Community Service Ideas

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 28 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #6 in Volunteering, #155 overall

Community Service Ideas And Information

While visiting a neighboring town today, I realized the importance of community service. It's not that I didn't feel it was important before, I just didn't realize just how much is done by volunteers until today.

My sons and I decided to go to a park in a neighboring town while my husband fished nearby. The playground was in severe disrepair. The equipment was broken, there was trash everywhere, it needed some paint... The sad part is that the park had great potential. It was in a shaded spot, away from a main road, it was fenced in, and there were a few picnic tables nearby.

I sat there watching my children play on the slide and swing (all the equipment that was safe), and I couldn't help but wonder why the people of this community didn't take the time to care for this little gem. In hopes of inspiring others, I have compiled a collection of community service ideas and information.

Image Credit Service in Progress T-Shirt by ThePeaceFoundation

Reasons To Volunteer 

There are so many different reasons to volunteer your time. Everyone seems to have their own reasons for volunteering. Some people want to make a difference in the world. Some people want to have some fun. Some people want to learn or use a skill. There is no right or wrong reason for volunteering, it is just important that you do volunteer.

Reasons To Volunteer
- to help others
- to meet new people
- to make a difference
- to have fun
- to feel better about yourself
- to feel an increase sense of community
- increase your productivity
- to learn a new skill
- to use skills you already have
- to give hope to others
- to help make others happy
- to help the environment
- to feel valued and appreciated
- to give your life purpose

Why do you volunteer? 

Why do you volunteer?

Loading Fetching blurbs now... please stand by

I volunteer because......

VJYoung says:

I volunteer for many reasons, a lot of you have listed here. Having a support system to help control my weight is a primary one. Thank you for mentioning EnviroCorps!

Posted October 25, 2009

Dylan says:

I need hours for my high school graduation requiremnets.

Posted October 19, 2009

Evelyn_Saenz says:

It's so much fun to help others.

Posted October 19, 2009

KIm says:

because it is something better to do than watch tv or be lazy.

Posted October 03, 2009

Mr.Sir says:

I volunteer because my school makes us if we want to graduate.

Posted October 01, 2009

I don't volunteer

 
view all 22 comments

Tools For Finding Volunteer Oportunities 

Volunteer Match is a great tool to find volunteer opportunities in your community.

Charity Navigator Your guide to intelligent giving.

 

Community Service Ideas

Help The Environment 

Ideas And Resources

Ideas For Community Service Projects And Activities
- Plant a tree.
- Clean up trash from a park, sidewalk or other public area.
- Recycle.
- Plant a garden and share the produce with your neighbors.
- Start a community garden and invite neighbors to plant produce and help tend the garden.
- Start a compost pile.

Resources For Helping The Environment
Take Pride In America encourages Americans to volunteer in in forests, parks, schools, and other public lands. It also provides information about volunteer opportunities available.

Do Something .org community service ideas to help the environment- Do Something .org encourages teens to get out and do something to help someone else. There is an opportunity and instructions for teens to start their own community service club on the site.

The Adopt A Highway Program Enables organizations and businesses to adopt a portion of a highway to keep clean.

 

EnviroCorps is a nonprofit organization that provides you with self-directed opportunities to serve your community close to your home. Litter free roads and parks in one of our objectives available to anyone, anywhere at any time.

We at Squidoo passionately believe in creating new ways to support good causes online. By making a donation to EnviroCorps from this page, you are sending money directly to that organization, in whatever amount you want. We don't touch it. We don't even see it. The author of this page doesn't either. And if you made it this far, thanks for caring.

Cancel

Help Those In Need 

Ideas And Resources

Ideas For Community Service Projects And Activities
- give a homeless person a pair of socks
- give a homeless person food
- give a homeless person a blanket
- help habitat for humanity
- have a yard sale and donate proceeds to a homeless shelter
- buy a gift for a needy child at Christmas
- volunteer at a soup kitchen

Resources For Helping Those In Need
Do Something .org helping those in need- Do Something .org encourages teens to get out and do something to help someone else. There is an opportunity and instructions for teens to start their own community service club on the site.

Habitat For Humanity builds houses for people in need with the help of volunteers.

Red Cross is an emergency response organization that also serves communities, collects and distributes blood, and helps educate about health and saftey.

 

Brookings Area Habitat for Humanity (BAHFH) is a nonprofit, Christian housing ministry that works to eliminate substandard housing in the Brookings County area.

We at Squidoo passionately believe in creating new ways to support good causes online. By making a donation to Brookings Area Habitat for Humanity from this page, you are sending money directly to that organization, in whatever amount you want. We don't touch it. We don't even see it. The author of this page doesn't either. And if you made it this far, thanks for caring.

Cancel

Help The Elderly 

Ideas And Resources

Ideas For Community Service Projects And Activities
- make a craft and give to an elderly person
- rake an elderly neighbor's yard
- help an elderly person carry in groceries
- go to the store for an elderly person
- just spend some time talking to an elderly person
- Sing Christmas carols at for an elderly person close to Christmas
- pick flowers for an elderly person

Resources For Helping The Elderly

Meals On Wheels- delivers meals to elderly people in their homes.

