A resource catalog for community service ideas for 4-H members and clubs to adopt!

Transcription

1 4HCS-1 COMMUNITY SERVICE Projects You Can Do! A resource catalog for community service ideas for 4-H members and clubs to adopt! Educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

2 10 Steps Toward Performing a Successful Community Service Project Resource developed by: University of Illinois Extension Community Service Projects You Can Do! Community service can play an important role in 4-H Clubs. A community service project can take many forms depending on your club. Whatever is decided, the community as well as 4-H members benefit. Following are some hints in making your 4-H Club community service project both successful and fun. A Planning Guide for 4-H Club Leaders Determine what is needed in your community/county. Ask club members and families. Ask other community groups. Talk with community officials. Find out what types of projects have and have not been done in the recent past. Ask the Extension staff. Determine what types of activities your members have interest in and abilities to do. Consider the size of your club and ages of members. Consider the skills possessed by club members and their families. Determine how much time your club would like to devote to community service activities. (Would members rather do a long-term, ongoing community service project or a short-term one-time activity?) List all of the activities that have been suggested. Ask your club to rank the activities in order of importance and interest, based on what was considered in steps 1 and 2. Reach consensus or use a vote by majority rule to determine the activity your club will do. If this isn t practical (especially if your club is large), consider forming a committee to develop priorities. Then, the club can simply accept or vote on the committee s recommendations. After your club has decided upon their community service project, develop a plan. Your members will learn organizational skills in developing such a plan. A plan doesn t have to be overly detailed and formal, but should include the following: overall goal tasks involved time commitment permission budget insurance equipment and supplies risk management analysis volunteers and duties publicity evaluation Carry out the project as planned! Document your club s efforts with photos, videotape, or written notes. As you work on this project, monitor the activities taking place and make adjustments as needed. Especially when the project has been completed, allow time for your club to discuss the successes and shortcomings of the project and ideas for improvement. This reinforces the learning experience. Develop a summary report of your club s experience when the project has been completed. Share it with mass media representatives and the Extension staff. A scrapbook is a nice way to present the project s success. Include a written description, photos, and news clippings. Such activities might be assigned to the club reporter, secretary, vice-president, chair of the project or other club member. Feel good about your club s contribution to the community and members positive learning experience. Be sure to take time to process your club s experience. Do this by asking participants to share their thoughts and feelings as well as helping them to think about how they might relate this experience to other situations in the future. This is a part of the experiential learning process. Other reminders Remember that planning, conducting, and evaluating a community service project is a great opportunity for 4-H members to learn by doing. Therefore, do encourage members to get involved in all phases of the project, including planning. Don t do it all for them. Remember that 4-Hers learn from their mistakes as well as their successes. The role of the club leader and other adults working with the club is to guide members in the right direction and provide needed support and encouragement. Page 2

3 Club Community Service Project Coordinator Resource developed by: University of Illinois Extension Purpose: To assist club members in planning, conducting, and evaluating a club community service project. To assist with the processing of the experience with members as part of the overall experience. Success Criteria: The successful completion of a club community service project where the members were actively involved in the planning, conducting, and evaluation of the activity. Responsibilities: Assist club in doing a needs assessment to determine needs in community. Assist club in surveying members to determine interest in and abilities to use in conducting a community service project. Assist club in listing possible community service options and then in deciding which project to pursue. Assist club in developing a plan to conduct a community service activity. The plan might include the following: Identify exactly what will be done. Determine both the overall goal and the specific tasks involved. Remember the time frame for the project: dates/times for beginning and completion. Obtain necessary permission in advance. Facilitate the application, screening, and enrollment procedure for all new volunteers. Involve and supervise youth and adult volunteers to carry out needed functions. Develop a financial budget for the project. A decision to use club funds should be voted on by the membership. If not available from club funds, seek a community sponsor. Extension staff may know of sources of grants-in-aid for such projects, especially if you plan far enough in advance. Develop a risk management plan for the activity and review it with the club organizational leader. Obtain special event insurance and/or certificates of insurance if necessary. Obtain needed equipment or supplies. Determine how many people will be needed. What is the minimum required to do the job correctly and what is the optimum number? Be sure you have at least the minimum before proceeding! Ask members to volunteer for specific duties and get a commitment from them. Consider teaming up less experienced members with more experienced workers to maximize the learning experience. Encourage members to report progress on their assigned duties. Make safety a top priority! Alert mass media representatives and Extension staff concerning your plans. Publicize the efforts of your club and the 4-H program. Assist club in conducting community service project as planned. Monitor the activities taking place and make adjustments as needed. Assist club in documenting the club s efforts with photos, videotape, and written notes. Be sure to have media release forms signed by all participants. Assist club with publicity to share the project s success. Compile a written summary report for the club. Evaluate the experience with the club afterwards to discuss the successes and shortcomings as well as ideas for improvement or repetition. Use the experiential learning model to provide time for reflection by participants of the experience. Target Dates: At least two months prior to community service activity through completion and wrap up of the event. Resources Available: The Kids Can Help Book by Suzanne Logan is published by the Putnam Publishing Group. It gives suggestions of ways kids can help the homeless and hungry, the elderly, the sick or disabled, other kids in need and the planet and animals. This resource is probably available in your local library but can be purchased for $9.95 at a bookstore. Children as Volunteers: Preparing for Community Service by Susan J. Ellis. This is available through Energize, Inc. (215) Club community service committee Club volunteers Training Opportunities: Risk Management Training Consultation with other club volunteers Consultation with Extension staff Report to: Club manager and/or project leader. For Questions, Contact: Club manager and/or project leader. Page 3

4 Committee Service Evaluation Resource developed by: University of Illinois Extension Community Service Projects You Can Do! Club Name: Project Name: Date of Project Goal of Project: Accomplishments: Involvement by Members: Areas for Improvement: Notes for next time Total Number Reached/Served/ Items Collected: Total Number of Members Involved: Total Number of Hours Committed to Project: Page 4

