Current Build Information

Frequently Asked Questions

8 Hemlock Road , York, ME

Are there parking and sanitary facilities near the site?
Parking is extremely limited at the site. Plan to arrive early to look for spaces. We recommend that you carpool. Hemlock is a dirt road and full of pot holes. It may appear to be a single lane road, but is actually a double lane road. Please, do not block anyone's driveway. A Port-a-Potty is available at the site.

What do I do if I am interested in donating food?
Please check the Meals Schedule to find which dates are open and then contact the Meals Coordinator listed for that date. Please plan on food for 18. Morning and afternoon break suggestions are: apples, oranges, bagels, or muffins. Salads are difficult to manage. Dunkin Donuts of Kittery is supplying donuts and coffee every other weekend beginning September 4th.Contact one of the meals coordinators: Janet Stitt at meals@habitatyorkcounty.org or Barbara Dugan at 207-363-0961

When is lunch available? Lunch is from 12-1:00 pm and is provided by donations from various organizations and individuals. After a hard morning of work, you will probably want to sit and enjoy lunch and relaxation, instead of rushing around finding food! Refreshments will also be provided. If you have any dietary restrictions, please provide your own refreshments and lunch. Coffee is not provided, please bring your own thermos!

What days can I volunteer to assist in the building? Volunteers are needed on Friday and Saturdays until late December or until the house is completed. Please check the Volunteer Schedule for open dates and contact the Construction Volunteer Coordinator: Ruth Baker at rmpatience@gmail.com to sign up.

If I have to cancel last minute who do I contact? If you are an individual volunteer for the York Build, please contact Ruth Baker at 207-475-5816 if you are unable to attend. If you are volunteering as a member of a group, please contact your group coordinator.

How many people can work on the York site? The optimal number of site volunteers depends on the site and the work plan for the day. Each site has different capacities but there can be as few as 6 or as many as 15 volunteers each day. The safety and adequate supervision of our volunteers is important to us, and our construction crew determines the number of volunteers we have on our sites. If you would like to be on our "On Call" list for days when more volunteers are necessary, please contact Ruth Baker at rmpatience@gmail.com.

I've never held a hammer in my life, can I still work on site? We welcome ALL volunteers of ALL skill levels and we provide the training that you need! Be aware that construction is a physically demanding activity, and there are risks associated with it. Supervision and direction will be provided for each task. We will also match people and their skill sets to appropriate tasks.

How old do I have to be to work on site? You must be at least 16 years old to work on the construction site; additionally, you must be at least 18 to work on roofs and/or scaffolding. All minors under the age of 18 must arrive with a waiver signed by their parent or guardian. You can download the Volunteer Information Form.

When should I arrive at the site? Arrive at 8:30 in order to register. For safety reasons, we cannot allow anyone to come late. If you miss the safety talk, you may not be able to work on the site that day.

Can I come late or leave early? We ask for a full-day commitment from all our volunteers. When people show up late or leave early, it makes it difficult for our supervisors to properly train volunteers or accomplish the construction goals for the day. Late arrivals may also cause delays in the start of safety instruction and task assignments. Without instruction and task assignments, late arrivals may be not be able to work.

It's raining! What do I do? Construction can continue during rain showers, depending on the state of the site. Often we will have enough work to do indoors to continue working in inclement weather.

What should I wear? Wear sturdy, closed toe shoes and clothes you don't mind getting dirty. Also be aware that much of the work is outdoors, so dress appropriately for the weather, including wind, sun and/or fog. A rain jacket and layers work perfect for changeable weather conditions.

What should I bring to the construction site? Habitat for Humanity York County will provide the hand tools and power tools you will be using. You may bring your own tool belt and hand tools if you like, but be sure to label them with your name. If you have your own safety goggles you may want to bring them as well. Also, be sure to bring your own personal comfort items - work gloves, sunscreen, bug screen, a hat, and layered clothing for weather changes. Please leave your valuables at home! There is no storage space at the site.

What can I expect to do when I work on the site? The first item of business is to sign in and turn in your Volunteer Information Form. Everyone must complete the Volunteer Information Form before they are allowed to work. Habitat for Humanity York County is required to have a record of your participation for legal, insurance, and statistical purposes. After signing in, volunteers will receive safety instruction and work assignments from the site supervision team.

What is the schedule for a typical work day?