VOLUNTEER AT THE WASTESHED!
PARDON OUR DUST…
If you have volunteered with us in the past, please reach out to either store to schedule your shift.
We’re in the process of re-doing our volunteer system at the WasteShed! We value our volunteers and want to make volunteering with us better!
If you are NEW to volunteering with us check back August 1st for more information!
LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT CORPORATE / GROUP VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES?
Volunteers are an important and sustaining piece of The WasteShed’s creative reuse ecosystem. They play a crucial role in supporting our mission by helping out with a wide assortment of store operations and creative reuse tasks. The volunteer program encompasses a range of activities, including daily volunteer shifts, monthly volunteer sorting parties, and special events that both foster community building and help keep things afloat! Through their efforts, volunteers advance The WasteShed’s capacity to divert materials from landfill and are part of building a strong, creative reuse community.
Why Volunteer?
Now you can volunteer at home!
Learn more about out take-home program by clicking below:
Volunteering FAQs
Check out 10 of our most frequently asked volunteering questions down below!
Have any other questions or Specific skill sets you’d like to offer?
Send us an e-mail with your proposal or inquires!
Here are some things we always need help with:
Sorting & Organizing Sewing Notions
Measuring & Rolling Fabric
Tidying & Organizing our Space
Testing Sewing Machines & Photography Equipment
Sorting & Organizing Paper
Bead & Jewelry Organizing
Yarn Prepping
Marker Testing
Mystery Egg & Scrap Pack Making
FAQs
I’m interested in volunteering! How do I start, and what does the process look like?
1
Great! We’re happy to hear you’re interested in volunteering with us, and thank you for volunteering your time to our mission!
The volunteer process will look something like this:
You’ll fill out a Volunteer Application
A WasteShed staff member (Program Coordinator or Director of Programs) will reach out to you to set up a Volunteer Orientation
You’ll attend the orientation where you’ll learn more about volunteering and receive a volunteer pin
A WasteShed staff member will then work with you to get you on our volunteer schedule! Yay!
Please do not show up to volunteer without first going through the entire process. We will be unable to facilitate tasking or accommodate you.
Volunteers help with a variety of different projects that meet the needs of the store! Volunteer tasks help keep the ecosystem of The WasteShed flowing and healthy. We have a wide range of tasks from sorting donations, to winding yarn and measuring fabric, to helping us make stamp and scrap packs, and more!
The WasteShed is interested in volunteers who may have expertise in all types of crafting such as sewing, fiber arts, drawing, painting, photography, jewelry making and more! We are also interested in creatives who have a knack for organization, decluttering, and making creative packs of merchandise we have too much of.
If you have a special skill you’d like to offer, please fill out our Volunteer Application to start the process of becoming a volunteer!
What kind of help does a volunteer provide at the WasteShed?
2
I’m signed up for a shift, but I can no longer be there for the full shift, or am running late, or am unable to come at all. What do I do?
3
No problem!
If you’re running a little late or need to leave earlier/stay later, you can call the location you’re volunteering at to let a WasteShed staff member know. If you’re unable to make it to a shift, please email us at least 24 hours before your shift so we can accommodate the change.
Please do your best to arrive at the time you commit to as we rely on our volunteers to help us manage our donation intake. We do ask that you commit to at least one and a half hours per shift whenever possible.
How often should I volunteer? Is there a volunteer minimum commitment?
4
We ask that all volunteers commit to at least one and half hours per shift whenever possible.
We do not currently have a minimum commitment. However, we LOVE volunteers that can commit to one regular shift per week. This allows us to get to know you and your work style.
Am I required to attend a Volunteer Orientation?
5
Yes! All volunteers are required to attend a Volunteer Orientation prior to their first shift. We have two Volunteer Orientation sessions every six weeks- you are only required to attend one session.
You will not be able to volunteer without first attending a Volunteer Orientation.
We understand and we have other volunteer opportunities!
The other volunteer opportunity we have most frequently is our Volunteer Parties which happen once a month. These parties are open to the public and are typically to help us sort through/organize a material that we have too much of. They’re a great way to help us out, and they make a huge impact in the flow of the store!
You can learn more about these Volunteer Parties on our EventBrite.
I’m unable to volunteer due to time commitment conflicts, but I still want to help out. Are there other volunteering opportunities?
6
What if I want to work only on certain projects/ areas of interest?
7
Please indicate your preference for what type of work you’d like to do when filling out your Volunteer Application. Let us know what type of work you’d like to do and our staff can better orient you toward projects that interest you!
We will do our best, but we may not always have projects that match your preferences. Our needs in the store are constantly changing and we base tasking off of our needs that week.
How long can I stay at a volunteer shift? Is there a limit on how many times I can volunteer during the week?
8
We try our best to protect our staff and volunteers from burn out. We limit our store shifts to prevent over-extension and prevent boredom! We ask that volunteers limit their volunteer time to a max of 3-4 hours per day unless discussed with and approved by a WasteShed staff member. We also ask that you only sign up for one shift per week, unless discussed with a WasteShed staff member.
If you need to have more allotted hours in a day such a for community service hours, please email us or talk to a WasteShed staff member so that we may create a schedule with you.
I have required community service hours for school/ court ordered. Can I volunteer at The WasteShed?
9
Yes! We are a qualified 501(c)3 and can confirm required service hours for school or court ordered community service hours.
We do ask that if you need a letter of confirmation of your hours, to email us to request your confirmation letter.
Can my church group/youth group/company volunteer at The WasteShed?
10
Possibly! We have very limited capacity for supervising larger volunteer groups at present, and prefer to work with smaller groups, with some exceptions. Please contact us.