5 366 Community Service Ideas compiled by Janet Fox, Associate Professor LSU Ag Center, 4-H and Youth Development 171 Knapp Hall, Baton Rouge, LA Phone: Community Service Projects You Can Do! GENERAL IDEAS: 1. Set up a Help-O-Meter to keep track of the number of hours youth volunteer in the community. 2. Organize a recognition program for the volunteers who lead community organizations. 3. Work in a concession stand to raise money for a good cause. 4. Make a gift for the secretary of a non-profit organization you are associated with. 5. Take photos during an event and donate them to the event organizers. 6. Volunteer to be a museum guide. 7. Plan an Ethnic Awareness day. 8. Design a campaign to promote tolerance and understanding of differences. 9. Volunteer at a health fair. 10. Volunteer as a counselor at local summer camp. 11. Volunteer to do office work at a local non-profit agency. 12. Set up a web page for a non-profit agency. 13. Volunteer to lead a club of youth. 14. Share a talent through teaching a class. 15. Make birthday cards for the elderly. 16. Run or walk in a charity race with friends. 17. Stage a carnival to promote community spirit. 18. Ask your mayor to sign a proclamation for an important community event. 19. Ask your governor to sign a proclamation for a national event. 20. Practice random acts of kindness. 21. Stage a marathon to raise money for a cause. 22. Organize an exchange between rural and urban individuals to promote understanding. 23. Volunteer to help at charity auctions. 24. Volunteer your talents at a charity auction. ON THE CALENDAR: 25. Conduct a community service project during the Big Help Day in October. 26. Plan a Memorial Day program. 27. Recognize veterans in your community. 28. Participate in National Youth Service Day in April. 29. On Thanksgiving, make sure your family knows what you are thankful for. 30. Trim a mitten Christmas tree to donate mittens to local schools and homeless shelters. 31. Organize a coat drive in which old coats are donated for use by needy people. 32. Contact a local tree farm about donating a Christmas tree to a nursing home, homeless shelter or needy family. 33. Decorate a Christmas tree at a nursing home, hospital, school or homeless shelter. 34. Ring the bell for Salvation Army during the holidays. 35. Deliver a May Day basket. 36. Offer safety tips for youngsters during Halloween. 37. Conduct an Easter Egg Hunt for needy children. 38. On St. Patrick s Day, don t only wear something green, care for something green! 39. Volunteer to return shopping carts during National Supermarkets Month in February. 40. Make Spring baskets for seniors residential facility, neighbors or homeless shelters. 41. On International Picnic Day in May, take your family or friends on a picnic. You supply the food and let Mother Nature supply the ants! 42. Make a Halloween Safety Kit for youth. 43. Give your Mom a hug and a homemade card for Mother s Day. 44. On Johnny Apple Seed Day in March, deliver apples to homeless shelters. 45. July is Anti-Boredom Month. Help your friends fight boredom by becoming active community volunteers. Page 5

6 During July on National Cheer-Up Day, share a smile and cheer someone up. Mow the lawn for your Dad on Father s Day. CHILDREN, FAMILY & FRIENDS: Surprise your parent(s) or neighbors and offer to babysit a sibling, relative or friend. Design a game for young children. Explore history by interviewing a nursing home resident about how they grew up. Check on either a younger student or an elderly person after school. Read a book to a younger kid a blind person or an older neighbor. Cheer up a sick friend with a visit or phone call. Celebrate a birthday by asking friends to donate items for causes instead of gifts. Make get well cards for people in hospitals and convalescent homes. Become pen pals to a younger person or someone from another country. Knit or crochet baby blankets. Conduct a clothing repair or sewing workshop for needy people. Assemble a new parent s kit for the arrival of a newborn. Collect old magazines and donate them to day care centers. Quilt a blanket for newborn babies. Plant a tree or present a tree to the parents for each baby born in your community. Collect unused make-up, perfume and other cosmetics for a center for abused women. Make a cancer or aids quilt or mural to remember people of who have died from these diseases and remind others of their life. Write a kids book author and ask them to donate signed copies, auction the books off and donate the money to local library. Donate old eyeglasses to an organization or place that recycles them for the needy. Collect old stuffed animals and dolls, clean them up, repair them and donate them. Organize a babysitting service for foster families. Collect old clothes and donate them for a dress-up area at a daycare. SAFETY: 70. Take a life saving class. 71. Create a play that teaches young children how to stay safe at home. 72. Design a flier of after-school safety tips and deliver it to daycare centers and grade schools. 73. Check railroad crossings and make signs to promote safety. 74. Offer a safety workshop prior to July 4th. 75. Ask your parents to help you get your town to fix dangerous intersections. 76. Conduct a bicycle rodeo to help children learn bicycle safety. 77. Create an poison awareness campaign. 78. Ask your fire department how you can help others learn about fire safety. 79. Get permission to fix up your town s fire hydrants. 80. Make emergency kits for your home. 81. Collect money for a good cause. 82. Create a holiday safety video. 83. Start a campaign against teen suicide. 84. Volunteer at a police station. 85. Become a certified lifeguard and volunteer at a swimming pool. 86. If you re good at fixing bikes, volunteer to teach others how to fix their bikes. 87. Conduct bike safety checks for your neighborhood. 88. Sponsor a drug free post prom event. 89. Organize a drug free pledge campaign. CRIME FIGHTING: 90. Start a Crime clue box. 91. Survey your neighborhood to find out what people think are the leading crime causes. 92. Start a neighborhood watch program. 93. Join a community crime prevention organizations such as DARE or McGruff Program. 94. Work with local government to start a victim s aid support service. 95. Create a TV or radio public service announcement against drugs and alcohol. 96. Paint over graffiti. 97. Organize a self defense workshop. Page 6

7 Create a billboard for goo graffiti, allow people to paint sections. Produce an anti-crime, anti-drug, anti-violence play. Sponsor a TV blackout event that kids spend time with their family rather than watch TV. Create and distribute a list of hotlines for kids who might need help SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: 102. Paint a mural over graffiti Volunteer to be a teacher s aide during your study hall Collect coupons and small gift certificates for students who show progress in school work Hold a used book sale and donate the money Organize a get acquainted lunch for students at your school Set up a buddy system to match new students with ones who have attended school Start an anti-smoking campaign that encourages students not to smoke Encourage the school cafeteria to donate left over food to local homeless shelters Tutor students who are learning English as a second language Feature community minded people on a school bulletin board Make new kid survival kits for new students at the school Have your class hold an old videotape drive and donate them to your library Invite local police officers to present a drug awareness or bike safety assembly In art class, make drawings and decorations for senior citizens Collect school supplies to give to kids who need them Form a study group to help younger kids with their school work Collect children s books for the needy Volunteer for student council and school government committees Tape you and your classmates reading a story and give it to a children s hospital Form a campus safety escort service Put on an information fair on how little kids can be safe at home Tutor a student that needs help learning English or some other subject Conduct a canned goods drive during a school event and donate the items to a local food bank Arrange for student music performances during lunch Make a New Kid Survival Kit Start a New Buddy Club for new students Create a play that teaches young children how to stay safe at home while their parents are away Provide child care during a PTA meeting Conduct a seatbelt check at school as students leave the parking lot Organize a safe walk to school event Recognize teachers during National Education Week Volunteer to be part of a school flag raising ceremony Assist an after-school little league or other sports program for younger children Volunteer to serve as a crossing guard before and after school Set up a volunteer referral service between your school or organization and other community organizations Write or make a picture book to read to a younger youth Inspect school playgrounds for hazards Write a proposal for a sports safety clinic to your coach and school officials Organize a Safe Walk Service to escort young children to and from schools Make simple reading and math flash cards for a preschool or day care center Organize a reading hour for children at your local school or library. GOVERNMENT 143. Telephone residents and encourage them to register to vote Provide a voter pick up or transportation service for seniors Campaign for a candidate who is running for an office Organize a public issues forum for candidates Contact your juvenile court system. Find out if they have a Kids in Court program to match older kids who have been in court as abuse victims with younger kids who are facing a court experience Go door to door to register votes Design and paint a community mural Become an advocate. Contact your legislators on issues close to your heart. Page 7

