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!
1. 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!
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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!
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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!
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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!
