Volunteer
***Build Times Have Changed for Spring 2008. Check Below.***
NEW FOR SPRING 2008 SEMESTER
Due to colder weather during February and March, CU Habitat is scaling back its build schedule slightly this semester. We are keeping same times and locations for the afternoon builds: this means Saturday afternoons at Omaha Habitat and Sunday afternoons at Council Bluffs Habitat. Lucky for us, these builds will take place indoors and will have heat. This means we’ll have to take smaller groups (10 or less), but we’re sure to have safe working conditions. The only reason any of these afternoon builds might be canceled would be due to very poor driving conditions. If this is the case, volunteers will receive email notification of cancellation from one of our executives by 9:00am on the day of the build.
Volunteering on Saturday Mornings
If you’re looking for volunteer hours and are having trouble finding open spots with the abbreviated build schedule, we’ve worked out an arrangement with Omaha Habitat where 4-5 volunteers can work in their offices and/or Restore Center on Saturday mornings throughout the spring semester from 8:00am to 12:00pm. No CU Habitat executive oversees these volunteer sessions, so it’s up to you to coordinate transportation and sign up with Omaha Habitat. Here’s their website for more information. Alternately, you can call 402-457-5657 ext. 111 and ask to speak with Melissa Breazile, their Volunteer Coordinator. As always, any other questions you might have can be answered by our own Volunteer Coordinator, Sarah Potter.
Volunteering
What CU Habitat all boils down to is working on the home. The best part about volunteering is that you don't have to be an experienced builder. Every week, we have people from all walks of life who've never even held a hammer before come out and help us build walls, hang siding, or paint ceilings. At CU Habitat, learning and service go hand-in-hand and that's a big part of why the experience is so rewarding!
What Happens at a Build?
Every weekend, we have three builds at the house site. Each build last for 4 hours and includes 15 members and volunteers, a few executives, and a general contractor. Over the course of the build, members and volunteers learn how to perform a construction task (hanging drywall, installing windows, nailing shingles to the roof, etc.) and then get to use this new knowledge to make their own lasting contribution to the house. In the past, CU volunteers have been able to work with volunteers from other cities and countries and even the family members themselves who will eventually be moving into the house once it's completed. Volunteers who come out to several builds a semester learn all sorts of cool skills and many become eligible for some of Creighton University's service acknowledgment awards.
When are Builds?
We build Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The exact times are: 12:30pm to 4:30pm. Please note that we meet in Deglman Circle 15 minutes prior to the start of each build. This means 12:15pm.
What to Bring? How to Dress?
If you have your own set of tools that you are used to working with, we encourage you to bring them out. If you don't, we provide all the tools you'll need to work on the house.
If it is your first time building, you'll need to print out and sign a waiver form to bring with you to the build. There are two different waivers - one for Omaha Habitat and one for Council Bluffs Habitat. To the left, just below the navigation bar, we've posted links to each document...note that there are two pages to the Omaha waiver in separate files.
You should dress for the weather, as most builds take place outside. Remember sunscreen in the summer, layers of clothing in the winter, and good tennis shoes or boots at all times of the year.
Where is the Build Site? Where do we Meet? Can I Get a Ride?
Volunteers meet in Deglman circle 15 minutes before the build starts and drive out to the site together. If you have your own car, we'd prefer that you drive out with us to the site. If you don't have a ride, most of the executives normally have spare seats in their cars and would more than happy to give you a lift! Creighton continues to raise the rental fees for its van services, so transportation is becoming a bigger issue. Any transportation you could provide would be very much appreciated!!!
How can I Sign Up?
Be sure to sign up before coming out to a build. We like to keep the groups around 10 people and close the build off once we hit this limit. Sometimes builds fill up weeks in advance and at other times it's possible to sign up for a build the night before. If you would like to reserve an entire shift for your student organization or group, give us plenty of notice and we would be more than happy to accommodate you. To your left is a list of upcoming build times and dates we're currently registering people for. Contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Sarah Potter, and she will get you set up.