Service Projects

Consider these questions:

• What would we like to do?
• What might benefit the most people?
• What might make the biggest difference?
• What can we afford (in terms of time, money, etc.)?
• What is possible for us to do?
• What_____________? (Add your own questions.)

• Choose people who share your interest in the project and who are likely to stay with you until it is completed.
• Do not limit your group to members your own age. Make sure all members are involved.
• Look around at your families, friends, school, neighborhood and community for support.

• Decide when and where your committee will meet.  You will want to meet frequently to discuss your project, decide who will do what, identify any problems, and report on your progress.
• Define your goal. What do you hope to achieve?
• Set a schedule. How long will your project take? How much time will you spend each week on your project? When is the date you will be finished with your project?
• Estimate your costs.  How much money will you need? Make a list of everything you can think of that might or will cost money.  What about transportation? Materials? Equipment? Supplies? Photocopying? Postage? Donations? What else?
• Think hard about your project. Is it realistic? Is it too complicated?  Too simple? How could you improve it?

Make sure that the people you plan to serve really want your help. What is the best way to do this? ASK! Then find out as much bout them as you can. For example:

• What are their needs? (They may be different than you think, and you may need to revise your plan accordingly.)
• Are there any limitations or restrictions?

Will you go to the people you plan to serve, or will they come to you?

• If you go to them, make sure to visit the location ahead of time.  Is there enough room to do your project?  Does the location have everything you will need? If not, what will you able to bring? How will you get it there? Will you have a place to store things?
• If they come to you make sure your location has what you need.

Depending on your project, you might need to get permission from:

• Your principal
• Your teacher(s)
• Your parents
• Your neighbors
• Community organizations
• Owners of any facilities you will want to use
• Anyone else?

Let other people know about your project.

• Make a one-page flyer
• Create a public service announcement
• Send out a press release

Do you need start up money for your project?  Will you need to buy equipment or supplies? If you need to print 150 fliers at your local print shop, who will pay for the printing? If your project will cost anything beyond pocket money, you will need to fundraise.

Reflect on your experience.  Discuss it with your committee, family, teachers, peers, and neighbors.  Talk it over with the people you served.  Describe it in your report for the group.  Try to address questions like:

• What did we learn?
• What did we accomplish?
• What were our feeling, fears, and joys?
• Would we do it again?
• How could we improve it?
• Will we repeat it? When? How soon?

This will allow you to share your accomplishments and/or failures with every member of the group to help decide to pursue this project again. It also allows others to bring in fresh ideas to add to this particular project or spin off to another.

 Service Projects and Partnership Ideas

Project Ideas

Interested in starting service projects but don’t know where to go?  Has your Student Y been doing the same service project semester after semester? Tired of bake sales and car washes? 

SEPTEMBER

• Start a Y-Club bulletin board
• Design recruiting posters and sign up sheets
• Invite a speaker to your Student Y meeting
• Interview a person of interest

OCTOBER

• Have a government speaker at club meeting
• Sponsor a costume dance for Halloween
• Sponsor a “Trick or Treat” night for elementary students
• Help with poster campaigns
• Take part in a rally

NOVEMBER

• Have a ceremony honoring a hometown veteran
• Have a food drive
• Write letters to the editor/elected officials
• Supply a needy family with a Thanksgiving dinner
• Supply the School Board or Site Based Council with Thanksgiving cards

DECEMBER

• Make blankets for needy children
• Have coffee and/or hot chocolate made for school faculty
• Invite Santa to school
• Donate and decorate school Christmas tree

JANUARY

• Design a New Year’s Resolution bulletin board
• Shovel snow and/or ice in school parking lot
• Have a coat drive and donate them to charity
• Have someone speak to the club about Martin Luther King, Jr.

FEBRUARY

• Make valentines for school staff
• Send cards to parents and grandparents
• Design a “Secret Admirer” bulletin board
• Create resource pamphlets
• Send flowers to someone who is elderly or sick

MARCH

• Hide a “Pot of Gold” filled with Hershey’s Kisses and have everyone hunt for it
• Have someone speak to the club on the history and meaning of St. Patrick’s Day
• Have a cereal table made for staff (preferably Lucky Charms)

APRIL

• Have a car wash for teachers
• Clean up the school grounds (including facilities)
• Host a special night for parents and teachers

MAY

• Have a club social in honor of your advisor
• Honor all mothers by wearing a color ribbon
• Design a bulletin board for Memorial Day or Mother’s Day
• Have the club cook for all club members’ mothers

Partnerships

The most successful service projects are ones done with other organizations.  This allows you to utilize the assets of your organization and the assets of the other organization to plan the best service project. 

Don’t forget to contact other schools or Student Ys around you and consider partnering with these organizations:

School based:

• Beta Club
• NHS
• 4-H

Community based:

• Rotary Club
• Junior League

Nationally based:

• Serve.gov
• Servicelearning.gov
• AmeriCorps
• CNCS
• Cool People Care
• Youth Service America
• The Big Help
• Get UR Good On