Volunteers play an essential role in helping to fulfill our mission to build homes, communities and hope in partnership with qualified individuals and families in need of a hand up. We have a variety of ways you can get involved!
Do you want to make a difference in your community, but don’t know where to start?
Are you looking for a rewarding and impactful experience?
Do you need community service hours for school?
No matter your goals, Habitat can help you make the difference you’re looking for!
Through construction, retail, home repair, advocacy and more, you can impact families all over San Gabriel Valley. Become a volunteer today!
Volunteers like you are critical to helping families build or repair their own homes! We have lots of opportunities for individuals and groups at your local ReStores. We welcome volunteers age 14 and up. Volunteers under the age of 18 must have a parental waiver completed in order to volunteer.
If you are interested at least 18 years old and interested in learning more about this program please email our volunteer team at volunteer@sgvhabitat.org
The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes United States citizens and lawfully admitted, permanent residents of the United States who have achieved the required number of hours of service over a 12-month time period (beginning January) or cumulative hours over the course of a lifetime.
Within the 12-month cycle, volunteers can earn volunteer hours to go toward the PSVA award they can receive based on their age group. When registered through VolunteerHub, volunteer hours are recorded during the 12-month period and an award order is placed at the deadline in December.
Any volunteer hours done outside of SGV Habitat can be included to their accumulated hours within the 12-month period so long as they have valid documentation, such as signed volunteer hour form, and a point of contact to confirm the hours completed.
Ineligible service includes:
Happy President’s Day to former U.S. President Jimmy Carter
In celebration of President’s Day, we’d like to acknowledge the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter. James (Jimmy) Earl Carter, Jr., has always had a voice for affordable, decent housing for all.
In March of 1984, President Carter resonated with Habitat’s mission of helping families achieve their dream of homeownership when he jogged by the New York City Habitat build and thought to himself, “Rosalynn and I should come up and give them a hand.”
His Deep Commitment and Value Alignment
President Carter and Mrs. Carter realized Habitat’s mission aligned with their values – they understood the need for families to have a stable, affordable foundation to grow. With this, President and Mrs. Carter formed a partnership with Habitat for Humanity and have been building to improve homes through the Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter Work Project.
Although Carter is most known in the world for his notable accomplishments as the President of the United States, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, the Governor of Georgia, and more, in Habitat’s world, President Carter is known as our most famous volunteer.
Over the course of 30 years, President Carter has inspired millions of people in 14 countries while working alongside more than 104,000 Habitat volunteers to build, renovate and repair 4,390 homes.
“We have the ambition to share some of our good fortune with others,” Carter says.
“That’s one of the most difficult things in life: to cross that chasm between well-off people and families that don’t have a decent home. That’s one of the things Habitat has given to us: an ability to share, side by side, building a home with families that have never had a decent place to live.”
A fact of Carter’s commitment
Carter suffered a fall in his Georgia home that led to 14 stitches and a visibly black eye. Despite his injuries, he traveled to Nashville to help rally volunteers during the 36th Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project with Habitat for Humanity.
We are honored and grateful for President Carter and Mrs. Carter’s continued partnership and support. You can add to their mission of life-changing work by volunteering, donating, or shopping at San Gabriel Valley Habitat ReStores.
The symphony of hammering at the Olive Ave. house echoes from room to room. The melody is hope, the harmony is stability, and it is performed by the many volunteers who are writing the song of a brighter future for homeowners Brenda, Gerardo and their three children.
Among the volunteers is Juliette, a vibrant 17-year-old high school senior who knows a thing or two about creating music and the arts. She is currently a student at a distinguished arts school in Duarte. Her ambition is to attend college focusing on a BFA in musical theatre.
Juliette has been looking forward to volunteering on a construction site since she began volunteering at the ReStores at age 15. (Minimum age to volunteer on the construction site is 16). SGV Habitat is Juliette’s first experience volunteering with an international non-profit organization. As a member of the National Honors Society, she is encouraged to complete community service hours. Upon researching various non-profits, Juliette found the idea of building homes a fun and unique way to spend her time. After a year volunteering at the ReStores, she was excited for the first day she stepped on the construction site.
“I was nervously excited on my first day,” Juliette recalls. “Everyone at the site was encouraging, and I never felt I was doing something way too hard or too easy; the crew keeps us engaged,” she explained.
Even at age 17, Juliette recognizes the struggles families have seeking affordable housing. As a child of a single mom they have moved many times throughout the San Gabriel Valley, as her mother strived for better opportunities. Although, her mom is an educated professional, finding an affordable home for their family was a struggle. Juliette sees how the cost of owning a home in the San Gabriel Valley is out of reach for many families. This is one of the reasons she decided to volunteer for SGV Habitat.
She hopes to one day own a home of her own and recounts the skills she has attained while working with the construction crew: training on how to use power tools, components of a house, drywalling, hammering, installation, problem solving, reading a blueprint and more.
“Teens like me, are going to one day own a home, and working with Habitat is the best kind of training,” Juliette explained. “You are going to want to know how to fix things in your home, so you don’t have to pay someone to do it for you,” she continued.
Juliette was surprised to learn that there is a right way to hammer and a wrong way, and learning how to hammer in the proper manner makes the task at hand easier. Hammering proved to have another valuable use for Juliette. It is therapeutic.