8 151. Contact a local organization about donating flags to public institutions. HELPING THE HUNGRY AND/OR HOMELESS: 152. Help cook and/or serve a meal at homeless shelter During National Nutrition month in March, organize a nutrition awareness campaign Organize a food scavenger hunt to collect food for the needy Alter and repair clothes for the needy, elderly and homeless Gather clothing from your neighbor and donate it to a local shelter Make I Care kits with combs, toothbrushes, shampoo, etc. for homeless people Bake bread on National Bread Day in November and deliver to the hungry, homeless or just your neighbors Help with repairs at a local homeless shelter Donate art supplies to kids in a homeless shelter Make a care package with mittens, socks, T-shirts, etc. for a child at a homeless shelter Collect grocery coupons to give a local food bank If your community doesn t have a food bank, work with local officials to start one Clip coupons and give them at your local food pantry or homeless shelter Pack and hand out food at a food bank Organize a neighborhood group to plant, tend and harvest a vegetable garden Donate the produce to a food bank Sponsor a food drive at your school or parent s workplace or business Prepare a home-cooked meal for the residents of a nearby homeless shelter Bake a batch of cookies and deliver them to a soup kitchen or homeless shelter Raid your closet and attic to find toys and clothes to donate to a homeless shelter Assist with sorting and organizing items donated to a homeless shelter Food drive - set up collection bins in stores, banks, movie theaters, and schools Start a program to help poor people build their own houses Assist in a shelter day-care room, taking care of children while parents look for jobs Help raise money for Reading Is Fundamental Open Book Program - Have a Read-a-Thon or Book Auction Take homeless children on outings Make first aid kits for homeless shelters Contact a homeless shelter in your community and see if they already have a reading center and need help to keep the project going Set up a Saturday Reading Hour where you visit a homeless shelter once a month, bringing books to share and leave behind Collect items to deliver to homeless shelters (blankets, sheets, towels, toys, books, disposable diapers.) 182. Become a Big Buddy for one or more of the children at the homeless shelter Find out about low-cost housing in your area for the homeless people Contact job training and placement centers in your community. FOR THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: 185. Volunteer to help at a Special Olympics event Set up a buddy system for kids with special needs at your school Raise money for Braille or large print books for blind or visually impaired people Volunteer at an agency that works with children with disabilities Read books or the newspaper on tape for blind or visually impaired people Make gifts with friends for kids in the hospital Prepare sack lunches and deliver them to homeless or homebound people Bring toys to children in the cancer ware of a hospital Work with physically challenged kinds on an art project Build a ramp for a person in a wheelchair so it is easier for them to get in and out of their house Clean a neighbor s yard who can not do it themselves Get your class to put together a library at a children s hospital Give valentines and other cards in individuals who are in the local hospital Hold an Athletics Contest Visit a rehabilitation center. Learn about patients with special needs. Volunteer to help. NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT: 200. Help neighbors paint and repair their homes Arrange for the local health department to conduct neighborhood health checks. Page 8

9 Volunteer to teach classes on a sport you enjoy and know a lot about. Contact Habitat for Humanity to see how you can support them in your community. Work with the local health department to set up an immunization day or clinic to immunize children against childhood diseases. Organize a newcomers group in your neighborhood to welcome new families. Produce a neighborhood newspaper. Train to become a guide for your local tourist bureau. Make maps of local parks, libraries or historic sites. Research local historic sites and provide the research to visitor s bureau. Petition your city to make drinking fountains and/or restrooms in public areas available. Volunteer to clean up trash at a community event or county fair. Make signs to label community buildings and sites of interest. Set up an art exhibit at a local business, school or nursing home. Design a mural or quilt highlighting important aspects of the community. Organize a campaign to paint storm drains to prevent dumping of hazardous materials. Set up an informational display at a local library. Volunteer to help with Vacation Bible School. Organize a community chorus, orchestra or band. Volunteer to help set up for a community event. Distribute leaf bags during the fall encouraging residents to clean leaves from their streets and yards. Adopt a pothole and raise funds to repair it. Plan native flowers or plants along highways. Adopt a billboard and use it for a public service announcement. Campaign for additional lighting along poorly lighted streets. Clean up vacant lot. Collect supplies for persons who have been in a fire or natural disaster. Help fix a run-down playground. Start a yard of the week award for your neighborhood. Participate in an Annual parade. Spruce up and paint the community or youth center. Plant a community garden. Adopt a town monument and keep it clean. Clean an elderly neighbor s driveway and sidewalk after a snowfall. Clean up after a natural disaster. Organize a local blood drive with the American Red Cross. Plant flowers at town hall. Organize a campaign to raise money to buy and install new playground equipment for a park. Survey community agencies to learn the leading causes of accidents in your community then design a campaign to reduce accidents. Paint a mural or clean up a local park. Plant flowers in public areas that could use some color. Mow the lawns and care for the plants of neighbors who are away on vacation. Conduct a community accessibly check to identify potential barriers for individuals with disabilities. Plan a disabilities day where friends or classmates are given a physical disability for day and are forced to function during the day. Read aloud to a person who is visually impaired. Build park benches. Paint fences or park benches. Help winterize homes in a poverty-stricken neighborhood. Lend a helping hand at a local community center. Identify corners where bushes and trees make it difficult for drivers to see. Conduct a neighborhood drive to collect used furniture. PERFORMING ARTS & SPORTS: 250. Form a band with your friends and give free concerts If you play an instrument, help a friend learn to play Serve as an usher at a sporting event Get your marital arts or dance class to give a demonstration at a youth center, nursing home or school Write and product a play about a current issue Serve as a coach for a youth sports team. Page 9

