Community Service Ideas
We hope this page will give you some ideas about what makes a good community service project, but don't be limited to our examples -- get creative!
Planning Your Service Project “All parties in service-learning are learners and help to determine what is to be learned. Both the server and those served teach, and both learn.” Jane Kendall, “Combining Service & Learning”
Providing community service is an inherent part of Girl Scouting. Community service is more than doing things for others. Through service projects girls have a firsthand opportunity to Discover, Connect, and Take Action; the three keys to Leadership.
Girl Scouts talk about doing good deeds, service activities, and service projects but do you really understand what these words mean? These are all good acts done for others; however, let's define them more specifically.
Good Deed: Being helpful to others with
a positive caring attitude, as the need arises.
Service Activity: An event or activity that
contributes to the improvement of society through the use of a girl's
abilities and possibly leadership skills. May include working
in cooperation with others.
Service Project: A project designed by girls
that contributes to the improvement of society through
the use of a girl's abilities and leadership skills, working in
cooperation with others over a period of time.
Good Deeds |
Service Activities |
Service Projects |
Help your younger sibling with her homework. |
Teach Brownies something you have learned at one of their meetings. |
Become a sister troop to a Brownie troop and help the leader with games and activities on a regular basis. |
Baby sit a younger sibling while Mom is out. |
Babysit for town meeting. |
Babysit every month during local Leaders' meetings. Plan activities and a schedule. |
Make cards for your grandparents. |
Visit a nursing home once to visit residents or participate in activities planned at the nursing home. |
Adopt “grandparents” at the nursing home for regular guests. |
Clean out a closet and give clothes to needy in a “drop box.” |
Participate in a clothing drive organized by another agency. Girls pick up clothes from people. |
Organize and conduct a clothing drive for residents in your community. |
Recycle items at home. |
Recycle for an event that is held in your town. |
Plan a recycling awareness project in your town. Make posters to let people know how important recycling is. Evaluate recycling resources in town. |
Urge your parents or an adult to go to a blood drive. |
Work at a blood drive, helping where you are needed. |
Sponsor a blood drive, making posters, getting volunteers. Make it an annual event. |
6 Steps for a Service Project
- Understand service: What do you really want to do? An activity? A project?
- Contribute to the improvement of society: Contact other agencies (schools, town government, other organizations) and find out what the NEEDS are in your community. Girls select one to work on.
- Work in cooperation with other organizations: Determine who else might assist you in your service project (other Girl Scout groups, parents, the Girls Club, 4-H, the PTA, etc.).
- Organize using girls' abilities and leadership skills: Plan a timeline for your service project and share with everyone involved. In order to have the local press present, notify Public Relations Manager Mary Ellen Hettinger at 603.627.4158 x119, to do a press release for your local paper.
- Do your project and have fun!
- Celebrate and evaluate your project. What did girls learn personally and as a group?
Volunteer Opportunities
Organization |
Opportunity |
When |
Contact |
IDEAS and RESOURCES FOR PROJECTS
Operation Happy Sock creates and delivers catnip toys to homeless cats in animal shelters. Volunteers of all ages make simple toys, called "Happy Socks," by stuffing catnip and polyester fiberfill in the toe of a sock and tying a knot at the ankle.
Simple, but a GREAT catnip toy! Ideally, the folks who make Happy Socks deliver them to the cats themselves. This is a great way to get kids to visit their local animal shelter and learn that THIS is the place to find a feline family member- not a breeder or pet store. It’s also a terrific opportunity to deliver the spay/neuter message to kids.
Happy Sock catnip toys are more than mere playthings for stressed-out cats in strange surroundings. A whiff of catnip can be very therapeutic, and a soft, fluffy Happy Sock is the feline equivalent of a cuddly teddy bear. Since many shelters have no budget for toys, these big, generous Happy Socks are a very special and welcome donation.
Ready to start Operation Happy Sock in your area?
You’ll find complete details on this blog, so please read on! http://ohappysock.blogspot.com/
And be sure to tell your friends, neighbors, and any kids you know about this project.
THANK YOU, and may all your socks be Happy Socks!
Martha
”The Happy Sock Lady”
Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains
One Commerce Drive • Bedford, NH 03110
Mailing address:
PO Box 10832 • Bedford, NH 03110-0832
Phone: 603.627.4158 • Fax: 603.627.4169
E-mail: info@girlscoutsgwm.org
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