We want to share the LOVE this month!
We will be offering DOUBLE community service hours to all students who turn their hours in during the month of FEBRUARY!
We would like to share a few ideas on how to LOVE your community through service. Don't forget to stop by the Valentines Day Sale sponsored by the freshman class on Friday to end our spirit week activities! Roses ($2), Carnations($1) and more will be on sale!
Helping is as easy as ABC…..
A- Allowance. Invite your children to consider giving from their allowance to help others.
B- Blankets. Make easy no-sew fleece blankets to donate to sick children and youth in hospitals through Project Linus. Instructions can be found at:
C- Care and Share. Search your cabinets or stop by the store and bring food with you to donate to our local food pantry. Have your kids pick their favorite food and donate that too.
D- Dog Biscuits. Bake homemade dog biscuits and give them to your local SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Animal Cruelty) or animal shelter. Recipes can be found at
E- Example. Be an example. The best way to encourage your children to be a blessing is to be one yourself. Let them see you share your time, energy, skills and passion.
F- Flowers. Grow, pick or buy potted or a bouquet of flowers and give them to your neighbors, shut-ins or individuals in retirement homes.
G- Garage Sale. Gather all your old clothes, toys, appliances and unneeded stuff and hold a garage sale. Donate the money raised to your family’s favorite charity. Be sure to allow your kids to participate fully, from picking the items they sell to making change and organizing the sale.
H- Homeless Bag. Assemble several bags of non-perishable food and keep the bags in your trunk or an easily accessible place so you will always have something to offer when approached by an individual in need.
I-Invite. Invite friends, family and neighbors to join in your service projects. While it is true that many hands make light work, they also build a sense of community.
J- Journey- Look for opportunities to be a part of a summer program which helps people in other areas.
K- Kits. Put together health, layette, flood/cleaning or school kits.
L- Litter. Grab a trash bag (and some gloves) and pick up litter in your local park, the beach or even the sidewalk in your neighborhood. Take 2 bags and separate recyclables.
M- Make a List. Sit down as a family and think about who you want to help and then make a list of things you can do. Post the list somewhere everyone will see it and be reminded of who and how you have chosen to help.
N- News. Watch the local news together as a family (or read the newspaper together). Look
for stories of people (especially kids) who help or opportunities to help in your own community.
O- Organize. Organize an event within your neighborhood for (Block Party, cookie decorating) or service (clean-up or Neighborhood Watch).
P- Places of worship. Many local places of worship need volunteers for various activities.
Q- Quarters. Collect quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies. Put all your loose change in a jar and choose a local non-profit to donate to.
RESOURCES
TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT SERVICE:
Growing Compassionate Kids: Helping Kids See Beyond Their Backyard Jan Johnson
The Giving Book: Open The Door To A Lifetime Of Giving Ellen Sabin
Raising Kids Who Will Make a Difference Susan V. Vogt
Raising Charitable Children Carol Weisman
IDEAS FOR SERVICE PROJECTS:
The Busy Family's Guide to Volunteering: Doing Good Together Jenny Friedman
77 Creative Ways Kids Can Serve Sondra Clark
101 Simple Service Projects Kids Can Do Susan Lingo
STORIES ABOUT SERVICE:
Planting the Trees of Kenya Claire A. Nivola
Melissa Parkington's Beautiful, Beautiful Hair Pat Brisson
Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen Dyanne Disalvo-Ryan
The Giving Tree Shel Silverstein
R- Read. Visit senior centers, assisted living centers, hospitals or libraries and offer your services as a reader. If your children are old enough to read, encourage them to read themselves. If they are younger, have them help by picking the books.
S- Sweep or Shovel. Grab a broom and sweep your sidewalk and your neighbor’s sidewalk or driveways. Kids of all ages can (and often love) to sweep. You can also rake leaves or pick up trash.
T- Table. Family meals are also an opportunity for open dialogue about the day's activities and ways to serve others.
U- UNICEF. When your child goes trick or treating, take along a UNICEF box and collect pennies and change.
V- Visit. Take the time to visit your neighbors, shut-ins or a retirement center. People thrive on relationship and interaction, so go be in relationship.
W- Write. Write letters or color pictures for individuals who need some encouragement.
X- Xerox. Even the youngest child can help out in an office. Visit a non-profit and offer your copying, folding, filing or stamping skills.
Y- Yes You Can! If your child has an idea, find a way to do it. When children of all ages participate in serving others, they are learning that everyone can make a difference.
Z- Zipper. Provide unused jackets and coats to shelters or groups that help others in colder months.
Need another opportunity for service?
Check our community service board for activities in the school or local community.