If a person is volunteering for a program dont they usually get something in writing that states when, why and where they volunteered at?

I created a community center where i live at, when everything was coming together i was told that it was on a volunteer basis, but after i met with SHRA i was informed that once the occupancy level reached a certain percentage it would be a paying job. Since then a few disagreements with management and i was told i was terminated and that i wouldnt even be provided with a reference letter. Is that legal