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So you’re thinking about volunteering for Habitat – - but you have some questions. Things like:  “How much time is  involved?”, “What skills are needed?” and “Are there age requirements?”

I’m new to Habitat so I went to a couple of volunteers to hear about their experiences.  My first stop was Centennial High School.  There I caught up with Barathi Sivasailam, a high school senior.  She’s President of the Centennial High School Habitat Club, which she has led for three years.  Student volunteers for Habitat are quite an active bunch!  They’ve worked a building site in Sandtown, hammering up drywall, nailing brackets, and cleaning the work area.

When they’re not on a work site, they’re raising money for Habitat. One fundraiser that brings a lot of revenue, and is fun for everyone, is the Mr.   Centennial High School Talent/Beauty Contest, a backwards beauty pageant and talent show on stage. Done in cooperation with the baseball team, the Habitat Club made and split $4,000 for Habitat! For this event there’s a job for all of the 40 + members.  They sell tickets, make posters, build sets and bake goods to sell at the event.

I wondered how much time was involved in all this club volunteer activity.  Surprising to me, they get it all done in weekly or bi-weekly meetings lasting about 30 minutes.
 
Volunteers span ages in Habitat.  Another volunteer I met was retired and had volunteered for Habitat for 8 years.  Janice Cameron is a member of the House Bank Team, and was awarded the Habitat for Humanity of Howard County’s Adult Volunteer of the Year (pictured above) award in December, 2007, and a Governor’s Volunteer Service Certificate this past March.  Janice devotes 2 hours or less each month at our Development Committee meeting and 2 to 3 hours per month distributing and collecting funds from the businesses that host a House Bank. Here’s how House Banks work:  Businesses place the  cardboard, house-shaped banks at a point of sale location and customers make donations from their change.

Janice also finds time to help out with Habitat fundraisers such as baseball games and Habifest.  I asked Janice if she had any special experience or talents for volunteer activities. She said “no experience necessary” and she also described herself as a “quiet and shy person”.  Maybe, but her personality doesn’t get in the way of the jobs she does for Habitat, so I guess you don’t have to be an extrovert to be a Habitat volunteer.  

I asked both Habitat volunteers what they liked about volunteering. They both found it personally rewarding, and they both liked helping others. The fact that Habitat is a  recipient-participating program, not just a give-away program was attractive too.

It seems there’s a place for everyone, regardless of age, experience, or previous knowledge.  You can volunteer a little, or a lot of your time.  If you have a desire to give back to your community and help those less fortunate, there’s a rewarding volunteer activity for you at Habitat for Humanity of Howard County. Register to volunteer today!
**Special note construction volunteers must be at least 16 years old  or 18 years old to use power tools.**

Written By: Mark Coffin