SERVICE IDEAS

This section includes ideas for a variety of service projects and events. This is not an exhaustive list, rather is meant to provide some basic ideas and can be adapted to meet your specific needs, interests, and resources.

ONE DAY/WEEKEND

• Clean up a local playground, park, street, or beach.

• Deliver meals to the elderly or homeless.

• Hold a children’s storytime in conjunction with a local library, elementary school, etc.

• Hold an educational seminar for teens on important issues such as violence, drugs, fitness, etc.

• Hold a seasonally appropriate activity for children at a local school or children’s home (safe trick or treating, Easter egg hunt, carnival, etc.)

• Assist or visit children at a hospital or school for the blind, deaf, or developmentally disabled.

• Organize a field day or sporting event to get children exercising.

• Volunteer at a local food bank stocking shelves, packaging foods, or cleaning their facility.

• Volunteer at a local animal shelter.

Long Term

• Coach or sponsor a youth athletic team (as permitted by your university and risk management plans).

• Create or volunteer at an after-school program for local children where they can get help with their studies or learn a new activity.

• Collect diapers, toys, or other baby essentials for needy families.

• Sponsor a toy drive for a local organization or youth charity.

• Make blankets, stuffed animals, etc., for seriously ill or needy children.

• Help to provide leadership for a youth organization such as Scouting, 4-H, Campfire, etc.

• Collect food and funds and provide assistance for local food pantries and soup kitchens.

• Sponsor a book drive for a local library, school, or community center.

• Help with child-care services at a shelter or daycare center.

• Record books for blind children.

• Raise money for an organization that serves youth through walk-a-thons, rock-a-thons, etc.

• Hold an adoption event or pet supply drive for a local animal shelter.

• Visit the elderly at a local retirement home or become pen pals with isolated residents.

• Collect school supplies for a local school, Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, etc.

• Collect hygiene products for a local homeless shelter.

Be The Match

• Host a community event to get all the fraternity and sorority members on your campus swabbed and to join the registry.

• Table in a high-traffic area on campus to educate your community about BTM and allow them to get swabbed and join the registry.

• Partner with a professor - a professor might be willing to offer extra credit to their class to join the registry or may allow you to come in and present to their class about BTM.

• Table at your school’s dance marathon - provide education and swab students to join the registry.