“When you have a hard day at school, if you are frustrated with a grade you received on a test, or you don’t like your homework assignment—just hammer it away! Your English teacher didn’t like your essay –Hammer it! Hammering is a terrific therapeutic release!” Juliette said with a smile.
The most valuable insight Juliette gained from volunteering was the way it made her feel.
“Working with John, the Construction Site Supervisor, I felt that he trusted me with the given task. I felt included, and empowered by the skills I learned,” Juliette said reflecting on her days volunteering.
“When a bunch of people come together to do something for others, it gives off a great energy.” Juliette shared. “There is so much negative noise all around us. But when you step on that construction site, everything outside evaporates, and I am just surrounded by goodness. You are reminded that humanity is good.”
For more information about youth volunteering please contact Tywanna Hill, volunteer coordination at thill@sgvhabitat.org.
Meet the mother and son volunteer duo, Hyanne and Justin
San Gabriel Valley Habitat Monrovia office is always happy to see families helping families. Hyanne (mother) and Justin (son) embody just that – they are our dedicated office volunteer duo who seeks to make a positive impact in their community by volunteering!
Hyanne comes from a law background; she helped domestic violence victims and the homeless population as an attorney. She obtained her degrees from Standford University and the University of Southern California School of Law. Raised with strong values, she pursued opportunities to help others and taught her children, Justin (14) and Emily (18) to do the same.
Hyanne has helped Habitat in more ways than one. From volunteering on multiple Habitat build sites to now volunteering at our local San Gabriel Valley Habitat office, her heart for the community drives her.
“You come to this earth, whatever you do, it should be to make a positive impact. Volunteering is something you do out of selflessness. If I can give my energy, time, and effort to help just one person or an organization, it’s worth it to me.” Hyanne says.
Justin, Hyanne’s son, volunteered at our office during his spring break and regularly volunteers at SGV ReStores. As a 9th grader in high school, he is a part of multiple extracurricular activities such as the Model United Nations Club, Helping Hands Club, and is a competitive swimmer on Rose Bowl Aquatics Swim team. He aspires to receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award by completing 100+ hours at nonprofit organizations (like ours)!
“Volunteering is economically important. It creates jobs, helps organizations like San Gabriel Valley Habitat, builds a sense of community, and helps individuals and families connect with one another while doing something for the greater good,” Justin said.
Currently, Hyanne and Justin are helping SGV ReStores organizing in-kind donation receipts and analyzing data for the ReStore department. The Duarte and Atwater ReStores are a critical part of raising funds to help families in the community access affordable housing. All proceeds from SGV ReStores go back to help build and repair more homes.
A big thank you from the San Gabriel Valley Habitat family to Hyanne and Justin for their dedication, hard work, and commitment to help families in the San Gabriel Valley. Thank you for being a part of our mission!
*It’s National Volunteer Month! Here at San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, we truly value those who volunteer their time with us. We recognize these volunteers for their commitment to building strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. The dedication of these volunteers is highlighted through their significant time commitment and passion for the cause. The work of volunteers is critical to achieving Our Vision of a San Gabriel Valley and a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Learn more about volunteering by getting involved here.
Meet our Office Staff Volunteer, David
David began volunteering at the front desk – but before we knew it, he was reassigned to do high-level tasks because of his abundant work experience!
He comes from an extensive education background, having retired as an Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Service at Burbank Unified School District, holding positions as the Chief Business Officer for Temple City Unified School District and the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for Pasadena Unified School District.
As a resident of Monrovia for over two decades, he has deep connections with the San Gabriel Valley. David’s definition of home is: “Home is where your family is and where you can rest, recharge, and feel the freedom to be yourself while being protected by exterior elements,” David said.
Since being introduced to San Gabriel Valley Habitat by his daughter, Julianna, he has been a dedicated volunteer at the Monrovia office.
David rewrote the Bylaws of the Organization and the Articles of Incorporation, revised the Disaster plan, updated loan documents, built alongside the Foothill Credit Union for a build day event (where he is a board member), and much more. He loves being able to work with our team to give low-income families a hand-up by providing affordable mortgages.
“The fun part is that the work varies every week. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?” David said.
When David was asked why he thinks volunteerism is important, he responded, “No nonprofit organization can make it today without the support of others. SGV Habitat relies on others to help build homes, including the new homeowners who must put in volunteer hours for Habitat’s support. I believe that once one can afford to retire, it is time to give back whatever one can, and I do it through volunteering my time in the office for Habitat.”
Thanks to volunteers like David, San Gabriel Valley Habitat will continue to fight the housing affordability crisis in the region and serve more families in need of a safe, decent, and affordable home.
A big thank you to David for his expertise, knowledge, and commitment to volunteering his time at San Gabriel Valley Habitat. Thank you, David. You are a truly valued member of the organization!
*It’s National Volunteer Month! Here at San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, we truly value those who volunteer their time with us. We recognize these volunteers for their commitment to building strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. The dedication of these volunteers is highlighted through their significant time commitment and passion for the cause. The work of volunteers is critical to achieving Our Vision of a San Gabriel Valley and a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Learn more about volunteering by getting involved here.