Introduction to Community
Service
Community Service: A Family's
Guide to Getting Involved
• It's easy to feel disconnected, as
many parents juggle work, school,
kids, and activity after activity. But
some simple things can bring a
family closer — playing a game,
going for a hike, or cooking a meal
together.
One of the most satisfying, fun,
and productive ways to unite is
volunteering for community
service projects. Volunteerism also
sets a good example for the kids
and helps the community.
Reasons to Get Involved
• It feels good. The satisfaction and
pride that come from helping others
are important reasons to volunteer.
When you commit your time and
effort to an organization or a cause
you feel strongly about, the feeling
of fulfilment can be endless.
• It strengthens your community.
Organizations and agencies that use
volunteers are providing important
services at low or no cost to those
who need them. When a community
is doing well as a whole, its
individuals are better off, too.
• It can Strengthen your family.
Volunteering is a great way for families
to have fun and feel closer. But it can
be hard to find the time to volunteer.
So try rethinking some of your free
time as a family. You could select just
one or two projects a year and make
them a family tradition (for example,
donating old but usable clothes to the
needy).
What Kids Can Learn From Volunteering
If volunteering begins at an early age,
it can become part of kids' lives —
something they might just expect and
want to do.
It can teach them:
• A sense of responsibility. Kids and
teens learn what it means to make
and keep a commitment. They learn
how to be on time for a job, do their
best, and be proud of the results. But
they also learn that, ultimately, we're
all responsible for the well-being of
our communities.
It can teach them:
• That one person can make a
difference. A wonderful,
empowering message for kids is that
they're important enough to have an
impact on someone or something
else.
It can teach them:
• The benefit of sacrifice. By giving up
a toy to a less fortunate child, a child
learns that sometimes it's good to
sacrifice and that there are
important things besides ourselves
and our immediate needs.
It can teach them:
• Tolerance. Working in community service
can bring kids and teens in touch with
people of different backgrounds,
abilities, ethnicities, ages, and education
and income levels. They'll learn that even
the most diverse individuals can be
united by common values.
It can teach them:
• Job skills. Community service can help
young people decide on their future
careers. Are they interested in the medical
field? Learning to work as a team member,
taking on leadership roles, setting project
goals — these are all skills that can be
gained by volunteering and will serve kids
well in any future career.
It can teach them:
• How to fill idle time wisely. If kids
aren't involved in traditional after-
school activities, community service
can be a wonderful alternative.
Getting Your Family Involved
• The Internet offers lots of sites with
information about volunteer opportunities.
You can also call a favourite charity,
hospital, or church directly to see if they
have any needs. Or contact a local
volunteer clearinghouse, which matches up
volunteers and community organizations
and can help you find openings at non-
profit organizations in your area.
Good Volunteer Jobs for Families and Kids
• Families can do many volunteer jobs.
Even the smallest child (with adult
supervision) can pick up garbage at the
park, playground, or beach. You don't
even have to be part of a big effort to do
this. Get your family together, find some
garbage bags, and head out.
• Or become involved in repair and
renovation efforts for low-income
residents. Younger kids might not be
able to do the big jobs, but helping
out by fetching a paintbrush or
holding the nails involves them just
the same.
• Whatever you choose to do,
volunteering and community
service can benefit both the
community and your family.
Activity:
• Do a Family Community
Service
What to do?
• If you are with your family, think of any
family/household chores that will involve
the entire member of the family.
• If you are in a dormitory or in a boarding
house, think of a dorm/ boarding-house
chore that will involve your dorm/board
mates.
• Do the chore/s and submit a
documentation of the activity.
Documentation
1. Introduction
( Must include topics about family
and community service)
2. Photos (below each photo is a brief
discussion of your family activity).
3. Personal reflection of the activity.
(In at least 200 words minimum.)
Format
Font – Arial
Font size – 12
Double space, Justified
A4 bond paper size
Submit the printed copy on or before the
Final Exam.
• The best document that will be
chosen will have a 1.0 grades in the
midterm.