Community Service Ideas for 4-H & Youth

GENERAL IDEAS:

1. Set up a Help-O-Meter to keep track of the number of hours youth volunteer in the community.
2. Organize a recognition program for the volunteers who lead community organizations.
3. Work in a concession stand to raise money for a good cause.
4. Make a gift for the secretary of a non-profit organization you are associated with.
5. Take photos during an event and donate them to the event organizers.
6. Volunteer to be a museum guide.
7. Plan an Ethnic Awareness day.
8. Design a campaign to promote tolerance and understanding of differences.
9. Volunteer at a health fair.
10. Volunteer as a counselor at local summer camp.
11. Volunteer to do office work at a local non-profit agency.
12. Set up a web page for a non-profit agency.
13. Volunteer to lead a club of youth.
14. Share a talent through teaching a class.
15. Make birthday cards for the elderly.
16. Run or walk in a charity race with friends.
17. Stage a carnival to promote community spirit.
18. Ask your mayor to sign a proclamation for an important community event.
19. Ask your governor to sign a proclamation for a national event.
20. Practice random acts of kindness.
21. Stage a marathon to raise money for a cause.
22. Organize an exchange between rural and urban individuals to promote understanding.
23. Volunteer to help at charity auctions.
24. Volunteer your talents at a charity auction.

ON THE CALENDAR:

1. Conduct a community service project during the Big Help Day in October.
2. Plan a Memorial Day program.
3. Recognize veterans in your community.
4. Participate in National Youth Service Day in April.
5. On Thanksgiving, make sure your family knows what you are thankful for.
6. Trim a mitten Christmas tree to donate mittens to local schools and homeless shelters.
7. Organize a coat drive in which old coats are donated for use by needy people.
8. Contact a local tree farm about donating a Christmas tree to a nursing home, homeless shelter or needy family.
9. Decorate a Christmas tree at a nursing home, hospital, school or homeless shelter.
10. Ring the bell for Salvation Army during the holidays.
11. Deliver a May Day basket.
12. Offer safety tips for youngsters during Halloween.
13. Conduct an Easter Egg Hunt for needy children.
14. On St. Patrick's Day, don't only wear something green, care for something green!
15. Volunteer to return shopping carts during National Supermarkets Month in February.
16. Make Spring baskets for seniors' residential facility, neighbors or homeless shelters.
17. On International Picnic Day in May, take your family or friends on a picnic. You supply the food and let Mother Nature supply the ants!
18. Make a Halloween Safety Kit for youth.
19. Give your Mom a hug and a homemade card for Mother's Day.
20. On Johnny Appleseed Day in March, deliver apples to homeless shelters.
21. July is Anti-Boredom Month. Help your friends fight boredom by becoming active community volunteers.
22. During July on National Cheer-Up Day, share a smile and cheer someone up.
23. Mow the lawn for your Dad on Father's Day.

CHILDREN, FAMILY & FRIENDS:

1. Surprise your parent(s) or neighbors and offer to babysit a sibling, relative or friend.
2. Design a game for young children.
3. Explore history by interviewing a nursing home resident about how they grew up.
4. Check on either a younger student or an elderly person after school.
5. Read a book to a younger kid a blind person or an older neighbor.
6. Cheer up a sick friend with a visit or phone call.
7. Celebrate a birthday by asking friends to donate items for causes instead of gifts.
8. Make get well cards for people in hospitals and convalescent homes.
9. Become pen pals to a younger person or someone from another country.
10. Knit or crochet baby blankets.
11. Conduct a clothing repair or sewing workshop for needy people.
12. Assemble a new parent's kit for the arrival of a newborn.
13. Collect old magazines and donate them to day care centers.
14. Quilt a blanket for newborn babies.
15. Plant a tree or present a tree to the parents for each baby born in your community.
16. Collect unused make-up, perfume and other cosmetics for a center for abused women.
17. Make a cancer or aids quilt or mural to remember people of who have died from these diseases and remind others of their life.
18. Write a kids' book author and ask them to donate signed copies, auction the books off and donate the money to local library.
19. Donate old eyeglasses to an organization or place that recycles them for the needy.
20. Collect old stuffed animals and dolls, clean them up, repair them and donate them.
21. Organize a babysitting service for foster families.
22. Collect old clothes and donate them for a dress-up area at a daycare.

SAFETY:

1. Take a life saving class.
2. Create a play that teaches young children how to stay safe at home.
3. Design a flier of after-school safety tips and deliver it to daycare centers and grade schools.
4. Check railroad crossings and make signs to promote safety.
5. Offer a safety workshop prior to July 4th.
6. Ask your parents to help you get your town to fix dangerous intersections.
7. Conduct a bicycle rodeo to help children learn bicycle safety.
8. Create an poison awareness campaign.
9. Ask your fire department how you can help others learn about fire safety.
10. Get permission to fix up your town's fire hydrants.
11. Make emergency kits for your home.
12. Collect money for a good cause.
13. Create a holiday safety video.
14. Start a campaign against teen suicide.
15. Volunteer at a police station.
16. Become a certified lifeguard and volunteer at a swimming pool.
17. If you're good at fixing bikes, volunteer to teach others how to fix their bikes.
18. Conduct bike safety checks for your neighborhood.
19. Sponsor a drug free post prom event.
20. Organize a drug free pledge campaign.

