Volunteer Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Build Day?
A Build Day is a team-building day of service on one of our construction sites. They are an excellent way for corporate, school, faith based, and/or non-profit groups to work together to provide direct service to a family in need of affordable housing.
At the beginning of each workday, a Habitat Greater Boston Site Supervisor will begin with an introduction, a safety talk, and tool instruction. The group will then break into smaller crews to work on the various building tasks. The activities may include hanging drywall, painting, stacking lumber, framing, sanding, cleaning, and more!
Who can participate in a Build Day?
Anyone age 16+ can participate in a Build Day. No construction experience is needed, as our team will teach you everything you need to know! At this time, Build Days are a group opportunity only. For more information on how to volunteer with Habitat as an individual, see the last question in our FAQ’s below.
Where do build days take place?
Build Days take place on our build sites around the Greater Boston community. Currently, volunteers work at our build site in Malden, MA. For more information on the project, click here.
How do I register my team for a Build Day?
You can then expect to hear from our team in about 5-7 business days.
What is a Build Day Donation?
allow us to continue building in the Greater Boston community.
As of January 1, 2024 our donation asks are as follows:
| Group Type | Up to 10 volunteers | 11-20 volunteers |
| Corporate | $5,000* | $10,000* |
| Schools/Non-profits/ Faith-based groups | $750 | $1,500 |
*Please note that Habitat for Humanity International groups are subject to an adjusted donation
request.
For more information regarding our change in donation ask please read a note from Habitat Greater Boston President and CEO, James Kostaras.
Will we be working outside?
Sometimes! Since we build year-round, we get this question often with concern about cold temperatures. While our projects often are closed in from the elements by the winter, we have “warming rooms” with heaters on site where volunteers are encouraged to take a break and warm up on chilly days.
What happens if there is bad weather predicted during my team’s Build Day?
Our Construction Team consistently keeps an eye on the weather leading up to your Build Day. As a general rule of thumb, we aim to let groups know if their Build Day will need to be cancelled due to weather by 3PM the afternoon before your Build Day.
Can we order lunch to the build site for our team?
Yes! The team generally breaks for lunch around noon. On the morning of your Build Day, please let the construction crew know that you will be ordering lunch so we can make sure to break on time.
Can individuals volunteer on the build site?
While we appreciate the outreach from those who would like to volunteer as individuals (rather than as part of a corporate or non-profit group), we do not have the capacity to host and run this program at this time.
We would encourage those who are interested to reach out to other local Habitat for Humanity affiliates to see what their program availability is like. Information on Massachusetts Habitat affiliates can be found on the Habitat for Humanity International website.
If you would like to be contacted if/when Habitat Greater Boston is able to offer Build Days for individuals, please fill out the Individual Volunteer Inquiry Form.
If your questions aren’t answered in the FAQ’s above please email us at volunteers@habitatboston.org
434 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 201
Boston, MA 02118
617-423-2223