10 Teach a friend how to in-line skate. Start a collection drive for old sports equipment and donate it to needy families. Get friends to assist at a sporting event. Provide refreshments at a local race or sporting event THE ENVIRONMENT: 260. Plant a garden or tree where the whole neighborhood can enjoy it Set up a recycling system for your home and participate in your neighborhood curbside recycling pick-up Organize a car pooling campaign in your neighborhood to cut down on air pollution Set up a seed or a plant exchange in your neighborhood Grow fresh flowers and deliver them to someone to brighten their day Pick up a trail during National Trail Day in June Make bird feeders for public places Collect Old phone books in your neighborhood for recycling Adopt an acre of a park or a mile of roadside to keep clean. More Information 269. Elect a family energy watchdog to shut off lights, radios, and TV s when not in use Help everyone in your family conserve water Clean up trash along a river or in a park Create a habitat for wildlife Create a campaign to encourage biking and walking Test the health of the water in your local lakes, rivers or streams Got places to be? Burn energy on your bike instead of taking the family car Participate in a Wildlife Habitat Program Start a butterfly garden at home, at a community center, senior home or school Sponsor an environmental slogan contest in school Build a bluebird trail Collect aluminum cans and donate the money to a favorite charity Get together with friends and make conservation posters for the community center Encourage your parents to buy products made from recycled materials Conduct an energy audit at your school Monitor the indoor air quality Organize an asbestos check Test the drinking water for lead Adopt an acre of rainforest Plant a commemorative tree to honor someone Create a children s nature garden, labeling plants and trees and scheduling guided tours Replace trees that have died Take household toxic waste to a proper disposal facility Check indoor radon levels Adopt highways and clean up clutter Volunteer to separate recyclables Organize a hazardous waste collection Start a recycling center at school Host a recycling fair Hold an invention contest with entries made out of recycled goods Form a volunteer lawn mowing service with your friends If you see a tree that s in trouble, try to save it. Pamper it, water it, or don t water it as the case may be. Find our what s wrong with it and how to make it better Pick up litter Use a lunch box instead of throwaway bags Practice the 3 R s in your house: Reduce, recycle, reuse Adopt a park with your friends and keep it clean. More Information 305. Bring a backpack when you shop or reuse those little plastic sacks Clean up a beach or riverbed Start a compost pile and encourage your family to use it! 308. Plant trees Plant a commemorative tree to honor someone Ask your school to use recycled paper. Page 10

11 Repair homes or abandoned buildings. Start an Environmental Club. Hold a recycling contest. Check homes and public buildings for lead based paint. Clear a new trail at a nature center or park. SENIOR CITIZENS: 316. Adopt a grandfriend 317. Visit a nursing home Rake leaves, shovel snow, clean gutter or wash windows for a senior citizen Pick up medicine for an elderly person During bad weather, visit seniors to make sure they have everything they need Pick up the morning paper for a senior neighbor on your way to school Form a Mall Patrol with your friends to help seniors with their shopping Form a kids car wash squad to clean and wash seniors cars Write your grandfriend a letter, or write letters for an elderly person Go for a walk with a senior citizen in your community Hold an afternoon dance for your local nursing home With the help of family and friends, hold a summertime play or songfest at a nursing home Teach them your dances and ask them to teach you theirs Deliver meals to homebound individuals Offer to pick up groceries with/for a senior citizen Help senior citizens in your neighborhood obtain and install locks or smoke alarms Teach a senior friend how to use a computer or the Internet Get a group together to sing or present a play at a nursing home Do something creative on the holidays for the Senior Citizens (cook a meal, bake cookies, dress up in costumes, etc.) 335. Take a pet to a nursing home Do art projects with people in nursing homes (Finger painting.) 337. Organize a sing-a-long Offer to read to people in a nursing home Write letters to people in a nursing home, if you can t go and visit Teach an elderly neighbor a new card game Call up elderly people who live on their own to see if they need anything Teach your senior friends how to use computers Get with friends and form a Clean Up Club to help elderly with their house cleaning Be a friend to the senior citizens. HELPING ANIMALS: 345. Volunteer at an animal shelter. Help clean up, play with the animals, or do whatever s needed to make the shelter a nicer temporary home for the animals Become a foster parent. Some shelters have temporary foster care programs. You take care of a pet until they can find a permanent home for it Control animal populations Find out about raising a dog for persons with disabilities Raise money for pet causes by organizing a pet photo session Organize a pet show for a local nursing home With the support of a vet clinic, organize a neuter and spay campaign to get animals neutered and spayed at a reduced rate Set up donation centers for animal products to be donated to needy Learn about pet therapy and do pet therapy with your animal at nursing homes and day care centers Form a we love animals club and volunteer to care for animals at a children s zoo Plan a special awareness event during Be Kind to Animals Week in May Organize a community dog wash Volunteer to clean out animal shelters at homeless shelter Collect and sort newspapers to donate to a local animal shelter Collect food and supplies needed for a local zoo, animal shelter or food bank Adopt a Zoo Animal Learn about pet therapy and do pet therapy at local nursing homes or child care centers Find homes in shelters for abandoned pets. Page 11

12 Hatch ducks for release in the wild. Clean wooden duck house before each nesting season. Care for a neighbor s pet. Find out about volunteer opportunities at a local wildlife sanctuary or survival center. Resources: Kid s Guide to Service Projects by Barbara Luis The Kids Can Help Book by Susan Logan 1998 National Youth Service Day 10th Anniversary Youth Service Project Ideas Nation Wide Community Service Opportunities This section provides resources of national community service projects that 4-H members can participate in. UNITED WE SERVE ( Serve.gov is your online resource for not only finding volunteer opportunities in your community, but also creating your own. Use Serve. gov to help you do your part. America s foundation will be built one community at a time and it starts with you. Serve.gov is managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service. DOSOMETHING.ORG ( Powering Offline Action, using the power of online to get teens to do good stuff offline. LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL ( The used eyeglasses collected in your community can help children and adults in developing countries enjoy a better quality of life. Many will experience corrected vision for the first time. The following resources can help you start an eyeglass collection campaign in your community, or simply improve your club s collection efforts. RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE ( Toy and Food Donation Program: Ronald McDonald Houses host thousands of children a year, so the toys, books and games in the Houses are all well used. And after long days at hospitals, families welcome home-cooked meals as well. Pop Tab Collection Program: Many Ronald McDonald Houses in the U.S. work with local recycling centers to raise money by collecting tabs from aluminum cans. You can start a collection at your workplace, school, community center or church. SHRINER S HOSPITAL ( Many dedicated individuals, businesses and community groups host fundraisers to support the mission of Shriners Hospitals for Children. From car washes to golf tournaments, birthday parties to chance drawings, the options for events and fundraisers are endless. Get inspired by the successful events below or create your own! Your efforts will make a difference in the life of a child. Collectively, fundraising events like these will help Shriners Hospitals for Children continue to provide pediatric specialty care. M.D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER ( The Ovarian Cancer Awareness Quilt Project at M. D. Anderson was established to educate the public about the risk factors and symptoms of ovarian cancer through the artistry of quilting. Quilters from across the state created quilt blocks and entire quilts for the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Quilt Project s first online quilt auction in ST. JUDE CHILDREN S RESEARCH HOSPITAL ( Sign up to be a Special Events coordinator and hold your own event. Next, recruit participants, distribute fundraising materials provided by St. Jude, and ask them to contact their family and friends to gather donations for taking part in the event. Events may consist of: Martial Arts Workout Events Garage Sales Dinners Bowl-a-thons Car Washes Page 12