CRIME FIGHTHING:

1. Start a Crime clue box.
2. Survey your neighborhood to find out what people think are the leading crime causes.
3. Start a neighborhood watch program.
4. Join a community crime prevention organizations such as DARE or McGruff Program.
5. Work with local government to start a victim's aid support service.
6. Create a TV or radio public service announcement against drugs and alcohol.
7. Paint over graffiti.
8. Organize a self defense workshop.
9. Create a billboard for goo graffiti, allow people to paint sections.
10. Produce an anti-crime, anti-drug, anti-violence play.
11. Sponsor a TV blackout event that kids spend time with their family rather than watch TV.
12. Create and distribute a list of hotlines for kids who might need help

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES:

1. Paint a mural over graffiti.
2. Volunteer to be a teacher's aide during your study hall.
3. Collect coupons and small gift certificates for students who show progress in school work.
4. Hold a used book sale and donate the money.
5. Organize a "get acquainted" lunch for students at your school.
6. Set up a buddy system to match new students with ones who have attended school.
7. Start an anti-smoking campaign that encourages students not to smoke.
8. Encourage the school cafeteria to donate left over food to local homeless shelters.
9. Tutor students who are learning English as a second language.
10. Feature community minded people on a school bulletin board.
11. Make new kid survival kits for new students at the school.
12. Have your class hold an old videotape drive and donate them to your library.
13. Invite local police officers to present a drug awareness or bike safety assembly.
14. In art class, make drawings and decorations for senior citizens.
15. Collect school supplies to give to kids who need them.
16. Form a study group to help younger kids with their school work.
17. Collect children's books for the needy.
18. Volunteer for student council and school government committees.
19. Tape you and your classmates reading a story and give it to a children's hospital.
20. Form a campus safety escort service.
21. Put on an information fair on how little kids can be safe at home.
22. Tutor a student that needs help learning English or some other subject.
23. Conduct a canned goods drive during a school event and donate the items to a local food bank.
24. Arrange for student music performances during lunch.
25. Make a New Kid Survival Kit.
26. Start a New Buddy Club for new students.
27. Create a play that teaches young children how to stay safe at home while their parents are away.
28. Provide child care during a PTA meeting.
29. Conduct a seatbelt check at school as students leave the parking lot.
30. Organize a safe walk to school event.
31. Recognize teachers during National Education Week.
32. Volunteer to be part of a school flag raising ceremony.
33. Assist an after-school little league or other sports program for younger children.
34. Volunteer to serve as a crossing guard before and after school.
35. Set up a volunteer referral service between your school or organization and other community organizations.
36. Write or make a picture book to read to a younger youth.
37. Inspect school playgrounds for hazards.
38. Write a proposal for a sports safety clinic to your coach and school officials.
39. Organize a Safe Walk Service to escort young children to and from schools.
40. Make simple reading and math flash cards for a preschool or day care center.
41. Organize a reading hour for children at your local school or library.

GOVERNMENT:

1. Telephone residents and encourage them to register to vote.
2. Provide a voter pick up or transportation service for seniors.
3. Campaign for a candidate who is running for an office.
4. Organize a public issues forum for candidates.
5. Contact your juvenile court system. Find out if they have a "Kids in Court" program to match older kids who have been in court as abuse victims with younger kids who are facing a court experience.
6. Go door to door to register votes.
7. Design and paint a community mural.
8. Become an advocate. Contact your legislators on issues close to your heart.
9. Contact a local organization about donating flags to public institutions.

HELPING THE HUNGRY AND/OR HOMELESS:

1. Help cook and/or serve a meal at homeless shelter.
2. During National Nutrition month in March, organize a nutrition awareness campaign.
3. Organize a food scavenger hunt to collect food for the needy.
4. Alter and repair clothes for the needy, elderly and homeless.
5. Gather clothing from your neighbor and donate it to a local shelter.
6. Make "I Care" kits with combs, toothbrushes, shampoo, etc. for homeless people.
7. Bake bread on National Bread Day in November and deliver to the hungry, homeless or just your neighbors.
8. Help with repairs at a local homeless shelter.
9. Donate art supplies to kids in a homeless shelter.
10. Make a care package with mittens, socks, T-shirts, etc. for a child at a homeless shelter.
11. Collect grocery coupons to give a local food bank.
12. If your community doesn't have a food bank, work with local officials to start one.
13. Clip coupons and give them at your local food pantry or homeless shelter.
14. Pack and hand out food at a food bank.
15. Organize a neighborhood group to plant, tend and harvest a vegetable garden.
16. Donate the produce to a food bank.
17. Sponsor a food drive at your school or parent's workplace or business.
18. Prepare a home-cooked meal for the residents of a nearby homeless shelter.
19. Bake a batch of cookies and deliver them to a soup kitchen or homeless shelter.
20. Raid your closet and attic to find toys and clothes to donate to a homeless shelter.
21. Assist with sorting and organizing items donated to a homeless shelter.
22. Food drive - set up collection bins in stores, banks, movie theaters, and schools.
23. Start a program to help poor people build their own houses.
24. Assist in a shelter day-care room, taking care of children while parents look for jobs.
25. Help raise money for Reading Is Fundamental Open Book Program - Have a Read-a-Thon or Book Auction.
26. Take homeless children on outings.
27. Make first aid kits for homeless shelters.
28. Contact a homeless shelter in your community and see if they already have a reading center and need help to keep the project going.
29. Set up a Saturday Reading Hour where you visit a homeless shelter once a month, bringing books to share and leave behind.
30. Collect items to deliver to homeless shelters (blankets, sheets, towels, toys, books, disposable diapers.)
31. Become a Big Buddy for one or more of the children at the homeless shelter.
32. Find out about low-cost housing in your area for the homeless people.
33. Contact job training and placement centers in your community.