 

An international organization that delivers emergency aid and to people suffering from natural disasters or man-made crises.

We at Squidoo passionately believe in creating new ways to support good causes online. By making a donation to Action Against Hunger from this page, you are sending money directly to that organization, in whatever amount you want. We don't touch it. We don't even see it. The author of this page doesn't either. And if you made it this far, thanks for caring.

Cancel

Help Children 

Ideas And Resources

Ideas For Community Service Projects And Activities
- help children in your neighborhood do homework
- play with children at a local park
- help children complete a service project
- teach children how to play a game
- read to a child or group of children

Resources For Helping Children
Big Brothers Big Sisters matches children with adults of the same gender so that the children will have a role model and mentor.

 

The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

We at Squidoo passionately believe in creating new ways to support good causes online. By making a donation to March of Dimes from this page, you are sending money directly to that organization, in whatever amount you want. We don't touch it. We don't even see it. The author of this page doesn't either. And if you made it this far, thanks for caring.

Cancel

Help Your Community 

Ideas And Resources

Ideas For Community Service Projects And Activities
- repair an abandoned park
- organize a food drive
- plant a community garden
- organize a book drive for a local library
- join a neighborhood watch program
- clean up a park
- clean up along highways
- clean up graffiti

 

We identify small communities working towards sustainability, and use a DIY approach to teach community members skills so they may be seen and heard, and compete in a global marketplace.

We at Squidoo passionately believe in creating new ways to support good causes online. By making a donation to Built on Respect from this page, you are sending money directly to that organization, in whatever amount you want. We don't touch it. We don't even see it. The author of this page doesn't either. And if you made it this far, thanks for caring.

Cancel

 

"This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in."

-Theodore Roosevelt

The Teen Guide To Global Action 

This is a book that every teen should read.
Review of The Teen Guide To Global Action

The Teen Guide to Global Action: How to Connect with Others (Near & Far) to Create Social Change

The Teen Guide to Global Action: How to Connect with Others (Near & Far) to Create Social Change

by: Barbara A. Lewis

Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 11/20/2009)Buy Now
List Price: $12.95
Used Price: $7.25

Release Date: 12/31/1969

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Usually ships in 24 hours

Community Service And Volunteering News 

Here you'll find news from across the web about community service and volunteering.

President tackling kids' obesity, public service on White House lawn
... TODAY President Obama is exercising executive privilege to get youngsters off their butts, and to urge all Americans to volunteer for community service. ...
Hixson Students Honored For Community Service
In addition, Alex Burbee and Casey Scott, also eighth graders, received certificates of merit for their volunteer community service. ...
Pastors challenge: 90 minutes of community service in 90 days
... Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan, more than 70 individuals have performed more than 120 hours (7200 minutes) of service within their community. ...
Four nominated for Opal Award; Chamber banquet tonight
Four people have been nominated to receive the 2009 Opal Award for Distinguished Community Service, and the winners are to be announced at this evening's ...
Powered by Google

Recent Volunteering And Community Service Blog Posts 

Recent blog posts about volunteering and community service from a variety of blogs.

Oct 24, 2009 @ 12:46 pmCreating A New Path for Walkers and Their Dogs from Serve.gov - Stories of Service Feed
Creating a New Path is a Learn and Serve America subgrantee at CASMAN Alternative Academy in Manistee, Michigan. Students at the school recognized a need for a better place to walk dogs instead of dow...
Oct 24, 2009 @ 12:46 pm9/11 Flight Attendant Inspired to Serve from Serve.gov - Stories of Service Feed
It started with one woman's belief that helping kids learn to read would make a difference. A flight attendant flying for one of the major airline carriers on 9/11, LeeAnn was prompted by the loss of...
Oct 24, 2009 @ 12:45 pmAn Ongoing Conversation with the Troops from Serve.gov - Stories of Service Feed
I have been battling some medical conditions. I use to be flat in bed for five and a half and now live with daily chronic pain. However, I have been sending all handwritten letters to the troops since...
Oct 24, 2009 @ 12:45 pmTay-Bandz Combats Pediatric Cancer from Serve.gov - Stories of Service Feed
Tay-bandz, an nonprofit organization founded by a young cancer patient, raises public awareness about childhood cancer and funds for research.
Oct 24, 2009 @ 12:44 pmServing for Children from Serve.gov - Stories of Service Feed
I became certified as a Guardian ad Litem in Marion County, Florida in April 2009. In case you are not familiar, guardians are volunteers that are appointed to cases where children have been removed f...
Oct 23, 2009 @ 1:33 pmTurning Good Intentions into Action: Hollywood vs... from Engaging Volunteers
How New Media has Changed the Landscape of Volunteer Engagement Thursday night was a big night for the Entertainment Industry Foundation's iParticipate campaign. With unprecedented support from the in...
Oct 22, 2009 @ 2:01 amVolunteers Remain Aloof to TV's Call to Service from Engaging Volunteers
Despite ongoing bug fixes to the iParticipate campaign website, web stats from the second full day of the Entertainment Industry Foundation's iParticipate TV campaign still reflected a struggle to con...
Oct 21, 2009 @ 4:16 pmGreat Expectations from Engaging Volunteers
As much as I enjoyed last night?s episode of NCIS, I was a little disappointed. First, let me say that at my house, we watch a lot of NCIS. After spending a rainy weekend parked in front of the televi...
Oct 20, 2009 @ 2:54 pmDay One of iParticipate's TV Campaign Produces Dis... from Engaging Volunteers
The first full day of the Entertainment Industry Foundation'sweek-long TV campaign to inspire a new era of service and volunteerism got off to a rocky start yesterday as engineers wrestled with report...
Oct 20, 2009 @ 1:17 pmA Tale of Two PSAs from Engaging Volunteers
From October 19 ? 25, today?s most popular television programs are shining the spotlight on volunteering and service. VolunteerMatch staff members will be reviewing a few of the programs here on Engag...
Oct 19, 2009 @ 3:36 pmThe View Announces Winner of ABC's Ultimate Volunt... from Engaging Volunteers
From October 19 – 25, today's most popular television programs are shining the spotlight on volunteering and service. VolunteerMatch staff members will be reviewing a few of the programs here on...
Oct 17, 2009 @ 12:00 amSuccessful Kick-off of Learn & Serve Challenge Ope... from Serve.gov - Newsroom Feed
Nearly 80,000 students, parents and teachers from across 34 states participated in 178 events that marked the close of the week-long launch of the 3rd Annual Learn & Serve Challenge. The Challenge, le...

