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 staff of a non-profit you support or associate with.
5. Offer to take photos during an event and donate them to the event organizers.
6. Volunteer to be a museum guide.
7. Plan a Cultural Appreciation Day, where you learn about different cultures and teach others about your own.
8. Design a campaign to promote tolerance and inclusion.
9. Volunteer at a health fair.
10. Volunteer to do office work at a local non-profit agency.
11. Volunteer to help led a youth club.
12. Share a talent through teaching a class.
13. Run or walk in a charity race with friends.
14. Stage a carnival or block party to promote community spirit.
15. Practice random acts of kindness.
16. Organize an exchange between rural and urban individuals to build connections and collaborations.
17. Volunteer at charity auctions.
18. Donate your talents or creations to a charity auction.
19. Hold a used book sale or garage sale and donate the money to a favorite charity.
20.  Write letters to members of the military deployed overseas.

ON THE CALENDAR:

1. On Johnny Appleseed Day in March, deliver apples to homeless shelters or food banks. 
2. During National Nutrition month in March, organize a nutrition awareness campaign.
3. Participate in “National Youth Service Day” in April.
4. Conduct an Easter Egg Hunt for underserved children.
5. Deliver a May Day basket to a friend, neighbor or family member.
6. Make a card for your parent/guardian and give them a chore-free day. 
7. On “International Picnic Day” in May, take your family or friends on a picnic. 
8. Plan a special awareness event during “Be Kind to Animals Week” in May.
9. Make spring baskets for seniors’ residential facility, neighbors or homeless shelters.
10. Plan a Memorial Day program.
11. Pick up a trail during National Trail Day in June.
12. Offer a fireworks-safety workshop before July 4th.
13. During July on “National Cheer-Up Day,” share a smile and cheer someone up.
14. July is Anti-Boredom Month. Help your friends fight boredom by becoming active community volunteers.
15. Conduct a community service project during the Big Help Day in October.
16. Arrange or volunteer at a free trunk-or-treat for an underserved community.
17. Offer safety tips for youth during Halloween.
18. Recognize veterans in your community for Veterans Day.
19. Bake bread on National Bread Day in November and deliver to your neighbors, a friend or people in need.
20. On Thanksgiving, make sure your family knows what you are thankful for.
21. Organize a coat drive for new/used coats to donate to people in need before the weather turns cold.
22. Set up a “Mitten Christmas Tree” to donate mittens to local schools and homeless shelters.
23. Decorate a Christmas tree at a nursing home, hospital, school or homeless shelter.

CHILDREN, FAMILY & FRIENDS:

1. Surprise your parent(s) or neighbors and offer to babysit for a sibling, relative or friend.
2. Design a game for young children.
3. Check on either a younger student or an elderly person after school.
4. Read aloud to a younger or older neighbor.
5. Make simple reading and math flash cards for a preschool or day care center.
6. Cheer up a friend or family member who isn’t feeling well with a visit or phone call.
7. Grow fresh flowers and deliver them to someone to brighten their day.
8. Celebrate a birthday by asking friends to donate items for a cause you care about instead of giving you a gift.
9. Become pen pals with a younger person or someone from another country.
10. Knit, crochet or quilt baby blankets.
11.  Assemble a new parent’s kit for the arrival of a newborn.
12. Make a mural, plaque or quilt to commemorate people who have died from a terminal disease.
13. Write a children’s book author and ask them to donate signed copies, auction the books off and donate the money to local library.
14. Collect old stuffed animals and dolls and clean, repair and donate them.
15. Gather gently used toys, baby supplies and baby clothes to donate to families in need.
16. Organize a free babysitting service with your friends for single parents and families in need.
17. Collect used clothes and donate them for a dress-up area at a daycare.
18. Write or make a picture book to read to a younger child.
19. Organize a reading hour for younger children at your local school or library.

SAFETY:

1. Take a first-aid class.
2. Create a play or short film that teaches young children how to stay safe at home.
3. Promote after-school safety tips online.
4. Ask your parents to help you advocate for your town to fix dangerous intersections.
5. Conduct a bicycle rodeo to help children learn bicycle safety.
6. Create a poison awareness campaign.
7. Ask your fire department how you can help others learn about fire safety.
8. Make emergency preparedness kits for your home.
9. Distribute instructions on how to make emergency preparedness kits to your community. 
10. Create a holiday safety website or social media post.
11. Campaign for mental health awareness and suicide prevention for teens.
12. Organize an internet safety campaign.
13. Contact your police department and ask how you can volunteer for them.
14. Become a certified lifeguard.
15. If you’re good at fixing bikes, volunteer to teach others how to fix theirs.
16. Conduct bike safety checks for your neighborhood.
17. Organize a information campaign about the dangers of texting while driving and distracted driving.
18. Write a proposal for a sports safety clinic to your coach and school officials.

