Children often grow up within a limited sphere of interaction, mainly consisting of family, friends, teachers, and classmates. While they may be aware of daily challenges, they often remain distant from the broader realities of the world and its issues.
Engaging in community service is a unique pathway if you seek a meaningful approach to expose your children to new experiences and broaden their understanding.
What is community?
A community is a collection of individuals who connect and support one another within a specific geographical region or virtual space and join based on similar interests, values, or qualities. It is a social group that encourages relationships, teamwork, and a sense of community among its members.
What is Community Service?
“Community service” describes voluntary actions people or organizations take to benefit others or the community. Private citizens, governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and places of worship can plan community service.
Here are six meaningful community service ideas for high school students, segregated into volunteering and fundraising activities:
1. Serve lunch in a soup kitchen to help your city’s unhoused population!
Several community centers and houses of worship, such as synagogues and churches, feed the homeless several times a week. Make sure students can attend the program by collaborating with a nearby organization around your school.
Nowadays, many soup kitchens don’t even serve soup; volunteers are typically requested to assemble sandwiches and pack “to-go” lunch containers. Serving the unhoused population will do a great benefit to the community.
2. Collect money for a neighborhood domestic violence or homeless shelter by hosting a talent show.
According to reports from ECLKC, 1.2 million children under six encounter homelessness every year in the United States. This is an unfortunate reality.
Many government and nonprofit organizations work towards their welfare. There are various options to collect money for such neighborhood organizations.
Putting on a talent show is one of the most entertaining and effective methods. Ask students interested in the arts to perform, and be sure to arrange auditions. Promote the performance to the school community and the public and make it clear that it is a benefit for a nearby shelter for people without housing or victims of domestic abuse.
Ensure the shelter knows you are raising money for them and ask its occupants to participate.
3. Assist a suicide crisis line as a volunteer.
A network of health experts called Movement of Recovery, which includes counselors, psychologists, etc., needs assistance since they are swamped with requests for help. You may always inquire with these organizations in your neighborhood to assist with recovery. Be aware that such volunteer positions come with time-consuming training requirements.
4. Join a charity Run.
If you live in the suburbs, you’ve undoubtedly seen a sign promoting a 5k or charity run virtually every week. Charity runs have grown in popularity to raise funds for nonprofit organizations.
People participate in these marathons or walk-a-thons to stay healthy, push themselves, and support their favorite charities. Find out about charity runs you’d want to join and ask your friends and family to commit and promote your involvement.
5. Take shelter dogs for a walk and Make Toys for Shelter Animals.
Every year, about three million canines enter US animal shelters. Shelters try their best to care for these animals, but they are sometimes understaffed and unable to provide adequate exercise for all puppies. If you enjoy working with animals, your local shelter may offer volunteer opportunities to walk dogs or play with cats.
Get creative and handcraft toys for dogs and cats as part of The Anti-Cruelty Society animal refuge for individuals who love animals. Use their simple guides and recyclable materials to make entertaining and enriching toys for these animals!
6. Collect clothing and personal goods for foster children.
Did you know that in the US, there are around 424,000 children in foster care? Children in foster care may arrive with just a tiny bag of personal possessions, which may be traumatizing.
Whether public or private, foster care organizations typically lack funding and cannot afford to give these kids a lot of clothes, toys, or personal hygiene products. High school students can gather items from friends, family, and nearby businesses to donate to these children.
To Sum it up
To make a difference, high school kids don’t need to wait until they are adults. Opportunities for them and younger kids to participate in community service are available everywhere. Help your neighborhood nonprofit, the school, or the larger community by implementing one of these straightforward, enjoyable, and impactful initiatives.
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