Tweets From People Who Love Volunteering 

Twitter is full of people who love volunteering. Follow some of these great people, or just read what they have to say.

  • HAD SUPER FUN TONIGHT ON ROW 5 THANKS MATT FOR VOLUNTEERING :)
  • is up and about and off to volunteering. See you all at lunch :)
  • I'm volunteering at school in the morning.. need to get to bed early to deal with 23 kindergartners... :)
  • still can't believe she's working in a Japanese office. Well, volunteering, but still. :D
  • Going to make some salsa and head to bed! Volunteering w/2nd graders, Costco shopping and Ecdysiast tomorrow! :D Good day.
  • RT @LabelMEGlory: @FlashOfMars is that you volunteering? :) - sure
  • @FlashOfMars is that you volunteering? :)
  • http://twitpic.com/n3h28 just finished volunteering @the rescue mission and fed 702 homeless people! :) Great jobAED! I know, aprons big lol
  • mondays with volunteering and GG :) good deal
  • more volunteering tmr :) subways are fun

My Other Community Service And Volunteering Related Lenses (Articles) 

These are other lenses (articles) that are closely related to community service and volunteering.

featured lens Open Letters To Humanity

Has winter penetrated so deep as to reach out hearts? Are we so cold inside that the thought of helping others no longer warms us? Am I just expecting too much from my fellow man? These are questions that I have been asking myself lately. Answers to...

featured lens Homelessness in America

What if the cupboards are bare and you don't even have a cupboard or a house any more? Do you hit the soup kitchen? Hope the nearest homeless shelter has a bed? What if you have children and can't put a roof over their heads or food in their...

featured lens Horse Themed Gifts (Proceeds Go To Charity)

Do you love horses? Do you love anything with a horse on it? If you answered yes to any of these you are in the right place. This lens (webpage) is full of wonderful horse themed gifts. Any of these products will make a perfect gift for yourself or t...

featured lens Care Packages For The Homeless

Many, many folks were touched by my lens, Homeless In America. They want to know how to help. Here, I set out to show you how you can make a difference. Having done more research into the homeless plight, this lens gives you my current top five recomme...

featured lens I Walked On Fire :Fire Walk For The Visually Impaired 2009

"My family is calling me crazy, but I have decided to participate in the Fire Walk For The Visually Impaired. Yes I am serious and no I am not crazy. I have no experience in firewalking, but I could not pass up the opportunity to do this for charit...

Know Any Good Community Service And Volunteer Organizations? 

Let me know what you think

Tell me about your experience with volunteering.

submit
Show All

by luvmyludwig

Hi, I'm Crystal. I am a 27 year old mother of two. Teaching my children about community and providing them with community service ideas is one of the... (more)

Explore related pages

Grant Me A Wish: The Squid Wish Project. What Is Your Wish?
The Squid Wish Project: Squids Helping Squids. Strangers helping strangers. Rand...
Volunteers help the world go around
I've volunteered and given to charity my entire life, however I didn't realize i...
Conservation Volunteering in New Zealand - Global Volunteer Network - http://www.globalvolunteernetwork.org/newzealand
The New Zealand Nature program is located in one of the most picturesque cities...
I Walked On Fire :Fire Walk For The Visually Impaired 2009
"My family is calling me crazy, but I have decided to participate in the Fire Wa...
Horse Themed Gifts (Proceeds Go To Charity)
Do you love horses? Do you love anything with a horse on it? If you answered yes...
Community Service Ideas
While visiting a neighboring town today, I realized the importance of community...

Related Topics

luvmyludwig Recommends...

Create a Lens!