Volunteer

Join Us in Making a Difference

Strengthen our community by volunteering with Knoxville Habitat for Humanity. Whether you’re looking to get hands-on at a build site, support our ReStore, or help behind the scenes, there’s a place for you.

Our Volunteer Opportunities

Construction

Build homes alongside future Habitat homeowners. No experience required!

ReStore

Support our mission without lifting a hammer. Our ReStores generate crucial funding, and we need volunteers for various roles.

No Hard Hat Required

Offer behind-the-scenes assistance with fundraising, event planning, hospitality, advocacy, and office support.

Ready to get started?

Here’s how:

1) Register for a Voluntary Orientation

Register for a volunteer orientation to learn more about Habitat’s mission and volunteer oppportunities. Orientations are offered periodically throughout the year. Orientation is optional, but we recommend you attend at least one.

2) Sign Up for Your Desired Shifts

Depending on your volunteer activity, we offer a variety of shifts you can choose from. Our online scheduling platform, VolunteerHub, will display available dates and times.

Snag your volunteer shift now! 

3) Repeat!

We hope you have a fun, meanigful, volunteer experience that you’ll want to duplicate, and we welcome you back anytime!

Come one, come all

We welcome groups of all sizes, ages, and abilities. Here are some ways you can get involved:

Corporate Team Building

Create a unique bonding experience with your co‑workers.

Faith Groups

Engage your congregation in meaningful community service.

Community + Military Groups

Civic, military, or school groups can make a significiant impact.

We’re committed to providing a safe and rewarding volunteer experience.

What Volunteers Can Expect from Habitat:

  • Safe work environments
  • Productive workdays
  • Opportunities to learn new skills
  • Supportive and friendly staff

What Habitat Expects from Volunteers:

  • Prompt arrival
  • Positive attitude and safety-focused outlook
  • Willingness to learn and follow directions
  • Collaboration and respect for others

Making a tangible difference like helping build the roof of the house was a really interesting thing to take part of. I had never participated in something like that before so I’m happy I could make a difference like that in the community

William

My favorite part of volunteering is meeting the new Knoxville Habitat partner family and meeting other volunteers.  It’s an amazing feeling when you realize everyone is there for the exact same reason….to help someone else!  Wow!  It’s simply the best!

Tammy

The ReStore was an incredibly kind space. It is a very tight-knit community who truly cares about the quality and environment of the store…I really appreciated the staff here; they were all so supportive and kind whenever I needed help completing a task. Overall I had a really great time here and loved the energy of the ReStore!

Caroline

Here are answers to the questions we hear most…

Getting Started

Do I need to attend an orientation?

Attending an orientation is not required but is highly recommended. Our Volunteer Orientation helps introduce you to all of the opportunities available to volunteers at Knoxville Habitat. If you are volunteering as part of a group, one member of the group should attend and pass along the information to the rest of the group.

How old do I have to be to volunteer?

Construction site volunteers must be at least 16 years old. ReStore volunteers must be at least 14 years old, and any volunteer at the ReStore under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or adult group chaperone.

All minors, regardless of volunteer activity, are restricted from working on ladders or using power tools. Please check opportunities carefully for specific age-related restrictions.

Can I bring a group to volunteer?

We offer opportunities for groups at our construction sites and ReStores. If you are part of a company that is interested in building with us, please visit our Corporate Team Building page. If you are part of a civic, military, or school group, please find more information here.

What is the time commitment to volunteering? Do I need to commit to volunteering every month?

There is no minimum commitment for volunteering, although if you sign up for a volunteer shift, we ask that you commit to completing that shift. Knoxville Habitat has many opportunities for you to get involved, and we encourage you to get as involved as you would like.

Can I complete my Tennessee Promise hours by volunteering with Knoxville Habitat for Humanity?

Yes, we welcome volunteers who need to complete their Tennessee Promise hours. Our volunteer opportunities are a great way to fulfill this requirement while making a meaningful impact in the community.

I am a court-ordered volunteer. What are my next steps?

Please fill out our Court-Mandated Community Service Application to apply to fulfill your community service requirements with Knoxville Habitat.

A member of our Volunteer Services team will reach out by email following the processing of your application — hours volunteered prior to staff approval will not accrue toward court-ordered requirements. Please check your spam or junk folder.

We reserve the right to deny community service volunteers who have committed certain offenses. Please also note that our volunteer opportunities are on a first come-first served basis, and we are unable to guarantee a specific number of hours of service in advance.

