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Frequently Asked Questions

  What is the group size for build days?

For Washington, D.C., build groups are limited to 15 participants on a weekday, and 12-13 participants on a Saturday. These limitations are based on the number of Americorps volunteers who are able to supervise the participants and ensure site safety. For the safety of your participants, please adhere to these limitations.

  What time does the team need to be at the site?

We ask the group to get to the build site around 8:30-8:45am, so they can check in, sign waiver forms and then get instruction on the day's building activities.

  Do I need construction experience to be a part of Buildable Hours?
No, Habitat for Humanity is specifically designed so that anyone can participate. The on-site crew carefully creates tasks that can be performed by its volunteers and then supervises the volunteers throughout the day. Because safety is foremost at Habitat for Humanity, all volunteers will receive on site equipment and safety training at the beginning of the build day. The most complicated work, including plumbing and electrical work, is performed by professionals, so volunteers will not be performing these tasks.
 When will participating firms receive directions?

In a few weeks, we will be posting directions on our website (www.buildablehours.com). Go to the website, click on "Participating Cities," select your city and then click on the link for directions.

 What happens if it rains?
The build goes on as planned, rain or shine. The on-site crew can usually arrange indoor activities, such as dry wall work or painting, in the event of bad weather. Even on days with inclement weather, our Buildable Hours firms have still had a great time!
  What time does the day conclude?

The day concludes between 4:00 - 4:30pm.

  Could you give me some guidance -- what works best along the food & drink lines?  Do we need
      to have enough food to cover the Habitat organizer(s) and Americorps volunteers?   How many
      people, aside from our firm, are generally at the site?
  • Picnic type food works best, since participants will be eating at picnic tables and your group (or caterer) will need to provide paper plates, plastic utensils, etc.
  • Firms in the past have had pizzas and salads delivered to the site. If you choose to take that route, be sure to make arrangements in advance to locate a pizza place that delivers to your site. Additionally, be sure to give the pizza place a contact person who will have a cell phone at the site.
  • If you plan on using a caterer, just let them know it will be "picnic-style." We also recommend bringing a cooler of drinks (e.g., water, sports drinks, some sodas) to both drink throughout the day and at lunch time, as it may be hot on the day your team builds. You could also provide granola or sports bars as snacks during the day.
  • While you are not required to provide lunch for the Americorps volunteers (approximately 6-8 volunteers) who work on the site, we try to encourage firms to do so and the Americorps volunteers are very appreciative if you do. Therefore, should you choose to provide lunch for them, plan on providing food for another 6-8 people.
  What should we tell our participants to wear?

Buildable Hours provides t-shirts to all participants, and we recommend that they wear the Buildable Hours t-shirts. Not only will it prevent more expensive clothing from being ruined by building activities, it is also makes the group feel like a team and looks great in pictures. In addition to the t-shirts, we recommend that your team wear clothing that they won't mind getting a little dirt or paint on (e.g., jeans, sweats, gym or other casual summer shorts, sneakers, and possibly a hat to protect from the sun). We also recommend that women participants not wear jewelry to the site. Finally, remind your participants to bring sunscreen, as they may be working outside most of the day.

  Does Buildable Hours recommend we bring cameras to the build?

Absolutely! We encourage firms to bring digital cameras to the site. After the build, the firms can e-mail their digital pictures to tracy.stratton@lw.com. Tracy will post the pictures on the Buildable Hours website, and you can circulate the link to the pictures to your participants.

  Can we use the Buildable Hours logo for our firm's T-Shirts, hats, etc.?
If you are a firm partner of Buildable Hours, yes, contact buildablehoursdc@lw.com for more information.
  How do I sign up for Buildable Hours?
Send an e-mail to buildablehoursdc@lw.com to get more information on how to sign your firm up for Buildable Hours.

 

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