What to expect as a volunteer at SBP

St. Bernard Project is a rebuilding organization with opportunities for both skilled and unskilled volunteers. As a volunteer you may do mold remediation, install exterior doors and windows, install insulation, hang sheetrock/drywall, tape/mud sheetrock, put down flooring, install interior doors, trim and cabinets, painting and/or do yard work. St. Bernard Project is always looking for skilled carpenters, electricians, and plumbers. Please notify the volunteer coordinator, prior to you or your group’s arrival, if you have these or other construction skills.

St. Bernard Project is open Monday-Friday and approximately two Saturdays a month. Monday-Friday hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and Saturdays work days are from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. If you are interested in volunteering on a Saturday, please confirm with the volunteer coordinator that the project will be open.

On your first work day, you (and your group!) will participate in orientation at the SBP office. You will learn about the Project, receive your volunteer assignments, get directions to your work site and have a chance to use the bathroom and purchase t-shirts. Orientation runs from 8:30 am-9 am. Unless you are notified by the volunteer coordinator of an alternate time, please show up to the office located at 8324 Parc Place, Chalmette, at 8:30 am.

All volunteers must sign volunteer release forms, which you will find at the end of this packet. Please fill out these forms and bring them to the office on your first day. A member of the volunteer department will collect these forms from you during the orientation. Group leaders, please make sure that all members of your group have completed these forms prior to the orientation. If you or anyone in your group is under 18, please have a parent or guardian sign the volunteer participant liability release form. St. Bernard Project must receive a waiver from each volunteer.

You will receive your volunteer work assignment during orientation. If you are coming with a group, please recognize that your group may be split up. One of the core values of the St. Bernard Project is to assign only the number of volunteers that are needed at each house. This approach will ensure that you have a meaningful experience and are safely supervised.

On the work site, you will be lead by a site supervisor, typically an AmeriCorps member. Though they may not be construction experts, they are well trained and are leaders at the site. The site supervisor reports to a construction manager, who manages 10-12 sites. The construction manager visits the different sites each day to check on progress. The construction managers receive supply orders from site supervisors, and contact our supply runners, who are in charge of purchasing and delivering supplies.

Our goal is to ensure that you have a positive and productive volunteer experience. Sometimes, however, we will need your help! We may ask you to run to Home Depot to buy supplies or move to a different site or supervise a team of volunteers if you are skilled. Please be flexible. If you have suggestions about how we can do things more efficiently or effectively, please let us know.