COMMUNITY SERVICE IDEAS

Coe-Brown requires that students complete 40 hours of community service as part of its graduation requirement. We are frequently asked what sorts of things can be done, so we have compiled the following list which is not meant to be all-inclusive or to provide ever-changing contact people and phone numbers, but to give you ideas about the types of things you might do. We encourage students to think about what they like to do, a group to which they might feel good about contributing, or something that might assist in helping them to decide what they might like to do for a career.

As you might imagine, Community Service cannot be done for a profit-making enterprise (i.e. working for nothing for your usual employer), nor can it be done for a family member or neighbor that you should be helping anyway out of the goodness of your heart (shoveling your grandmother’s walk).

WORKING WITH CHILDREN

Many students enjoy working with younger children in a variety of ways, some of which may help you decide about future careers.

Examples:

Coaching younger teams in a favorite sport, perhaps at a

Summer camp, or in your home town.

Assisting elementary school teachers at the end of the school year when Coe-Brown is out and they are still in session, or on some of our workshop days when they might be session.

Helping in after school programs at elementary schools.

Coaching an OM team at an elementary school.

Baby-sitting for town and school district meetings.

Teaching or assisting with Sunday Schools.

Assisting at the Special Olympic events.

 

ACTIVE and/or OUTDOOR OPTIONS

Town and local nonprofit groups often need assistance, particularly with seasonal cleanups.

Examples:

Doing trail work for a snowmobile club or local Parks and

Recreation committee.

Highway pickup crews.

Spring cleanup for town beaches.

Cemetery maintenance.

Custodial work at local schools.

WORKING FOR A CAUSE

You might volunteer for any one of a number of nonprofit agencies which seek to raise money for a specific cause, by working on mailings or actually participating in things like walk-a-thons.

Examples:

Groups that raise money for research on various health issues such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, or muscular dystrophy.

Social issue organizations such as Sexual Assault Support Services.

Various environmental organizations

ASSISTING PEOPLE OR ANIMALS IN NEED

Some of these ideas may also help with determining interest in a future career.

Examples:

Volunteering at hospitals or nursing homes.

Working at a soup kitchen or a Salvation Army/Goodwill type agency. Assisting at an animal shelter.

COMMUNITY SERVICE CONNECTED WITH COE-BROWN

These opportunities arise on an intermittent basis. Pay attention to daily announcements! The time must be put in outside of the regular school day and it cannot count as participation in any related organization for which you otherwise get “credit”.

Examples:

Building and/or striking sets for the drama department

( only if you are not an active member trying to build hours toward Thespian Society membership.)

Tutoring

Assisting an athletic team, e.g. running scores for track and field.

Working at the Deerfield Fair Petting Barn through FFA.

MISCELLANEOUS

Of course there are countless other options which might arise. As long as they meet the community service criteria and are pre-approved * many things can qualify. Periodically check the bulletin board in the Multi-Purpose Room for requests for help that are posted there.

Examples:

Volunteering at your local library or Town Hall.

Projects for your religious organization, Scouts, or 4H.

* Pre-approval is normally done by your team leader, with your counselor and/or anyone in the administration serving as back-up. A senior may also have projects approved by his or her portfolio advisor. Approval can even be gained during the summertime since an administrator is usually available to review a project. If an opportunity should arise totally unexpectedly, one could also leave a message on a weekend on e-mail or voicemail. However, approval is not guaranteed if the service criteria were not met. Students who enter senior year with all 40 hours completed are in the best shape for the whole Senior Portfolio process. Start today!