CRIME FIGHTHING:

1. Start or join a neighborhood watch program.
2. Join a community crime prevention organization.
3. Work with local government to start or support a victim’s aid support service.
4. Ask to paint over illegal graffiti.
5. Organize a personal safety workshop.
6. Create a place for legal graffiti, allow people to paint sections.
7. Produce an anti-crime, anti-drug, anti-violence short film or play.
8. Create and distribute a list of hotlines for people who might need help.

HEALTH

1. Organize a drug-free pledge campaign.
2. Sponsor a no-screens day.
3. Start a Healthy Habits club promoting healthier habits.
4. Create web or social media content about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol.
5. Start an anti-smoking and vaping campaign that encourages youth not to smoke.
6. Start a step-goal competition with you family, friends or school and see who can take the most steps in a week!
7. Make and give out sleep diaries to help others improve their sleep.
8. Organize an informational campaign about the effects of social media on mental health and how to un-plug.
9. Learn about an issue that is effecting public health in your area and how you can help.

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES:

1. Ask to paint a mural at your school.
2. Volunteer at an after-school program for younger children.
3. Volunteer to be a teacher’s aide during a free period.
4. Collect small gift certificates for students who show progress in school work.
5. Organize a “get acquainted” lunch to make new friends at your school.
6. Set up a buddy system to match new students with a classmate to help them get settled and make friends.
7. Tutor students who are learning English as a second language.
8. Tutor a student that needs help in a subject you’re great at.
9. Form a study group to help younger kids with their school work.
10. Feature community-minded people on a school bulletin board.
11. Make new-kid-survival kits for new students at the school.
12. Ask your administration to invite local police officers to present a safety assembly.
13. In art class, make drawings and decorations for senior citizens.
14. Organize a drive for school supplies and books for children in need.
15. Volunteer for student council and school government committees.
16. Conduct a canned goods drive during a school event and donate the items to a local food bank.
17. Arrange for student music performances during lunch.
18. Provide child care during a PTA or PTO meeting.
19. Ask your school’s administration to conduct a seatbelt check as students leave the parking lot.
20. Organize a safe walk or bike to school event.
21. Recognize teachers during National Education Week.
22. Volunteer to be part of a school flag-raising ceremony.
23. Set up a volunteer referral service between your school or organization and other community organizations.
24. Inspect school playgrounds and report any potential hazards.
25. Start an anti-bullying campaign at your school.
26. Ask your administration to bring therapy animals to school during stressful times, such as finals week.

GOVERNMENT:

1. Call or text your friends and members of your community to encourage them to register to vote.
2. Spread information on social media about when, where and how to register to vote.
3. Provide voter pick-up or transportation service for seniors.
4. Campaign for a candidate who is running for office.
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. Volunteer at the polls on election day— some states allow 16 and 17 year olds to volunteer. 
8. Go to a town hall or other public forum to voice your opinion to your representatives. Bring your friends or family along!
9. Start or join a peaceful protest at a government building for a cause you care about. Pass out water and snacks.
10. Write a letter to your local, state and federal representatives, telling them your opinion. 
11. Start or join a letter writing campaign for a cause you care about.
12. Ask your school’s administration to host a mock election.
13. Apply for a youth legislature in your district and learn about the legislative process.

HELPING THE HUNGRY AND/OR HOMELESS:

1. Help prepare and/or serve a meal at homeless shelter.
2. Conduct a clothing repair workshop to repair clothes for people in need.
3. Make “I Care” kits with combs, toothbrushes, shampoo, etc. for homeless people.
4. Make feminine-hygiene kits with menstrual products, hair ties, wet wipes, etc. for women’s shelters.
5. Collect unopened or gently used (check with your local shelter) make-up, perfume and other cosmetics for a women’s shelter.
6. Donate old eyeglasses to an organization that recycles them for those in need.
7. Donate art supplies to children in a shelter.
8. Make a care package with mittens, socks, T-shirts, etc. for a child at a shelter.
9. Make a winter-care kits with warm socks, thermal underwear, hats, scarves, etc. for a homeless shelter. 
10. Pack and hand out food at a food bank.
11. Prepare easy meals and deliver them to homeless or homebound people.
12. Organize a neighborhood group to plant, tend and harvest a garden and donate the produce to a food bank.
13. Sponsor a food drive at your school or parent’s workplace or business.
14. Prepare a home-cooked meal for the residents of a nearby homeless shelter.
15. Bake a batch of cookies and deliver them to a soup kitchen or homeless shelter.
16. Assist with sorting and organizing items donated to a homeless shelter.
17. Assist in a shelter day-care room, taking care of children while parents seek employment.
18. Make first-aid kits for homeless shelters.
19. Contact a homeless shelter in your community and see if you can volunteer at their reading center or help them start one.
20. Call a local shelter and ask what they need donated the most and then start a drive to collect those items.
21. Volunteer with a program that pairs at-risk youth with teen or adult mentors.
22. Volunteer with an organization that supports low income housing or housing placements for the unhoused.
23. Volunteer at job training and placement centers in your community.