VOLUNTEER
HELP US BY VOLUNTEERING IN THE RESTORE OR ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE
Since our founding in 1981, thousands of individual and group volunteers have been fundamental to Habitat STW's impact in the community. Habitat STW would not have the same impact without the help of our awesome volunteers. We would absolutely love for you to be a part of our mission by volunteering on one of our construction sites or in our ReStore – no experience is necessary for either one! Whether you’re volunteering as an individual or as a group, we have opportunities available every Tues.-Sat., 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. We also have volunteers that serve on special event committees, help with community outreach, and everything in between. If there is a particular skill you’d like to share, we would love to work with you about ways to make that happen!
Remember, whether you volunteer once a week, once a month, or once in a while you're truly making a difference in our community and the lives of our Home Buyers.
Ready to volunteer? Click the links below for more information on the many ways to become involved.
BUILD VOLUNTEERS
Building a Habitat STW home is a tangible expression of your desire for everyone to live a stable and healthy life. No experience is necessary to be a part of our team, just a belief in our mission, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn.
 
By working alongside current and future Habitat homeowners, other volunteers like yourself, and Habitat STW Site Supervisors, you'll see that your effort and experience can create a change that will be seen for generations to come.
Depending on the stage of constructions volunteers can expect to:
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frame floors and walls
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build porches
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install windows and doors
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complete insulation preparation
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paint and finish interiors
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set trusses
A few things to keep in mind:
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All construction site volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. (Under age 18 must be accompanied by a supervising adult).
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We welcome all volunteers, regardless of skill level. Our volunteer opportunities only require a willingness to learn and work with others!
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Check out our Volunteer Resource page for more information such as our Volunteer Handbook, What to Expect on a Habitat STW Construction site and our Volunteer Code of Conduct.
Ready to sign up?
To register as a new individual construction volunteer please click here. If you are a returning construction volunteer login here.
If you would like information about group volunteering or simply have questions please contact Christy Delgado via email or at 985-893-3172 ext. 222.
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If you are a Habitat STW Homebuyer and ready to schedule your sweat equity hours, please contact via email at info@habitatstw.org or at 985-893-3172 ext 246
RESTORE VOLUNTEERS
The Habitat STW ReStore depends on enthusiastic volunteers for everything from helping customers to arranging merchandise. Whether you enjoy interacting with the public or prefer tinkering behind the scenes, chances are that we have a volunteer opportunity for you. We also offer group volunteer opportunities if you want to do a little team building while doing good!
Activities ReStore volunteers assist with may include, but are not limited to:
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Sort and clean donations
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Set up displays
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Help customers
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Pricing donations
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Organizing merchandise
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Receiving donations (unloading and loading donated materials)
A few things to keep in mind:
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Our ReStore is open to volunteers Tuesday - Saturday.
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All ReStore volunteers must be at least 14 years of age.
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Check out our Volunteer Resource page for more information such as our Volunteer Handbook, What to Expect at the Habitat STW ReStore and our Volunteer Code of Conduct.
Ready to sign up?
To schedule your volunteer dates, please visit our Volunteer Sign Up or contact our ReStore Volunteer Coordinator, Christy, at (985) 893-3172 ext. 222 or cdelgado@habitatstw.org.
GROUP VOLUNTEERS
Corporate and Community Group Volunteers
Volunteering with Habitat STW is a unique and rewarding team-building opportunity. Your partnership with Habitat STW demonstrates your organizations values in a practical and meaningful way for your employees or members and the community. As a group, you’ll learn practical skills and have the chance to actively communicate in a hands-on project. All while working towards a common goal and a sense of group accomplishment.
If your team is on the construction site or in the ReStore, volunteering with Habitat STW is about more than building a home, it’s about building community.
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Faith Build Volunteers
Faith based volunteers have been a cornerstone of Habitat STW's volunteer force since its founding in 1981. Habitat is an ecumenical Christian organization with a mission centered around putting God's love into action.
Habitat STW's mission is seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Help us spread God's love through serving others!
Faith Build Volunteer Days with Habitat STW provide a unique, fun and rewarding experience for any faith group. There are volunteer opportunities on our construction site and in our ReStore. No previous skills are needed for either opportunity. Habitat STW will provide the tools and training needed for success.
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OUT OF TOWN VOLUNTEERS
Habitat STW welcomes Habitat Volunteers from all over the United States! Volunteers are able to work with our affiliate independently or through programs such as RV Care-A-Vanners, and Collegiate Challenge. To make the most out of your visit to Louisiana we can help you plan fun, cultural activities to do offsite.
Care-a-Vanners
This volunteer program invites anyone who travels by recreational vehicle to make Habitat STW part of your journey, or even your destination. Care-A-Vanners are a large part of Habitat STW's volunteer construction force and the affiliate loves having them. Care-A-Vanners traditionally sign up for a two week volunteer period in which they are joined by 2 to 4 other rigs. The Care-A-Van crews spend their days in volunteer service while their evenings are typically full of socializing and taking advantage of the wonderful restaurants and activities Southeastern Louisiana has to offer.
