Volunteer

"Habitat is a win-win situation. The volunteers are rewarded by productive service, the houses get built, the homeowners provide sweat equity, and everybody wins.”
– Asheville Habitat Volunteer

Volunteers are the heart of Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. 1,700 people volunteer with us each year, in a variety of different capacities.  Whether you swing a hammer at the construction site, answer phones in the administrative office, or help customers in the Home Store, you'll be helping us build more safe, decent and affordable homes for families in need.

First time volunteers with Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity are asked to attend a 1-hour Volunteer Orientation.  Please click here to learn more about orientation and register for an upcoming session.

For inquiries specific to  individual volunteer opportunities in the Home Store, please contact the Home Store Volunteer Coordinator Lisamarie Odeen at 828.210.9368 or by email.

For inquiries specific to individual volunteer opportunities at the Construction site, please contact the Jobsite Volunteer Coordinator Laura Ivey at 828.210.9383 or by email.

For group or other volunteer inquiries, please contact Volunteer Manager Beth Russo at 828.210.9377 or by email.

Habitat volunteers must be 16 years or older.  All volunteers must sign a Waiver of Liability Standard OR Waiver of Liability for Minors

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT:
Jen Herman

If you’re a Saturday Home Store shopper, or a Saturday volunteer, then you’ve probably seen Jen Herman.  Rain or shine, you can find Jen in her position of "Parking Lot Sales Volunteer".  She assists customers in the parking garage area, which is home to a wide variety of building supplies. With a positive attitude and radiant smile, she's hard to miss.

Jen came to Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity in the spring of 2008. In January of that year she made a New Year’s resolution to volunteer on a regular basis and Habitat immediately came to mind after the relationship her family built with a Habitat affiliate in Wyoming County, NY.

Jen’s brother, Patrick, suffered a serious neck injury as a senior in high school and became a quadriplegic, confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Jen says, “While he was physically confined, his spirit and will to live life to the fullest was most certainly not."  Habitat helped her family with the financing to convert the family’s dining room into a proper bedroom and made the bathroom and the rest of the home handicap accessible. Sadly, Patrick passed away in November of 2008 but she says, “He inspires me every day.”

Jen comes back to Habitat for Humanity because of the relationship she has with other volunteers. “Plus,” she says, “I’m helping people build and create homes for their families and loved ones. And I know my brother is smiling down on me, proud that I’m helping others in need.”

If you don’t know Jen, please take the time to say hello. You won’t be sorry!

Thanks Jen, for all of your hard work!  We really appreciate you!