13 FEEDING AMERICA ( Each day, hunger is experienced in every community across this country. In fact, our network feeds over 25 million neighbors each year. Ending hunger in America depends on the volunteer work of literally millions of Americans who know that they can make a difference There are as many different ways to volunteer, as there are individuals and communities across this country. You can help out in your local community through activities such as: tutoring kids at your local Kids Cafe repackaging donated food for use at food pantries transporting food to charitable agencies clerical work at the National Office WORLD VISION ( Many options!! Here s one: Give two soccer balls. Your gift of a soccer ball can replace a makeshift banana leaf ball or rounded wad of trash for an energetic boy or girl. And with a generous match from Baden Sports, your gift gives two new soccer balls instead of just one! MARCH OF DIMES ( Why March for Babies? It s America s favorite walking event! When you walk, you give hope to the families of babies born too soon or sick. The money you raise supports programs in your community that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies. And it funds research to find answers to the serious problems that threaten our babies Project Related Community Service Opportunities Below is a list of community service projects related to certain 4-H projects. In no way is this complete as to the variety of opportunities that 4-H members, clubs, or groups can do in community service. Some projects may not be list, but don t let that slow you down! Review the list of other projects and see what will work with your project! Only your imagination can slow you down! AEROSPACE 1. Obtain flying and rocket launching site. 2. Provide flight demonstration for handicapped youth. AUTOMOTIVE CARE AND SAFETY 1. Automotive preventive maintenance and safety inspection. 2. Safety rodeo. 3. Automotive safety week. 4. Traffic hazards inspection (need for signs or new signs). BEEF CATTLE 1. Exhibit at county or regional fair with animal representatives of each beef cattle breed (pictures and slides if animals not available). 2. Telephone survey of community to determine education program needed by beef producers. 3. Tour for urban youth to beef cattle enterprise. 4. Place animals in petting exhibit or children s barnyard at local fair or show. 5. Provide refreshments and concession stand services at beef cattle field day or production sale. 6. Enter beef cattle float of educational nature in local parade. 7. Club inspection of cattle farms to locate safety hazards. 8. Tour beef cattle farms for sources of stream and environmental contamination. 9. Provide programs for civic groups on the beef cattle enterprise in the county. BICYCLE CARE AND SAFETY 1. Bicycle inspection. 2. Bicycle safety rodeo. 3. Community bicycle hazards inspection. 4. Bicycle lanes survey and promotion. 5. Community awareness of bicycle safety. 6. Bicycle safety week 7. Community bicycle tours. 8. Bicycle maintenance clinic. Page 13

14 CITIZENSHIP 1. Present programs on citizenship in school, church, and community. 2. Present radio and/or TV programs. 3. Inform the general public of rules for displaying the flag of the United States and marks of respect. 4. Participate in flag raising and lowering ceremonies in school and 4-H camps. 5. Participate in special programs during the Fourth of July, Veterans Day, and other similar celebrations. 6. Know your community, county, state, and federal government. 7. Help to register eligible persons to vote and develop a plan to get more persons to vote in all elections. 8. Clean vacant lots in the community. 9. Initiate yard-of-the-month campaign. 10. Remove old buildings in the community. 11. Organize and/or assist with the summer recreation programs. 12. Repair, paint, and stencil names on mail boxes. 13. Care for and beautify grassed areas at street intersections. 14. Paint and repair community building used by 4-H clubs. 15. Plant flowers in front of the county courthouse. 16. Plant trees, shrubbery, flowers, and/or grass around churches and community. 17. Place garbage cans in community bearing the 4-H emblem. 18. Provide equipment at the community center. 19. Build tennis court(s) and/or install lights for tennis court(s). 20. Build or help maintain and improve the softball-baseball field(s). 21. Build a roadside park with picnic table, barbeque pit, and playground. 22. Initiate or collaborate with a rabies vaccination campaign. 23. Participate in the March of Dimes and similar campaign drives. 24. Work for better community dental care. 25. Work with the physically and mentally disabled. 26. Prepare treats for nursing home patients. 27. Plan a program to involve senior citizens in productive endeavors. 28. Present special programs and meals to senior citizens. 29. Pack Christmas boxes for needy families. 30. Collect, repair, paint, make, and distribute toys to needy families at Christmas. 31. Collect clothes for the community clothing bank. 32. Provide trees, shrubs, and flowers for schools and help landscape the ground. 33. Help maintain the church, surrounding buildings, and grounds in excellent condition. 34. Clean up community health hazards. 35. Build walks at the community center. 36. Give programs at a nursing home. 37. Send get-well cards to the sick. 38. Put up a community Christmas tree. 39. Collect clothes for a rummage sale. 40. Take care of cemetery. 41. Label community buildings. 42. Pack boxes for shut-ins. 43. Go Christmas caroling. 44. Promote defensive driving courses. 45. Conduct a hunter safety program. 46. Roadside cleanup with the sale of aluminum for club and/or community projects. 47. Workday to repair community facilities. 48. Landscape and establish a procedure for continued maintenance to beautify public facilities. 49. Restoration of community signs both public and private. 50. Work with the city, county, or state engineer for placement of trash barrels. 51. Cooperate with public officials in locating and supplying tables, benches, covered shelters, and other picnic necessities. 52. Assist with seeding, sprigging, or bedding public areas. 53. Help provide and construct ornamental rock and stone areas on public property. 54. Work with recreational leaders to provide out-of-school recreational activities for younger youth. 55. Present skits, plays, costume parties, or carnivals for younger youth. 56. Work with a local librarian to provide a story hour for youth. Page 14

