Community Service Projects that Kids Can Do
Community service projects are a great way to encourage children to think about the world around them. It’s good for children and their parents to find a project to support or run for a few months or the entire year. There are many ways to do it:
Book Drive. The kids may collect books to donate to local shelters for the homeless, to children’s wards in hospitals, and more. Or the collected used books may be resold at really cheap prices, and the proceeds donated to worthy causes.
Cards for Policemen. Having the kids give greeting cards to policemen is a great gesture of support and appreciation for the police service. It is also a good starting point of conversation on the key role of the police in the maintenance of law and order in the community.
Coin Drive. Parents or any adult in the community may host a coin drive by encouraging the neighborhood kids to pick up a coin that they find. It only takes a large piggy bank (made from empty milk can) where to drop the found coins and get the drive running. At Christmastime, there should be enough coins to buy a poor street family a hot meal.
A Walk for a Cause. For a more involved project, parents can work with their older kids to coordinate a charity walk around the village. Not only does it encourage the local kids to support a cause, it also gives them a great opportunity to learn while managing the many details of such an event. And a walk is also good exercise for all.
Birthday Boxes. It’s simple: The kids put cake mix, frosting, candles, as well as a few generally useful items in a box. The kids may decorate the box or have it plain. Then they donate it to the local feeding center in time when a member of a needy family is celebrating a birthday. Recycling Campaign. Recycling is not only good for the environment, it is also good for the soul. The kids may collect aluminum cans from the village households throughout the year. These are then sold to a recycling place and the money donated to a local charity or animal shelter. The kids also learn to recycle in their own homes, and the whole family soon recycles everything they can.
Spending Time with Seniors. Elderly people love spending time with children and children love spending time with them. Singing, playing bingo, dancing, writing letters, doing any sort of art is fun for both seniors and the kids. Kids spending time with seniors bridges the generation gap. The seniors love the kind act, and the kids learn a lot from older people!
Random Acts of Kindness. The kids may, from time to time, leave fresh food in styropor boxes to a street-side family. They may do it secretly; the recipients need not know who the kind givers are. Or the kids may secretly clean the yard of an elderly neighbor. There are many other good things that can be done for others in need.
Adopt an Animal. Stray animals, particularly dogs and cats, are a common sight. A simple visit to the City Pound will open to the kids a world for of animals ready for adoption. The poor creatures hunger for love and care, and humans – even kids – can give them that.
Or the kids may start by helping supply the needs of animals. Local animal shelters and rescue groups are always in need of newspapers, old towels and blankets, and pet food donations. Neighborhood kids can volunteer to collect such things from willing donors and deliver these to their chosen animal shelter once a month or week, depending on the amount of donations.