Community Service Project Purpose Build classroom culture and community Students will learn: how to take responsibility for their own actions and help others how to apply these skills inside and outside of the classroom The culmination of the unit will be to design and carry out a service project for a community of their choice (i.e. the local neighborhood, school, etc.)

Community Service Project WHY? To learn about an activity or organization that interests you To beat boredom (if you find yourself sitting around the house feeling totally bored, volunteering in an activity you enjoy can be a great way to change things) To overcome a loss you have experienced (one of the best ways to help yourself in a time of loss is to help others) To gain perspective on life (there is no better way to understand your blessings than to help people in need) Your own personal reasons. (i.e. learning about yourself)

Just a few ideas… Brainstorm Ideas (I WILL TAKE THESE UP) Get with a partner Concerns: make a list of different things in your communities that concern you Neighborhood concerns or School concerns On a separate piece of paper, write: 1. At least 5 concerns (10-15 minutes) 2. Suggestions for solutions to the concerns, 1 for each concern. (10-15 minutes) 3. Discuss which options are most realistic (5-10 minutes)

Paper Set Up 1. Concern: Suggestion: Realistic?: 2. Concern:

Example Concern: There are a lot of kids out on the streets with nothing to do but get in trouble. Suggestion: Building a new recreation center to keep kids off the street. Realistic?: No. Organizing an after school program might be more realistic.

Some ideas about where you can do community service…

Homeless Shelters What they do: What you can do: Help homeless people with meals, beds and other services. What you can do: Most homeless shelters welcome volunteers and have a variety of programs through which you can get involved. You might help prepare or distribute meals, work behind the scenes in the business office, help organize a food drive to stock the pantry, etc.

Food Banks What they do: What you can do: Food banks often work with homeless shelters, but they also serve people living in the community (especially around the holidays). What you can do: Food banks collect food, manage their inventory and distribute food to those in need.

Children Hostels What they do: What you can do: When a child is seriously ill, the child is frequently treated for long periods of time at a hospital or university medical center. Children hostels provide a low-cost "home-away-from-home" for parents and children to stay during treatment. What you can do: Volunteers help prepare meals, talk to families, take care of the house and so on.

Special Olympics What they do: What you can do: "Special Olympics is an international program of year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with mental retardation." What you can do: First, visit the web site. There are a lot of also describes a wide variety of volunteer activities, including sports training, fund raising, administrative help, competition planning and staffing, etc. Look in the phone book for a local office or search the Special Olympics Web Site for more information

Habitat for Humanity What they do: What you can do: Habitat for Humanity builds and gives houses to poor people in local communities. What you can do: Volunteers not only help others, but can learn a great deal about building houses by getting involved.

State Parks What you can do: Many state parks offer volunteer programs, and in these programs you can try anything from educational programs to trail construction and maintenance

Helping Others Learn to Read What you can do: Reading is one of the most important skills an adult can have. Many adults, however, have never learned how to read. Literacy volunteers act as tutors who help illiterate children and adults learn this important skill.

Hospitals What you can do: Many hospitals have volunteer programs to help patients both inside and outside the hospital. The volunteers programs allow participants to explore medical careers and gain work experience.

Libraries What you can do: Many libraries need help re-shelving books, running children's programs, making books available to the community, and so on.

Senior Citizens Centers What you can do: Senior citizen centers offer volunteer programs to provide friendship and community activities to senior citizens.

Animal Shelters What you can do: Many animal shelters are non-profit or government organizations, and therefore they welcome volunteers to help take care of animals, keep facilities clean and work with the public.

Red Cross What they do: What you can do: The American Red Cross helps people in emergencies - whether it's half a million disaster victims or one sick child who needs blood. What you can do: Volunteer opportunities exist across the country. Contact your local Red Cross for more information.

Salvation Army What they do: What you can do: The Salvation Army provides social services, rehabilitation centers, disaster services, worship opportunities, character building activities for all ages and character building groups and activities for all ages. What you can do: Volunteer opportunities exist across the country.

Some ideas…. One of the hardest parts of volunteering can be finding a volunteering opportunity that fits your personality. The following list will give you lots of different ideas and will show you many different possibilities. Look in your local area until you find a volunteer position that works for you. From the list of ideas you brainstormed or we talked about, write down at least two ideas that appeal to you and 3-4 sentences for each about why it appeals to you.