WHAT IS COMMUNITY SERVICE?

 

“At the core of citizenship is the willingness to contribute to the common good.  When young people are asked to channel their idealism and energy into helping others and solving problems, they build respect for themselves and attachments to others.”     - William T. Grant    

Community Service means young people engaged in service programs that are improving the living conditions in their communities.  It means young people protecting natural resources, caring for the elderly, tutoring at-risk youngsters, working in homeless shelters, and volunteering their time and efforts for many other worthy endeavors.

 At San Lorenzo Valley Middle School, Community Service is a voluntary program, through which students can earn a gold emblem on their Advancement Certificate by doing 10 hours of Community Service for each year they attend the SLVMS.

 Community Service answers two of society’s critical needs:

1. The need for young people to gain practical experience, self-esteem, discipline, responsibility, and a sense of belonging to a community.
2. The need of each community to help fill a range of valuable public and human services.

 FIFTY COMMUNITY SERVICE IDEAS

1. Volunteer to tutor elementary school students.
2. Collect money for a good cause.
3. Help cook and/or serve a meal at homeless shelter.
4. Volunteer to help at a Special Olympics event.
5. Get your marital arts or dance class to give a demonstration at a nursing home.
6. Serve as a coach for a youth sports team.
7. Clean up trash along a river or in a park.
8. Make "I Care" kits with combs, toothbrushes, shampoo, etc. for homeless people.
9. Work in a concession stand to raise money for a good cause.
10. Volunteer at an animal shelter.
11. Help neighbors paint and repair their homes.
12. Collect aluminum cans and donate the money to a favorite charity.
13. Alter and repair clothes for the needy, elderly and homeless.
14. Volunteer to clean up trash at a community event or county fair.
15. Collect old stuffed animals and dolls, clean them up, repair them and donate them.
16. Raid your closet and attic to find toys and clothes to donate to a homeless shelter.
17. Take photos during an event and donate them to the event organizers.
18. Donate art supplies to kids in a homeless shelter.
19. Plant a commemorative tree to honor someone.
20. Contact Habitat for Humanity to see how you can support them
21. Clean up a vacant lot.
22. Bring toys to children in the cancer ward of a hospital.
23. Clean a neighbor's yard who can not do it themselves.
24. Collect supplies for persons who have been in a fire or natural disaster.
25. Pack and hand out food at a food bank.
26. Volunteer to be a museum guide.
27. Volunteer at a local homeless shelter or soup kitchen.
28. Design a campaign to promote tolerance and understanding of differences.
29. Volunteer as a counselor at local summer camp.
30. Volunteer to do office work at a local non-profit agency.
31. Set up a web page for a non-profit agency.
32. Contact a local tree farm about donating a Christmas tree to a nursing home, homeless shelter or needy family.
33. Ring the bell for Salvation Army during the holidays.
34. Make birthday cards for the elderly.
35. Run or walk in a charity race with friends.
36. Read a book to a younger kid a blind person or an older neighbor.
37. Make get well cards for people in hospitals and convalescent homes.
38. Collect unused make-up, perfume and cosmetics for a center for abused women..
39. Conduct an Easter Egg Hunt for needy children.
40. Write a kids' book author and ask them to donate signed copies, auction the books off and donate the money to local library.
41. Volunteer to help at charity auctions.
42. Collect old clothes and donate them for a dress-up area at a daycare.
43. Practice random acts of kindness.
44. Paint over graffiti.
45. Hold a used book sale and donate the money.
46. Encourage the school cafeteria to donate left over food to local homeless shelters.
47. Tutor students who are learning English as a second language.
48. Invite local police officers to present a drug awareness or bike safety assembly.
49. Collect school supplies to give to kids who need them.
50. Collect children's books for the needy.