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Ideas for volunteer projects
Volunteer projects based on neighboring can be
a fun and effective way to get community members motivated to work
together and address local needs. Empowering residents through neighboring
projects benefits both your organization and the families you serve.
National organizations can multiply their effectiveness
by developing
national neighboring initiatives to mobilize entire
communities through their enhanced communications structure and affiliate
support network.
There is no limit to the ways that organizations
of any size can come up with to improve the lives of children and
families in tough communities. Work with the community and resident
volunteers to choose a project that meets local needs. National organizations
can distribute a list to help affiliates get started.
Use the following sample list to help communities
generate their own project ideas. Share new ideas at ePractices.
| Environment and Community |
- Work with the police, neighborhood associations, and other
groups to organize a citizen safety watch.
- Train community members to implement a program to install
donated smoke detectors in apartments, homes, in the community.
- Organize neighborhood crossing-guards to help school children
as they navigate busy streets.
- Get families involved in working together to build a playground
in the neighborhood or to improve an existing play area by
painting over graffiti on buildings. Introduce potential job
skills such as landscaping into a community garden project
to enhance volunteers' employment opportunities.
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| Literacy and Reading |
- Hold a used-book drive to create a community library of books
that local residents may not have access to.
- Train local residents to run a free introductory class on
computer and internet use at the local library.
- Keep parent volunteers and kids reading all summer long
by creating a program that offers incentives donated by local
businesses for completing each book.
- Organize a tutoring program to help students of all ages
improve their reading skills.
- Coordinate a homework club for neighborhood children that
can be used as a traded benefit when their parents volunteer.
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| Building Connections |
- Organize a neighborhood or community holiday, block, or seasonal
party and ask residents to contribute homemade meals or decorating
skills.
- Coordinate a neighborhood childcare collective through which
residents can contribute time and earn reciprocal hours of
service.
- Coordinate a youth career fair in partnership with adult
residents and local employers.
- Find elder residents to read books aloud to children at
the local library or child care center, and encourage them
to tell stories of their own lives to the younger generation.
- Establish a mentoring program to teach teen mothers parenting
skills, and find ways to encourage them to complete their education.
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| Drives and Fund raisers |
- Partner with residents and local businesses to raise money
for a community cause through a raffle or community auction.
- Hold a food drive to start a neighborhood emergency food
pantry.
- Conduct a neighborhood holiday family toy exchange.
- Hold a neighborhood basketball or other sports competition
to raise money for improving a local sports facility.
- Get families and businesses involved in raising funds through
a bake sale and neighborhood cookouts to start a local scholarship
fund for post secondary education or summer camp.
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Learn how to find volunteers and get
them motivated!
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