What to Expect on the Construction Site A Typical Workday: Our sites work from 7:45 AM to 3:15 PM (Tuesdays-Saturdays). Please arrive at your work site at 7:45am to sign-in and turn in your Waiver. There will be a short safety briefing after all volunteers have signed in. We do not require a formal orientation for volunteers but do require them to be present for the safety briefing. Please keep your transportation nearby at this time, as you may be asked to work on a home within the surrounding neighborhood. Following the safety briefing, you will be assigned to a home/project. This home/project may not be within walking distance of the meeting place for the safety briefing, but it will be in the same neighborhood, so please be prepared to possibly drive to a site nearby. We build new homes from the floor system to the roof and we have approximately 250 of these homes under construction. Depending on the need at the time, you will be assigned one or more tasks for the day. We usually assign 20 volunteers to a house. Worksites: We currently have work sites in St. Bernard, Orleans, and Jefferson Parish. You will be e-mailed the address of your worksite at least one week prior to your date. If you have requested a specific worksite, we will do our best to place you at that worksite however we have sites in various location throughout the city which are also in need of volunteers. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Skills: You will be working with a Habitat for Humanity member (indicated by the yellow or gray staff t-shirt) throughout the day. If you have previous experience with a certain skill and would like to utilize it please inform your supervisor, however this does not ensure you will be doing this line of work. Also, please inform your supervisor if you have any physical limitations, safety concerns, or are uncomfortable in any situation. Throughout the day if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask one of the Habitat staff. We recognize many of our volunteers may have little or no construction experience and we hope to make this a learning experience for everyone. As a reminder, volunteers who are 14 to 15 years of age may participate in non-construction work only and volunteers who are 16 to 17 years of age may participate in all construction tasks except for operating power tools and being above levels of 12 feet. Dress: You are required to wear closed-toed shoes (i.e. no sandals). Steel-toed shoes are recommended. We also recommend that you wear pants. As a reminder, please remember that your clothes will likely become dirty. The weather fluctuates frequently, so please stay informed of weather conditions. If it is sunny, you may wish to bring sunglasses and sunscreen with you; if it is rainy, you may wish to bring a rain jacket. You may also wish to bring insect repellant. In case of rain: If the weather forecasts rain for your volunteer date, please continue to report to the work site in the morning. Often volunteers are assigned to tasks in doors or assist with protecting buildings and/or tools from the rain. It is very rare that we cancel a work day, however if this is the case we will do so on the work site that morning. Lunch: From 12:00 to 1:00 we will break for lunch. Lunch will not be provided for you. You may bring your own lunch with you, have lunch catered for you, or choose to leave the site and eat lunch nearby. There is a list of lunch options available on the Volunteer page of our website. Water: Please bring a refillable water bottle with you to the worksite. Water coolers are provided. Stay hydrated during the day! Transportation: Volunteers are required to find their own transportation to and from the site. Transportation will not be provided for you. Volunteers often rent cars/vans or charter buses. Again, please keep your transportation nearby at this time, as you may be asked to work on a home within the surrounding neighborhood. For a list of discounts and contacts, please visit the Volunteer page of our website. Liability Waiver: Each volunteer must complete a Waiver (copies are available on our website). If you are an individual, please complete the "Individual Waiver" and if you are part of a group, please sign the "Group Waiver" with the rest of your group. A parent/guardian must sign for minors. You may either bring it with you to the work site, or mail it into our office at PO Box 15052, NOLA 70175. In the instance that you misplace or forget your waiver, some will be available on site.