Planning a great community service project doesn’t have to be a ton of work. There are plenty of ways you can improve your community with groups big and small. Here are ten ways!
- Collect Food
Contact your local food bank and they will provide you with the necessary information and materials to have a food drive. For example, the Food Bank of Delaware provides a food drive organization kit, most wanted food list, and more. Encourage people to donate their favorite food items. You can even offer prizes to individuals who donate the most!
- Recycling Program
Starting a recycling program is a big task but a worthwhile one. Here’s a great guide to get you started. When you recycle, those items can be turned into amazing things, like the Green Guardian™ coat, made from recycled PET plastic bottles.
- Community Garden
A community garden is a great way to bond with your community and provide healthy food. You may be able to identify a sponsor to help get your garden started. Consider making a garden just for children, so they can learn about the process of gardening. It is a great educational opportunity.
- Cleanup
A community cleanup will improve the look of your neighborhood or park and inspire people to keep the space looking great. Hosting a potluck after is a wonderful way to celebrate this community achievement!
- Blood drive
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. By hosting a blood drive, you and your community can make a real difference. The American Red Cross provides planning assistance, recruitment tools, equipment, supplies, and a trained staff to screen and collect donations safely.
- Neighborhood Watch Group
Starting or joining a neighborhood watch group is easy. Once you recruit as many neighbors as possible you can contact your local law enforcement agency to schedule a meeting to get additional information. Holding regular meetings and events is another way to bring your community together.
- Give New Coats to Kids in Need
Starting an Operation Warm coat program for your local low-income school is a great way to serve your community. You select the school, set your fundraising goal, and hand out the brand new coats yourselves. This is a wonderful way to strengthen your community ties while helping local children stay warm. Operation Warm offers a Partner Portal, a one-stop website built just for Operation Warm community partners. It gives you access to everything you need to run a successful coat program.
If you’re looking to volunteer for Operation Warm rather than start your own program, we also offer individual volunteer opportunities!
- Community Newsletter
Organizing a community newsletter is a fun way to get the word out and get people involved in activities in your neighborhood and community. Here is a great comprehensive guide to get you started.
- Volunteer
Volunteering is a rewarding experience that brings people of all ages together for a good cause. Get involved with a great organization like Habitat for Humanity or Operation Warm.
- Coach
Are you into sports? Do you spend most of your free time on the field or watching your favorite team? Become a volunteer coach or referee with a local youth team. Your town recreation department, Boys and Girls Club or Y is probably looking for volunteers, and they should be so lucky to have someone with your expertise!
Interested in providing brand-new coats for kids in your community? We would love for you to join us as an Operation Warm Community Partner!