15 Assist the local librarian by preparing displays on 4-H and 4-H projects. Assist the church/school superintendent or teachers with conducting church/school activities. Assist in visiting community shut-ins using 4-H arts, crafts, and other projects for showing and telling the shut-ins about 4-H. Assist with cemetery cleanup and maintenance. Identify and maintain historical markers in cooperation with local historical society. Identify a place for a help erect a neighborhood flag pole. Assist League of Women Voters or other non-partisan groups for voter registration and other needs, such as babysitting at election time. Build a conservation nature hike and/or bike trail. Work with municipal county judge to set up an advisory council for teenage traffic offenders. Attend city council meeting, then establish a youth mini-council set up on a similar basis as city council. Sell and/or distribute 4-H car litter bags emphasizing youth s responsibility in anti-litter campaign. Help construct signs saying welcome and any other message like help keep our city clean. Help plan and construct hike and bike lanes. Assist local police department with promoting bicycle safety by conducting a bicycle rodeo and checking the safety of bicycles. Assist the county commissioner with tasks to carry out his or her assignment on repair and construction of county facilities, such as roads, fairgrounds, parks, solid waste disposal areas, etc. Seine a nearby stream to collect garbage and run lab tests on the water to find the pollution level. When the findings are reported to county officials, offer to help solve the problem if solutions are available. Prepare a booklet to distribute to county residents stating, Things a citizen needs to know, such as: where to register to vote, location of certain county offices, content of county ordinances, list of civic and non-profit organizations, etc. Work with an historical society to prepare some histories of the local community. Check railroad and highway signs for visibility and assist the highway department with erecting signs where needed. CLOTHING 1. Plan and conduct a fashion show for the public or organized group utilizing ready-made clothing. 2. Present a fashion show of garments 4-Hers have made for community organizations, example: Lions Club, Business and Professional Women, Senior Citizens, or in retirement homes. 3. Develop short radio spots on fabrics, care of clothing, fashion tips, etc. 4. Assist with finer-related, clothing-related contests. Example: Make it Yourself with Wool, Make it With Cotton. 5. Become involved in promotion of cotton or wool, i.e., Maid of Cotton. 6. Displays or posters on clothing or fabric-related topics. 7. Make clothes for Christmas for needy or for fund raising. 8. Scrapbook of ideas for pediatricians waiting rooms that relate to self-help clothing for children, example: snaps, zippers, large buttons, etc. 9. Mending for a shut-in, nursing homes. 10. Have a pattern-a-rama to exchange or sell patterns for community. 11. Make special clothing for the handicapped or older adults. 12. Exhibit or posters to increase community awareness of dressing safety after dark. 13. Have clothing drive for clothing items for Goodwill, etc. 14. Sponsor a grooming clinic for special groups. 15. Set up question answering service on clothing care at a Laundromat. 16. Have a garage sale of clothing and donate money to local charity. 17. Present talk on How not to dress and drive to Driver s Education class or community group. 18. Present program on accessories, fashion, etc. to community organizations. 19. Develop and promote ideas for recycling clothing; give program to community organization. 20. Sponsor a Christmas in November for sale of various clothing items to benefit. 21. Involve older adults in learning skills of needlework, example: tatting, quilting, making lace, crocheting, etc. DAIRY 1. Local 4-H clubs develop several exhibits during National Dairy Week (normally held in June). Possible exhibits: * Photographic exhibits of barns, milk processing, dairy food preparation, historical materials, dairy farm families, et al. * Display of restored dairy equipment and machinery. * Working demonstrations of dairy processing with different kinds of equipment; for example: butter making, milk separation, butterfat testing. 2. Display a cow and calf in a prominent place. 3. Arrange for a live milking demonstration at elementary school students to determine the amount of milk consumed per person. Page 15

16 Conduct survey of community residents and/or elementary schools or other public places. Conduct an animal census to determine dairy animal population in county or community. Sponsor a milking contest. Visit a local supermarket. Have 4-Hers count the number of dairy products in the dairy case or on the shelves. Display results of survey on a poster in store lobby. Plan a taste and compare display for ice cream, ice milk, soft ice cream, and sherbert; homogenized, skim, and butter milk; cottage cheese; two kinds of soft cheese, and two kinds of hard cheese. Make a collection of at least 10 international recipes using dairy products. Include the country of origin (consider fondue, yogurt, and lasagna), and special customs, if any. Printed list of recipes could be distributed at public places. Prepare a list of interested dairies and milk-processing plants (including phone number, address, and name of contact person) for elementary teachers to contact for tours. Develop a display for public places tracing milk being processed from raw milk into many dairy products, using diagrams, from production at the farm through the processing plant, to retailer or user of the product. Present method demonstrations or illustrated talks to community groups Plan, prepare, and organize workshop to train older youth for employment on dairy farms. A list of youth completing the training will be mailed to local dairymen. Prepare a list of dairymen who have dairy calves for 4-H projects. Assist local dairymen with animal exhibits at local, county, or area shows. Help register entries at local, county, or area dairy shows. DOG 1. Host/assist with Pet fairs 2. Serve as a ring steward at a dog show 3. Sponsor/host/assist with flea and tick dips 4. Volunteer at dog shelters 5. Host a Dog Walk 6. Coordinate with Meals on Wheels to walk animals for shut-ins 7. Raise funds for police dogs protective vests and/or shoes 8. Take your dog along for a visit to the nursing home or a children s home 9. Raise and help train puppies as service animals 10. Raise money to help equip city parks with pet waste disposal equipment 11. Raise money and assist in building a local dog park 12. Donate items to the animal shelter (food, blankets, newspaper, etc.) 13. Give demonstrations and talk about various dog care and training topics 14. Promote Canine Good Citizenship Test and Programs 15. Assist with and/or sponsor community obedience classes ELECTRICITY 1. Conduct a community or neighborhood electrical safety check, looking for hazards in the community and in individual homes. 2. Put together a package of energy conservation experiments and/or program presentation at schools, community groups, clubs, etc. 3. Set up electrical energy conservation news articles. 4. Write electrical energy conservation news articles. 5. Survey community resources in solving energy problems. 6. Teach people how to read electric meters and monitor electrical use. 7. Conduct a community energy survey to see where energy is wasted. ENERGY 1. Work with utility companies to develop and utilize home energy conservation programs. 2. Work with utility companies to conduct home energy audits. 3. Work with utility companies to improve lighting in public buildings. 4. Conduct a tour of energy efficient homes. 5. Assist the elderly with weatherization of homes. 6. Make draft dodgers for doors. Page 16

