat International’s At-home volunteering page for more information and ideas!
NOTE: For groups with minors (Ages 14-17): At least one adult over the age of 21 is required to accompany every 5 minors.
Please plan to work the entire shift as noted in your confirmation email. Timely arrival is important as Habitat representatives will provide safety guidelines and task instructions at the beginning of the volunteer opportunity.
How often you volunteer is up to you! Individuals may volunteer one time or as often as you wish. You can volunteer as a group or as an individual, we are delighted to work with you and your needs and schedule!
For teams and groups: All volunteers must arrive at the set time
- For construction, a three hour time commitment is required.
- For ReStore, a two hour commitment is required.
No specific skills are needed for our volunteer opportunities, just a willingness to learn and a positive attitude! B/CS Habitat will provide an experienced site leader on each work site who will provide on-the-job training.
- Closed-toe shoes are required
- Do not forget to bring a refillable water bottle if you are working outdoors
- It is also a good idea to wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- No tools are necessary, but if you have them you are encouraged to bring hand tools like a hammer, tape measure, pencil, utility knife, work gloves and a nail apron.
- B/CS Habitat will have a supply of basic tools such as these and safety equipment available at each job site.
- Things such as knee pads can increase comfort while working on projects such as landscaping, framing, finishing and floor tasks.
- Please label everything that you bring with your name or initials.
- To be environmentally friendly, we encourage carpooling.
- The parking available is on-street parking.
- Be sure to lock your cars and keep valuables at home or out of sight.
- Please be mindful of the neighbors! Do not park in front of driveways or alley entrances.
- Footwear needs to be sturdy and close-toe/closed-heel. Boots and sneakers are both considered appropriate footwear.
- Wear clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
- Please prepare for the weather by checking the forecast before you arrive at your worksite.
- If it is sunny, please bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- For rain, please bring a jacket, raincoat and/or rain boots.
- If it is cold, please dress in layers along with a hat, gloves and warm socks.
The site provides a fast and efficient online system to register for volunteer opportunities, including the process of completing our Volunteer Information and Liability forms. If you have any questions about our system, please contact our Director of Volunteers, Lacey Peters, at lpeters@habitatbcs.org.
At the start of every workday, a Habitat site supervisor will actively check-in all volunteers and commence the morning with introductions, a safety talk, and instructions for the day’s tasks. Following this, the group will actively divide into crews to work on the different building tasks assigned.
Although we occasionally have local businesses sponsor and/or donate lunch for our volunteers, it is important to note that this is not guaranteed. Therefore, we kindly request that you bring your own snacks and be prepared to provide your own lunch during the volunteer activity. Additionally, we encourage you to bring a refillable water bottle labeled with your name to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Each build site actively provides portable toilets for the convenience of those working at the location.
If someone is not comfortable with the assigned building tasks, we want to ensure that there is something for everyone on-site. In such cases, we encourage individuals to openly communicate their concerns to their crew leader. It is important to let your crew leader know if you are not comfortable with the tasks assigned to you. Our ultimate goal is to create a comfortable environment for all volunteers and provide them with a great experience.
Tasks vary depending on the construction schedule and the type of opportunity you signed up for. Our volunteer experiences don’t require any experience as everything will be taught on-site! Tasks will be sent to our volunteers in their confirmation email, and may include:
- framing
- siding
- painting
- caulking
- flooring
- landscaping
- fencing
Please be aware that our build schedules are often adjusted due to issues like poor weather, contractor schedules, permits, etc. Last minute changes sometimes occur due to circumstances outside of the direct control of B/CS Habitat. Be sure to check your email regularly before your volunteer date for any updates. Thank you for your cooperation and flexibility!
Yes! Please check out our court-ordered community service page for detailed information.
Take action today by visiting our website’s donation page and making a generous contribution!
If you are interested in sponsoring a home, please click here for more information.
Another way to support our mission is by shopping at or donating to the ReStore, which directly contributes to building more homes
Didn’t answer your question?
If you have a burning question that hasn’t been answered in our comprehensive FAQ page, don’t fret! We’re here to help and ensure that you have all the information you need. Simply reach out to our Director of Volunteer Engagement, Lacey Peters, and we’ll be more than happy to assist you. Whether you need clarification, have a specific concern, or require further guidance, we’re just a message away. Don’t hesitate to contact us, and let’s work together to address any remaining inquiries you may have.
Homes, Communities, Hope
Keep In Touch