About Habitat for Humanity's Volunteer Facility

HFHMGC Houses Volunteers at Camp Victor Ministries
All volunteers must be 16+older.

Beginning on November 3rd, 2008, Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Camp Victor Ministries (CVM) operating under Lutheran Episcopal Services in Mississippi (LESM) entered into a new partnership.
Christus Victor Lutheran Church opened its doors to several disaster response activities, including housing and feeding thousands of volunteers. Due to continuous growth of its mission, in June 2006 the Church converted an old Swingster sewing factory into a disaster relief camp now known as Camp Victor.
Camp Victor is nestled in downtown Ocean Springs near many restaurants, boutiques, and galleries. For volunteers that have stayed at Yankie Stadium, CVM has many of the same comforts.

MEALS:
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided by Camp Victor. Breakfast is served at 7am; Volunteers prepare and pack their own lunches for the jobsite; Dinner is served at 6pm. Please note that CVM tries to provide vegetarian accommodations, but this cannot be guaranteed for every meal. Refrigerators and microwaves are available for volunteers to use if you have any special dietary needs.

HOUSING:
Lodging at Camp Victor consists of air-conditioned and heated dorms space for males and females. Cable TV, wireless internet access and a recreational area are available to volunteers. There are Camp Victor House Rules that will be enforced (See Village Rules and Regulations below).

RV HOOKUPS: 
Camp Victor does not have RV space available. For a list of local RV campgrounds, please contact the Volunteer Serices department: volunteer@hfhmgc.org.

SECURITY:
Please wear your Habitat name tag at all times. This will serve as your identification at Camp Victor. For the safety of volunteers and their belongings, CVM’s front door locks at 4 PM and re-opens at 9 AM. Individuals and team leaders will be given the access code to the door when they register during Monday check-in.

DIRECTIONS:
Address for Camp Victor Ministries:
1515 Government St, Oceans Springs, MS 39564

From Interstate 10. Take Exit 50, towards Ocean Springs.
Take Washington Ave South, crossing over Highway 90 – and make a LEFT on Government Street (Lovelace Drugstore will be on your right).
Stay on Government Street for approximately 1/4 mile. Camp Victor is on the Left.

COST:
A $125 fee is assessed by HFHMGC to support housing construction, operations and the volunteer experience. Payment is made during the online registration process, or can be mailed to HFHMGC within 10 days of online registration.

SUGGESTED PACKING LIST:

• FOOTWEAR: Work Boots, Tennis Shoes, Shower Shoes
  Regardless of the weather, you MUST WEAR CLOSED TOE-SHOES at all times on the construction site.
• CLOTHING: Worksite clothing (see Construction Site Dress Code); Clothing to wear during down time at Camp Victor and while exploring the Gulf Coast
• BEDDING: Standard twin top sheet; Sleeping bag or Blanket; Pillow
• MISC. ITEMS:
  Bath Towel
  Bathrobe or clothing to wear between the dorm rooms and showers
  Shower shoes/ Flip flops
  Insect Repellant
  Sun screen
  Alarm Clock
  Flashlight (very good if you want to read in your bunk after hours)
  

TOOLS:
If you have a hammer or a lucky tape measure you really like to use, you are more than welcome to bring them, but make sure you mark them as your own so they don’t get mixed in with our tools. Otherwise, we provide the tools.

TIPS:
Don’t bring anything of value. Leave your jewelry at home. Think simple, comfortable, and necessary. There will most likely be other teams staying at Camp Victor the same time you are. Take time to talk to the other volunteers and find out why they came. Almost everyone has a good story. And remember. . . Have a servant’s heart. Be flexible.

VILLAGE RULES & REGULATIONS:
• Shirt, shoes, pants, and nametags must be worn at all times in camp.
• We have a no tolerance policy for alcohol, drugs, intoxication, violence, theft or weapons
• Quiet time is from 10pm-6am. There is no talking during this time. Quiet activities are okay in the lounge and dining hall until 11pm.
• No food, drink or candy in the lounge.
• Please be considerate of others waiting to use the computers and limit time.
• No food, drink or candy in the dorms with the exception of water.
• Not allowed in opposite sex’s dorms.
• Please use headphones for audio, video and computer devices.
• Please do not keep cash or valuables in the dorm room. Carry them with you, secure them in a vehicle or get a lock from the Camp Victor Volunteer Manager to use a locker.
• Please clean up after yourself in the dining hall, dorms, lounge and restrooms.
• Adult supervision of 1 adult per 4 minors is required for anyone under the age of 18 outside their dorm at 10pm.
• Please sign up for dinner on the Daily Meal Sign up board in the dining hall each day before you leave for the construction site. Please note the number of vegetarians and meat eaters in your group.

CONSTRUCTION DRESS CODE:
The below dress code will be enforced at all HFHMGC job sites. This code has been compiled by HFHMGC, HFHI and OSHA standards.

1. Shoes – Closed toe shoes only. Work boots are preferred but thick soled tennis shoes will be allowed. Please make sure that tennis shoes have a solid grip on the sole. 
2. Pants/Shorts – Pants and/or shorts must not be tight fitting. Shorts are allowed but must be no higher than mid-thigh. No mini shorts allowed. Undergarments must be covered. 
3. No skirts and dresses allowed. 
4. Shirts – Either long sleeve, short sleeve shirts and t-shirts are allowed. No sleeveless shirts inclusive of tank tops, tube tops, spaghetti string tops, sport bras and halter tops are allowed. No suggestive or profanity sayings are allowed on any shirt. Fishnet and sheer shirts of any kind are not allowed. Skin must not be exposed in the torso area. 
5. Any form of clothing that is tight fitting and/or suggestive is not allowed. 
6. Piercings – No visible piercings of any kind are allowed except non-dangle earrings. 
7. Jewelry – Dangling and bulky jewelry of any type is not allowed. 
8.  Headphones- No I-pods, walkmans, or ear devices are allowed during construction activities. Please note that ear devices for medical purposes are allowed on site.

You represent the Habitat for Humanity organization. These rules will be strictly complied with for safety reasons. If the construction supervisor deems anything that you may be wearing as a safety hazard and/or of a suggestive nature, he/she will not allow you to work on the job site, no exceptions.

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS:
Hurricane Season begins on June 1 and continues through November 30. In the instance of a hurricane, HFHMGC will contact you with the necessary information and hurricane procedure. To see MDOT’s approved evacuation plan, please CLICK HERE.