17 ENTOMOLOGY 1. Provide programs for civic groups on the history of the impact of beneficial insects and pests on man and his environment, beneficial insects, or similar topics. 2. Develop an exhibit at county or regional fairs emphasizing insect collecting, beekeeping, beneficial insects, safety with pesticides, or similar topics. 3. Develop and present a method demonstration to community groups on pesticide storage and proper mixing plus application. 4. Organize a tour of a field to observe insects. 5. Place ant farm or observation bee hive in children s barnyard at local fair or show. 6. Donate honey to community families, nursing home, etc. 7. Provide honey for elementary school tasting, along with display of observation bee hive. 8. Prepare and distribute recipes using honey at local civic groups, supermarkets, etc. 9. Plan a taste or poster display of products made with honey at local supermarket. 10. Enter an educational float with entomological emphasis in local parade. 11. Prepare newspaper articles and radio spot on beneficial insects, pesticide safety, integrated pest management, pollination, etc. 12. Conduct pesticide storage safety checks in community or county. 13. Conduct a telephone survey of community to determine educational programs in entomology and pest management needed by community members. 14. Provide refreshments at entomology and/or pesticide management educational meetings. 15. Prepare a display (slides or specimens) of insects commonly found in specific crops, livestock, in the home, lawn/ornamental and display in public places. 16. Volunteer to help with a community lawn and garden clinic. 17. Conduct a survey to determine how many people in your county are employed in entomological areas; look at career opportunities - local, state, national; publicize results. 18. Prepare display of different types of home pesticides and proper labeling. 19. Help neighbors identify and control insects in their home and gardens in community. 20. Show the role of entomologists in preserving our environment. 21. Prepare an aesthetic display utilizing actual insects, butterflies or pictures, etc. FAMILY LIFE 1. Organize a child development workshop. 2. Assist in developing a child care center to help working mothers. 3. Assist as volunteers to professional staff conducting childhood immunization clinic. 4. Provide safety search service for homes with young children and apply symbols to point out hazards. 5. Conduct a used toy drive to accumulate toys for day care centers and local distribution. 6. Conduct activity to develop a neighborhood playground. 7. Conduct for youth a workshop on children emergencies and first aid. 8. Build playground equipment for parks or playgrounds. 9. Conduct activity to repair day care and playground equipment. 10. Conduct city search for broken street lights. 11. Conduct city services for traffic hazards. 12. Short-term adoption of member of a family who has lost home in fire or wind, etc. 13. Develop a Mother s Day Out Program to give mother a day away from home by keeping children. 14. Adopt a special friend program work with handicapped children. 15. Volunteer service with library and museum. 16. Sponsor a story hour in the community for young people. 17. Ride church bus to help care for young children. 18. Ride school bus to help care for first grade children. 19. Assume responsibility for upkeep of old cemeteries in the county. 20. Organize and sponsor 4-H Share-the-Fun contest with emphasis on cultural exploration and heritage. 21. Sponsor a one-act play for community entertainment. 22. Sponsor a parent-teen seminar. 23. Sponsor an amateur arts and crafts show on neighborhood or community scale. 24. Provide transportation service for senior citizens. 25. Sponsor historical or heritage tour of area old town, ranches, etc. 26. Organize exchange tours with other counties to see new heritages and ethnic origins. 27. Develop a history of 4-H in the county. 28. Conduct a new mother errand service for mothers in hospital with new babies. Page 17

18 29. Organize a community seminar for expectant parents in cooperation with county Extension office. 30. Provide transportation home from hospital for new mothers when needed. 31. Provide delivery of county Extension agent-prepared packet of parenting information. 32. Help county Extension agent assemble packet of parenting information. 33. Deliver to medical center packets of pre-parenting material prepared by county Extension agent s office. 34. Sponsor emergency telephone stickers with phone numbers. 35. Develop a pre-parenting workshop for older 4-H members. 36. Serve as an apprentice parent at state schools, Foster homes, etc. 37. Take as guests children from homes, schools, and orphanages and attend 4-H functions. 38. Conduct rap session on dating. 39. Make toy boxes and book shelves for nursery schools. 40. Promote the necessity for having a place for medicine and all bottles with harmful contents to be out of reach of small children. 41. Sponsor a children s book drive. 42. Paint a room for an elderly person in the community. 43. Make pictures and wall painting for nursing homes. 44. Build ramps at homes of elderly and handicapped. 45. Assist elderly families with cleanup activities. 46. Build book shelves in nursing homes and stock with books and magazines. 47. Clean or change filters for the elderly. 48. Assist the elderly with patching cracks in driveways, sidewalks, brick work, or other structural parts of the house. 49. Clean out gutters for the elderly in the spring and fall, help install slip-proof material in the bathtub and shower. 50. Help the elderly evaluate safety features around the house. To be included would be such items as slip-proof throw rugs, railing on stairways, telephone locations, helping with unused gas outlets, position of space heaters and cleanliness of gas heating elements. 51. Civic projects a. Telephone service make friendly phone visits with older people or homebound people on a daily or weekly basis. b. Card service contact stores in your town that will agree to provide discounts to older adults with the special cards. c. Grandparent -- 4-H community projects a group of 4-Hers and grandparents work together on a selected project of value to the community. d. County fairs 4-H youth and older adults work together on planning and executing a county fair. e. Citizenship awards special county or community awards could be given to older adults and teens who make noteworthy contributions together or in service to one another. 52. Individual and club projects. a. Secret Grandmother club members choose special older adults for secret pal type of project. b. Adopt-A-Grandparent an individual can adopt an older person for developing a special friendship. c. Visiting exchange a craft, talent, skill, or any activity listed under service projects. 53. Service projects a. Christmas packages making and delivering. b. Tape recording church services for nursing home residents. c. Decorations and favors for hospital meal trays, doors, building entrances, etc. could be done at nursing homes, etc. d. Yardwork or housework. e. Reading and letter writing. f. Funning errands. g. Organizing car pools 54. Entertainment a. Caroling and special holiday celebrations parties (Valentine, Easter, Halloween). b. Birthday parties in nursing homes, hospital retirement centers. c. Organizing craft centers in nursing homes. d. Serving popcorn at retirement home movies. e. Older adults and 4-H square dancing or fold dancing - contests. f. Ice cream socials. 55. Fund Raising a. Sponsor a sock hop invite older adults and youth to share popular dances of eachgeneration. b. Have a square dancing contest. c. Sell tickets to a fish fry youth and older adults have a fishing contest. The catch is prepared and served to ticket holders. d. Home repair Youth volunteer time and labor for reasonable wages that older adults can afford. Page 18

