VOLUNTEER AT THE WASTESHED!
Our volunteers are what make our mission possible. Volunteering with us is a great way to build community with fellow crafts people, learn about new materials and processes, and to help reduce waste and build sustainability.
We welcome all volunteers 18+ and volunteers 14-17 years old with written permission from a legal guardian.
IF YOU ARE UNDER 18 AND WISH TO VOLUNTEER AT OUR EVANSTON LOCATION, YOU MUST EMAIL US TO SETUP AN INTERVIEW/ORIENTATION FIRST BEFORE SIGNING UP
10/4/2025 policy update: Due to increased volunteer demand, we are asking that volunteers limit themselves to one in-store volunteer shift per week at the Evanston location.
Masks are required for all volunteers.
Volunteers earn store credit at the rate of $1/hr.
ARE YOU A NEW VOLUNTEER? REGISTER USING THE LINK BELOW.
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?
Sign Up for Our Open Volunteer Shifts & Volunteer Events
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 & Identifying Fibers
Tidying & Organizing our Space
Testing Sewing Machines & Photography Equipment
Sorting & Organizing Paper
Sorting & Organizing Beads & Jewelry
FAQs
What kind of help does a volunteer provide at the the WasteShed? services do you offer?
1
Volunteers help with a variety of different projects! Volunteers will help in greeting customers, organizing products for display, sort and help to price donations in our stores. Volunteers also help with a variety of special events, such as tabling, helping with craft projects, workshops, and fundraisers. Volunteers with vehicles also sometimes help out with occasional transportation of items. The WasteShed is interested in volunteers who may have expertise in all types of fabrication, fundraising, antique and jewelry appraisal, data entry and other projects. If you have a special skill you'd like to lend, please email Programs@thewasteshed.com
No problem! Please indicate what your arrival time/ departure time by emailing programs@thewasteshed.com or calling the location you plan on volunteering at so we know when we can expect you! Please do your best to arrive at the time you commit to, 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.
I want to sign up for a shift, but I have to leave earlier/ arrive later than the time available time slot.
2
I cannot make my shift for the time I signed up/ I am running late. What do I do?
3
If you need to cancel your shift more than 24 hours in advance, please email us to cancel your shift. If you are running late, or need to cancel your shift same day, please call the store to inform staff.
How often should I volunteer? / Is there a volunteer minimum commitment?
4
We do not have a minimum required time. 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.
I signed up for a shift, can I bring a friend?
5
Friends are welcome! All volunteers are required to fill out our volunteer registration form before volunteering. You may have your friend sign up for a slot, or if spots are filled, email us so that we can accommodate you.
At the moment, we are not requiring volunteers to attend a separate volunteer orientation. New volunteers will be oriented on-site when reporting for their first volunteer shift. Please report to a staff member and let them know it will be your first shift! Please contact programs@thewasteshed.com if you’d like to request a more comprehensive volunteer orientation or receive additional training.
Am I required to attend a Volunteer Orientation?
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 registration form. 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.
Can I sign up for more than one shift in a day?
8
We DO NOT recommend multiple shifts in one day. 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 they are signed up for special events.
If you need to have more allotted hours in a day such a for community service hours, please email us 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 make sure that you always sign up for your shifts via our sign up sheets, and send an email to volunteer@thewasteshed.com 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 programs@thewasteshed.com.