My Volunteer Day

What will I be doing when I volunteer at a construction site?

The stage of construction determines what you will be doing. Volunteers assist in all phases of construction, from framing to finishes. Do not worry if you have never participated in building a home before — our superintendents and volunteer crew leaders will teach you everything you need to know and make sure you feel comfortable in the task you are assigned.

What will I be doing when I volunteer at the ReStore?

Activities can include organizing the store, processing/organizing merchandise, pricing items, light construction, furniture assembly, helping customers, and assisting with special events.

What should I wear?

Closed-toed shoes are required to volunteer at the construction site and hard-toed boots are recommended. You will be turned away if you wear open-toed shoes, such as flip-flops. We recommend dressing in layers including long pants, such as jeans or leggings; a t-shirt that you would not mind getting dirty, as well as sunscreen.

For the ReStore we recommend closed-toed shoes and comfortable clothing that you do not mind getting dirty.

What should I bring? What should I leave at home? Is it okay to bring tools?

Bring sunscreen and lunch, unless your group is arranging for lunch to be delivered. Lunch break is 30 minutes and having everyone stay on site makes it easier for us to get back to work in the afternoon. We have all the personal protective equipment you will need onsite, as well as all tools needed for the work we have planned that day.

We ask that you do not bring power tools to site as our superintendent would need to inspect each tool for safe operation. We also encourage you to leave unessential valuables at home. Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee a safe place to store them.

Where do I park?

When you sign up to volunteer, you will receive a confirmation email that includes details for the day, including where to park. For some sites, parking may be limited, so we recommend carpooling.

Can I arrive late or leave early?

At our construction sites, you must arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time in order to volunteer. Our morning welcome and safety briefing kick-off our build day and our superintendent cannot be taken away from supervising the site to give safety briefings to late volunteers. Since volunteer slots are at a premium at our construction site, it is important that volunteers that sign up commit to attend the full day.

At our ReStores, the shifts are more flexible. Make sure the volunteer supervisor is aware if you need to leave early or arrive late.

What happens if it rains?
Our Construction and Volunteer Services staff monitor the weather prior to every build. If the tasks for the day can be done in the rain or are indoors, we will continue as scheduled. If the work is outside or unsafe because of rain conditions, we will inform all volunteers of any changes or cancellations to the build day.
How do I give feedback on my volunteer experience?

We love hearing from our volunteers about their experience with us. Please fill out our volunteer survey here.

Using VolunteerHub

What do I do if I can no longer attend an opportunity I signed up for?
Things change — no problem! Please navigate to your registered events and click “cancel registration” for the opportunity you can no longer attend.
If you are unable to sign up online, please do not come to the build site or ReStore. Our supervisors plan the work based on the number of volunteers registered online, and unexpected arrivals can create challenges for supervision and overall volunteer experience. We want to ensure a positive experience for everyone, so please look for other available opportunities that fit your schedule.
A shift has the option to “join waitlist.” What does this mean?
Joining the waitlist for an opportunity will automatically add you to the event if a volunteer slot opens. Those who have been waitlisted in the past are usually the first to be notified for any new opportunities.
What does it mean if a volunteer opportunity is “reserved” or “full”? Can I still come volunteer?

When a volunteer opportunity is marked as “reserved” or “full,” it indicates that all available slots have been claimed, usually by a sponsoring group that has booked the entire shift for its members. If these groups do not fill all their reserved slots, we will open up the remaining spots to the general public one (1) week prior to the scheduled activity. Therefore, it’s a good idea to check back for any last-minute openings.

If you are unable to sign up online, please do not come to the build site or ReStore. Our supervisors plan the work based on the number of volunteers registered online, and unexpected arrivals can create challenges for supervision and overall volunteer experience. We want to ensure a positive experience for everyone, so please look for other available opportunities that fit your schedule.

How do I view the hours I have contributed to Knoxville Habitat?

You can check your hours on VolunteerHub. You can narrow this down to certain dates, which is useful if you intend on itemizing your mileage on your tax return. If you need a certification letter, email  volunteer@knoxvillehabitat.org — please allow for a five business day turnaround.

Need more help?

Please email us at volunteer@knoxvillehabitat.org 

Strengthen our community while working alongside like-minded volunteers.

Build homes with us, volunteer at the ReStore, or simply lend a helping hand at one of our annual events. From our signature Women Build event to our thrilling Sporting Clays Tournament, we’ve got something for everyone.