Volunteer

Volunteers are the heart of Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity. Our volunteers provide countless hours of service working in construction, at the ReStore, and helping in our Administrative Offices.

Getting Started

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity, we are excited to have you get started with us! We ask that all new volunteers complete an orientation to hear about our history, mission and to discover all the wonderful volunteer opportunities we have available. 

For your convenience, we offer the below orientation. Once you have completed the orientation, we will send you information on how to sign up for upcoming volunteer opportunities. If you prefer to attend an in-person orientation, you can sign up here.

All Habitat volunteer opportunities are for volunteers ages 16 and up. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult when volunteering on a construction project and must abide by additional safety requirements.

Currently, we are onboarding volunteers that are interested in joining our Playhouse Pros, Plumbing Crew, a Construction Crew, Office Team, the ReStore Team, Faith Build and our Walk/Run/Mosey annual fundraiser and can commit to volunteering at least once every week. 

Current Volunteer Needs

  • The Playhouse Pros will work out of our workshop to create the kits for each playhouse. The Playhouse Pros are also present at the playhouse builds to lead the volunteers. Builds will either be on the site of the sponsor, or at Habitat’s main office.
  • Plumbing Crew volunteers work on nearly every Habitat Home, running water and drainage lines, installing toilets, tubs, and sinks, and more.  Available Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-3pm. No experience required, just a willingness to learn.
  • Construction Crew volunteers work to complete a home from beginning to end.  A volunteer’s hands touch nearly every aspect of the build/rehab.  Construction Crew volunteers may complete tasks such as framing, drywall, painting, plumbing, electric, flooring, cabinetry, and more. Available Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm.
  • ReStore Team volunteers are able to join us at any of our three ReStore locations. We have a variety of opportunities for volunteers to choose from.  ReStore volunteers can assist customers on the sales floor, help load and unload donations on the dock, or help to sort and display donations in one of our specialized departments such as housewares, lighting, or tools. Available Tuesday-Saturday, flexible scheduling.
  • Volunteer as a receptionist at our main offices. (2110 W. 110th Street) Volunteer days are Monday-Saturday and shifts are 8am-12pm, 12pm-4pm or all day.
  • Walk/Run/Mosey - The Habitat Walk Run Mosey is Habitat’s only Fundraiser. We could use some help. Perhaps you need volunteer hours for high school, or your faith group/ corporate group would like to volunteer at an event, or you are an early riser who loves to give back - then I have the event for you. This is a non-timed, non-competitive family-friendly, dog-friendly, donut-friendly event. Last year we were at Edgewater, raised $170K and had over 600 people. The Walk typically takes place in July at Edgewater. We are waiting for confirmation of the date. We need help with different aspects from Jan-July. You can help with logistics before the event or help the day of. Options include marketing, preparation, set-up and help during the event. Email your interest at events@clevelandhabitat.org or call 216-325-5578, and we can send/give you more details.
  • Faith Build - Volunteers needed to help lead our Faith Build program. The Faith Build brings together congregations across Cleveland to sponsor the build of a home. If you are willing to assist Habitat Construction staff in leading these groups 1 day a week (3 times a month), we could use your help! Volunteer days will be each Thursday and Saturday from May-December, approximately 8:30am-2:30pm. If you are interested, we would love to talk more with you! Please contact Philip Katsadouros at pkatsadouros@clevelandhabitat.org or 216-318-0274.

 

We appreciate your support, and we look forward to welcoming you to the Habitat Volunteer Team! 

 

 

Volunteer Spotlights

In our wood shop, unique to the Cleveland ReStore location, you will find dedicated volunteers
who put the restore in ReStore. Many of our volunteers are now retired and dedicate their free
time to fixing up old furniture to create new, unique pieces that can be sold to the public. Not only
do they give their time, but they believe in the mission and purpose of Greater Cleveland Habitat
for Humanity…and they have fun doing it!

Jeannie has enjoyed volunteering at Greater Cleveland Habitat for six years now, and we are blessed to have her! Before volunteering with us, Jeannie worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse for ten years, as well as a school nurse. Her care for others is something that led her to volunteer for Greater Cleveland Habitat.

If you have ever been furniture-shopping in the Cleveland ReStore, you may have had the pleasure of speaking to Barb. The fact that she loves to shop and loves helping a worthwhile non-profit makes volunteering at a “win-win” for her.

Bob and Lois Minut both have been volunteering with Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity for over 30 years. The Minuts were there for the very first Walk/Run/Mosey fundraiser at the Ohio and Erie Canal reservation 22 years ago, and they were there at last year’s Walk handing out donuts at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Ron Kear has been a volunteer with Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity for more than 22 years. Ron has led his share of construction teams over the years, and is always happy to lend a helping a hand to other teams of which he’s not in charge.

Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity was pleased to welcome multiple community leaders and representatives from numerous churches to a blessing at the site of our 2023 Faith Build on the morning of June 7. Deacon Matthew Lawler of Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist read a prayer to bless the site.

For this Volunteer Spotlight, we spoke with Dean Wunderle about his experience lending his home renovation and woodworking skills to Habitat's affordable housing mission.

Having spent years teaching others as a Spanish teacher in Avon Lake, Pat loves being the one doing the learning while volunteering with Greater Cleveland Habitat. That’s a big reason she’s been doing so for the last 18 years and counting.

Dan works in various sections within the ReStore. You might find him while you’re shopping for tools or lighting. He has also been known to take care of some merchandising duties around the store.

Mark Van De Walle has been volunteering with Greater Cleveland Habitat for almost 10 years and still loves the camaraderie among his fellow volunteers.

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