The program is managed through Habitat International, to learn more please visit their page here.
Collegiate Challenge
Volunteer at Habitat STW through HFHI's alternative break program. This unique one-week volunteer opportunity is offered at Habitat STW in the winter and spring. The days will be filled with volunteer service on the construction site or in the ReStore (your choice), while evenings are free to take advantage of everything Southeastern Louisiana has to offer. Habitat STW can assist is scheduling swamp tours and sunset canoe trips, while sharing wonderful restaurant and attraction suggestions. If possible we may even have a crawfish boil on site!
HAMMER FREE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Youth
In addition to home construction for volunteers age 16 and up, and retail work in the ReStore for ages 14 and up, Habitat STW believes that the youth of our community are a key element to the future fulfillment of our mission. With this in mind we have compiled some creative activities to engage and educate youth in our community. Please visit our Volunteer Resource page for details.
Hospitality
Bring lunch/snacks to a volunteer group! A group or individual may prepare lunch/snack and bring it out to the construction site or to the ReStore. This can be an entire meal, snacks, drinks, baked goods or popsicles just to name a few. When delivery is made the group or individual would get to interact with volunteers and if on the construction site would be able to see a home under construction. These opportunities are available to schedule year ground.
Other Opportunities
At Habitat STW we have volunteers that serve on committees, help with special events, make housewarming gifts and more. If you have an idea about how you can serve Habitat STW please contact us!
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Does Habitat for Humanity give homes away to low income families?Houses are not given to anyone. Habitat for Humanity builds homes with those in need and then sells them to homeowner partners. Because of Habitat's no-profit, no-interest loans, and because houses are built principally by volunteers, mortgage payments can be kept reasonably low to those unable to obtain conventional financing for a home. Habitat homeowners typically have incomes that are 30-60 percent of the median income in the area. They are required to invest an average of 300 hours of sweat equity-time spent building their own home or other Habitat homes.
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Does Habitat for Humanity build homes only for minorities?We build houses with people in need without regard to race. Three criteria drive the family selection process: need; ability to repay the no-profit, no-interest mortgage over a 30- year period; and a willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity. The U.S. Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibits denying anyone housing on the basis of race, sex, creed, marital status, color, or national origin. The covenant that all local affiliates sign with Habitat for Humanity International also specifies that Habitat for Humanity homeowner families are selected "according to criteria that do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, or ethnic background."
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Are most Habitat homeowners on welfare?While some do receive public assistance, most homeowners work at low-wage jobs. Our local homeowners include veterans, employees of local restaurants, hospitals and many other service type industries. Habitat for Humanity works in good faith with people who often are at risk in society, knowing that owning a home is not the answer to every problem, but can be an important step—often the first step—toward helping people break out of the cycle of poverty.
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What keeps Habitat homeowners from selling their houses and making a large profit because of the original low cost?Special second mortgages that are "paid off" by living in the house, as well as first buy-back option clauses that many affiliates put into their agreement with homeowners, help alleviate concerns that some people may have regarding the resale of houses.
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Where does Habitat for Humanity build?Habitat for Humanity—through local affiliates—is at work in both small and large cities, suburbs and rural areas, in highly developed countries and in those with emerging economies. Because poverty housing is so widespread, Habitat's work goes on 365 days a year in hundreds upon hundreds of locations throughout the United States and around the globe.
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Is Habitat for Humanity an arm of the government?Habitat is an ecumenical Christian housing organization. It is neither an arm of the government nor an arm of any church or denomination. Habitat works with the government in the following ways: we ask legislators and housing regulators to increase support of affordable homeownership, we monitor public policies related to housing and we advocate policy choices that increase access to affordable housing. We accept government funds as long as they have no conditions that would violate our principles or limit our ability to proclaim our Christian identity.
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Do Habitat houses reduce property values in a neighborhood?Low-cost housing studies in the United States and Canada show affordable housing has no adverse effect on other neighborhood property values. In fact, Habitat houses have increased property values and local government tax income.
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What is the Habitat ReStore?The ReStore accepts donations of new and gently-used items from individuals and businesses. We sell those items to the public at prices well below retail. We use the proceeds to build Habitat homes with families in need in our community. Our ReStore is located at 1400 North Lane, Mandeville LA.
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How do we build homes?•Funding is provided by generous tax-deductible donations of money and materials. Funds also come from mortgage payments of Habitat homeowners, grants and ReStore proceeds. •Habitat relies on volunteer labor and sweat equity hours completed by homeowners to construct houses. •Homes are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable no-interest loans. This is part of the "revolving fund" of Habitat, with mortgage payments going toward construction of more homes in the area. •Habitours are available for those who are interested. A Habitour is a 1-hour guided tour of West St. Tammany neighborhoods in which Habitat STW has had a significant impact. Tours are free and open to the public. Contact Leighanne Weeks at (985) 893-3172 ext 244 for more information.