Community Service Ideas

Service is an important part of the Girl Scout program. Consider the ages of the girls, the number of girls and the size of the project to ensure success.

Look around your school, community, church, parks, etc. for projects that will help make it better for people and the environment.

Contact local nursing homes, shelters, food banks, schools, local governments, parks, zoos, crisis nurseries, day care programs, domestic violence shelters or other creative locations where girls can share their time with their community.

Keep in mind that some projects are limited by the age of the volunteer. If you are interested in volunteering at an agency, it would be a good idea to contact them ahead of time to be sure the girls are old enough to participate.

Volunteer Agencies

Drives

Collect food to help those in need in your area. Distribute bags at neighborhood meetings or in your school. Set a date to pick them up and donate them to a food bank. Food banks need any non-perishable foods, especially protein foods like tuna, peanut butter, stews, chili and chunky soups. Some groups distribute items like baby food and diapers, soap, toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper and other hygiene items.
Collect, launder and repair clothing, then donate it to a nonprofit organization for distribution.
Collect material and assemble personal care kits using shoeboxes for women staying at a local domestic violence shelter. Be sure to include items like toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, brush and feminine items like perfume.
Put together children's kits for shelters, crisis nurseries and/or foster homes. Include personal care items, a washcloth and towel, crayons, coloring books and other items children would enjoy.

Plants and Gardening

Plant trees, flowers, bulbs or bushes in your favorite park or school.
Start an urban garden to grow food as a community project - invite the elderly to assist and share the harvest.
Make window boxes, plant flowers and maintain them for shut-ins or a nursing home.
Grow flowers and make corsages or boutonnieres for the teachers at the schools in your neighborhood. The same could be done for nursing home residents, hospital patients, and community service people like firefighters or police officers.
Conduct a clean-up day at your school. Plant a community garden with younger girls, teach them about plants, soil and harvesting.

Adopt a...

Grandparent from a retirement home. Send them cards on holidays. Visit them and share your life with them and let them share theirs with you. Plan outings, card parties, make gifts, take pictures and make a wall display for their room.
Family in need at the holidays, and at other times too. Provide clothes, food and hygiene items. Bake cookies and write letters.
Younger child at school. Offer to help tutor, read stories with them and help them learn to read.

Make

Tray favors for the hospital, holiday crafts, or create something on your own.
Coloring books for the pediatric ward, the crisis nursery, a preschool or Daisy Girl Scouts.
Book markers for the library or teachers at your school.
Cookies for election workers, firefighters, police officers, sheriff's officers or the nurse's station at a hospital.
Bibs for nursing homes or hospital children's wards.
"Boo bunnies" for Easter or spring. Give them to a crisis nursery to be given to the children.
Bird feeders for nursing home residents. Maintain and fill them on a regular basis.

Time and Bit of Yourself

Volunteer to serve food at a soup kitchen at a time other than the holidays - people are hungry all year long.
Stock food and pack food boxes at a food bank.
Perform a skit, a play or show at a nursing home or hospital.
Teach crafts or organize the residents of a nursing home who can knit or crochet to make afghans for children at a crisis nursery.
Record tapes for young children. Donate these tapes to the library or a preschool.
Volunteer at the library or local school to help promote literacy.
Man a booth at school or community carnivals.
Fold, stuff and stamp mailings at the Girl Scout Customer Service Center.
Do yard work or housework for the elderly.
Plan an outing for the residents of a nursing home - the zoo, a park, a movie, miniature golf or anything fun and unusual.
Learn about bicycle safety and share the information with younger girls. Be creative!
Plan and carry out an event for younger Girl Scouts.
Perform flag ceremonies for PTA/PTO meetings or other school events. Make cafeteria displays.