Youth Engagement Volunteer Activities

 

 

Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake extends the dream of homeownership to low-moderate income families, who partner with us to buy their very first home. In addition, Habitat Chesapeake operates 6 ReStore's which sell new and gently-used furniture, home goods, appliances, construction materials, and more to help fund our mission.

 

We welcome volunteers of every age to support our mission. It takes many helping hands to build a home — that’s why we’re grateful for YOU! 

 

How old do I have to be to volunteer?

  • At our ReStores, anyone as young as 14 years of age may volunteer, but must be accompanied by a chaperone. Anyone 16 years of age or older no longer needs a chaperone. 
  • On construction sites, volunteers 16-17 years of age require a chaperone. You must be 18 and up to use power tools. 

Do we have service learning opportunities for students? 

YES! Volunteers as young as 14 years of age with a chaperone may volunteer at our ReStores or 16 years of age with a chaperone at our construction sites.

Please contact us for more information on service-learning specific opportunities. Have a specific idea for a volunteer opportunity? Contact us at volunteer@habitatchesapeake.org

 

Fundraising Ideas

 

Fundraising: Ages 6-12

Fundraising can start young! Engage your kids, even the littlest ones, in helping their community through fun projects with the help of parents, chaperones, older siblings, and teachers:

  1. Bake sale - Bake goods for a special one-day sale, at schools, churches, or local businesses. Children and/or parents can be invited to buy these treats.
  2. Pancake breakfast - Sell tickets for a delicious breakfast hosted in the school gym or cafeteria one morning before school starts. Offer food and refreshments for a set price.
  3. Volunteer snack bags - Students can decorate paper bags and fill them with healthy, nonperishable snacks and thank you notes. Drop them off at our office and we will distribute them to our hardworking onsite volunteers & construction crew!
  4. Candy grams - Students can send candy-grams with fun messages for a small price. Halloweens grams and Holiday-themed grams are great sellers.
  5. Lollipop sales - Everyone loves lollipops! Sell them for $0.25 each and earn a lot in return off a simple, delicious treat!
  6. Dog wash - At your school or local park, hold a dog wash! Contact your local pet store to donate soap or other supplies. Advertise well!

 

Fundraising: Ages 13-15

Involve your service-minded teen in some of these fundraising ideas:

  1. Make the grade - Have students get pledges for “A’s” and “B’s” at the beginning of a quarter and collect the donations after report card time.
  2. Cookbook - Collect recipes from students and families to fill a community cookbook. You could also have the students help create artwork for recipe pages or the cover. Once the cookbook is compiled, sell it digitally as a PDF for around $10.
  3. Change it - Start a competition between classes by giving them each a coin jar to collect change for a designated amount of time. The one with the most collected change wins a prize, and donate the change.
  4.  Welcome Home - Fill a welcome basket with items for our new homeowners! Items may include dish towels, cutting boards, candles, coasters, fun mugs, and more.
  5. Work of Art - Students can create a drawing that is transferred onto note cards, t-shirts, mouse pads or coffee mugs for purchase. Sell your art and donate the funds! Make it a competition to see who can sell the most and award the winner with a special prize.
  6. Art Auction - Have students create artwork and then donate it to the ReStore to auction off as home decorations! Include special frames or a short description/note to accompany the art.
  7. Krispy Kreme Doughnut Sales - Doughnuts are made fresh and packaged by the dozen in special fundraising boxes. Contact your local Krispy Kreme store manager for fundraiser group sales pricing or go to www.krispykreme.com 
  8. Car Wash - Coordinate students and parents to wash cars in a high-traffic area for donations. Pick a warm day and try a lemonade stand as well!