Volunteering or "Why Commitment Should Not Be a Concern."
We understand.
You're an Amherst student. You're busy. You have a lot going on. You are juggling school, work, sports, clubs and various other things. In fact, it probably would not be a stretch to assume that the weight of an impending assignment is bearing down on you right now. Thus, the thought of you involving yourself in even one more extra-curricular activity inspires thoughts of your self-destruction. We understand - we go to Amherst too.
But, working with Habitat once does not mean there is a comittment involved. For some, working once a month (or semester) is enough. Others are more inclined to work as much as possible, sucking up experience and enjoying the company. It's all up to you.
Working with Habitat does not equate to signing-off your youth, either. Work typically occurs during the weekend. On Saturdays, work begins at nine. Sundays, begining at noon and ending around four. That could be the extent to your volunteering with us. Ideally, however, we would love for you to return because you love us and working for a good cause so very much.
Keeping you safe.
When you first reach the site, Habitat assumes that you have never picked up a hammer (or used a miter saw) before. You are a blank slate. You are, in our eyes, a young vulnerable calf, a child susceptible to injury. As a result, we feel obligated to treat you as such. Safety is important to us. Habitat is all about two things - building homes and keeping volunteers safe. We want you to leave the site in the same (physical) condition that you arrived.
There may be times when one of our site supervisors will give you a task that you are not comfortable performing. This can range from climbing a ladder to participating in an ad hoc construction tool music ensemble. You have the right to say no, or at least voice your concerns over a task.
Oh, and if you are under eighteen, don't even think about touching a power tool. It's illegal.
Understanding why you are volunteering.
It is often easy to lose sight of why you are working with Habitat while you are sanding drywall (trust us). Thus, it is often important to keep in mind why you are doing what you are doing. Understand that your efforts are helping a family own a home in an area that would be completely inaccessible to them otherwise.
Habitat for Humanity is bigger than just Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts, and the Pioneer Valley. Doing work with Habitat on a small scale aids in furthering Habitat's mission to effect social change all around the world. And isn't that why you wanted to go to Amherst in the first place?
Sold?
Have our sweet words seduced and intrigued you? Are you ready to dive into working with Habitat, having fun, and meeting great people? Signing up is easy. Click the pretty little .gif below.