19 FOODS AND NUTRITION 1. Promotion of foods. Example: education and nutrition. March is Nutrition Month, June is Dairy Month, August is Sandwich Month, and October is Eggs Month. 2. Promote seasonal foods uses and handling of turkey at Thanksgiving, picnic foods in summer. 3. Do radio spots, seconds, on foods, nutrition, buying tips, safe handling of food, etc. (Check with agent for accuracy.) 4. Plan and conduct a bake sale. 5. Bake Christmas cookies for people. Take orders. 6. Plan a cake decorating service on order basis. 7. Present nutrition information to senior citizens, nursery schools or day care centers, or other community organizations. 8. Assist with children s hour at a library, plan and provide nutritious snacks. 9. Assist young mothers with children s birthday parties. 10. Offer to waitress for a community meal or banquet. 11. Put up posters in the community with specific thoughts. 12. Put up educational displays. 13. Provide a consumer answering service at a grocery store a few hours a week. 14. Provide foods for needy families at Christmas or other times. 15. Fruit baskets or other homemade goodies for shut-ins. 16. Have a community event when some experienced cooks show their specialities and younger ones learn how to make items. 17. Offer foods editors copies of favorite recipes you have used. 18. Sponsor a recipe contest pumpkin is fall, dairy products in June, etc. 19. Learn about a locally grown food from farm or ranch to grocery shelf. 20. Be involved in planning and running a concession stand. 21. Plan and conduct a clinic on checking pressure cookers. 22. Work with school lunch program. Make posters for eating area. 23. Write news releases on timely topics or try fillers. 24. Survey a school classroom or organization on what they ate. Follow up with information, posters, displays on good eating habits. 25. Feed experimental animals a good and poor diet. Have a place where others can record the progress. 26. Be involved in Farm-City (in November) activities. Help people understand the links between agriculture production and food consumption. 27. Coordinate efforts with foods and nutrition related projects and activities, example: health (relate to disease prevention), gardening (food production). 28. Volunteer for the ENP-Y (Expanded Nutrition Program). 29. Have your 4-H club have nutritious snacks for their meetings. FORESTRY 1. Put up a community Christmas tree for all to enjoy. 2. Develop a nature trail or a park that people can go to and study nature and ecology. 3. Set up a club camping program to study forestry. 4. Organize an observance of National 4-H Tree Farm Week (exhibits, displays, news articles, tours, etc.) 5. Present forestry programs to community, club, and school groups on subjects such as forest protection, uses of wood, forest recreation, etc. 6. Plant trees, shrubs, etc. in parks, public places, etc. 7. Identify and tag trees, etc. in public parks, etc. 8. Participate in local forest fire prevention campaign. 9. Construct and erect Keep Green signs for roadside areas during the dry seasons. 10. Conduct a public awareness campaign on how to plant a tree, and how and when to prune trees. 11. Promote the planting of trees, especially in observing Arbor Day. HEALTH 1. Organize and carry out a service project for patients in a nursing home, hospital, or other similar health institution. Project ideas include reading to them, writing letters for them, having a party, and putting on a talent show for the patients. 2. Develop a health exhibit and arrange to display it in facilities such as the library, county courthouse, school pharmacy, or other similar public place. Topics for the exhibit could be dental health, immunizations, heart disease, high blood pressure, and how smoking affects an individual s health. 3. Volunteer to participate in a local health campaign such as immunization clinics, blood pressure clinics, blood donation programs, and programs sponsored by voluntary health organizations (e.g., American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, National Foundation/March of Dimes, Society for the Prevention of Blindness, Arthritis Foundation, Page 19

20 American Diabetes Association). 4. Promote rabies vaccination program in community. 5. Members could be encouraged to investigate: * Health services available in the community; * Fluoridation of the community s water supply; * Methods of waste disposal and water treatment; * The status of general public health hazards such as rabies and rodent control; * Procedures to be followed in case of an emergency in the community (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and fires); * Presenting information to a civic group; * Making an exhibit or bulletin board or poster for placement in public building; * Radio spots, television, newspaper; or * Places with marquees for messages. 6. Provide transportation for blood drive and volunteer at center. 7. Determine the community services available for those with physical disabilities and determine any barriers. 8. Assist with fund raising for community agencies, i.e. heart fund, American Cancer Society. 9. Sponsoring a rabies clinic or serving as volunteers. 10. Visit and volunteer services at nursing homes, hospitals, and handicapped, mentally retarded, deaf, blind, and rehabilitation centers. 11. Prepared a jogging path. 12. Conduct community Olympics with different events for different age groups. 13. Donate subscriptions to health magazine - health department clinics, rehabilitation centers. 14. Make Healthy picture books for younger kids. 15. Sponsor purchase of books for library. 16. Maintain health records; make others aware of need for them and keeping one of their own. 17. Place garbage cans with 4-H emblem in strategic areas in town. 18. Sponsor and help conduct a Crippled Children s camp. 19. Send cards to and visit shut-ins and invalids. 20. Prepare and present first-aid kits to schools and churches and other community facilities. 21. Sponsor a nutritious picnic or other social event for underprivileged children. 22. Prepare nutritious holiday baskets for the needs. 23. Participate in the March of Dimes and similar campaign drives. 24. Work for better community dental care. 25. Work with the physically and mentally handicapped. 26. Assist as volunteers to professional staff conduction childhood immunization clinic. 27. Provide safety search service for homes with young children and apply symbols to point out hazards. 28. Conduct for youth a workshop on children s emergencies and first aid. 29. Adopt a special friend program work with handicapped children. HOME ENVIRONMENT 1. Assist fire, postal, and police departments by painting house numbers on curbs and by also painting street signs. 2. Work with city council to identify and clean up vacant and/or overgrown lots. 3. Work with local fire department to develop a home check list for fire safety, then distribute the check list to all home owners. 4. Work with policy to engrave furniture with identification number. 5. Establish a community activity bulletin board to include such information as special guests, entertainment, sports events, garage sales, sponsored meetings, etc. 6. Sponsor a home paint-up/fix-up week. 7. Sponsor a fiber arts show in the spring, an antique show. 8. Conduct a tour of local housing alternatives. 9. Write articles about historical homes in the community. 10. Make wall hangings for community buildings. 11. Refinish furniture for community rooms or centers. HORTICULTURE Fruits and Vegetables: 1. Prepare fruit and/or vegetable baskets for needy families. 2. Involve senior citizens in fruit and vegetable projects as resource persons and helpers. 3. Prepare educational exhibits showing the importance of fruits and vegetables in the diet. Page 20