The local branch of Habitat for Humanityis using $25,000 from the organization’s 360 Build Smart Partnership grant program to create a program that will help it get the most out of its volunteers.
The Habitat branch is using the grant money to hire a leadership training specialist, who will be working with the construction manager and with the volunteer co-ordinator to create and deliver a program to train site supervisors and crew leaders.
The program will include teaching and leading unskilled builders; creating a safe environment; motivating volunteers; being a spokesperson for the mission of Habitat on the build site; building with volunteers with limitations, and more, a news release said.
A part-time assistant volunteer co-ordinator has also been hired to recruit and attract new crew leaders and to help in implementing the program, the release said.
The local Habitat will be creating a how-to manual and “train the trainer” program in hopes of sharing the information with other Habitat affiliates in order to maximize donor dollars and keep the program running for future years, it said.
“This program has the ability to have far-reaching benefits to not only our community, but to all Habitat for Humanity affiliates in the country and beyond,” said Habitat executive director Diane Nelson, in the release.