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PROBLEM:Mr. Terupt wants his students to think of others and develop a sense of empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. Mr. Piazza strives for students at NHMS to learn this same lesson, but he needs your help. He is asking you and your team to design a community service project you are passionate about, and he hopes that it will help students develop empathy for others.

GOAL:You and your team have been hired to work on Mr. Piazza’s design team. Your focus will be on developing a community service project that will benefit both the student volunteers and the community members being served. To design your project, you will need to research various community service projects, the pros and cons of providing community service, and the current needs of your community. Then you will need to assess what you’ve learned, identify an area of passion, and design a community service project you proudly stand behind.

PRODUCT: You will design a community service project and showcase it in a presentation

(brochure/pamphlet, PowerPoint, Prezi, Minecraft with characters completing the project you’ve designed, a Lego world showcasing the project, a skit demonstrating the project and its benefits, or any other presentation format you can think of that shows your project and uses your talents)

To accompany your presentation, you will write a short 2-3 page typed speech to Mr. Piazza in which you explain why your community service project is best for students and community members

MATERIALSBecause of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea“8 Super Community-Service Starters for Kids” Scholastic article“A Chain Reaction of Community Service” Scholastic article “The Pros and Cons of Engaging Young Volunteers” article“Service Projects for Kids” list of community service projects“A Helping Hand” poem by Ray HansellYour own research:

Talk to your friends, parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles about community service projects they’ve taken part in

Research lots of community service projects that students complete Watch videos about community service and service projects for kids Community service is a graduation requirement at NHHS; consider interviewing a high

school student or Dr. Dallai and gain their opinion on community service

Project Be Bigger than Yourself

8 Super Community-Service Starters for KidsSpark inspiration, imagination, generosity, and passion in your child with these ideas for community service, kid-style.

 

LEARNING BENEFITS:Responsibility—involves being accountable for a particular thing or personCompassion—a feeling of deep sympathy for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering

If your child wants to make a difference, but isn't sure where to begin, try these suggestions for service with a smile.

1. Use those muscles. Does she enjoy sports or simply have tons of energy to burn? She can harness it and raise money for a good cause at the same time. Most communities have annual events — everything from bike rides to dance-a-thons to 5K walks — to raise both funds and awareness.

2. BINGO! Encourage your child to share his charm at a nursing home or retirement community. Youthful visitors are almost always welcome. Check out common-area schedules, when residents come together to play a group game of bingo or cards; he can join in the fun. If your child is a performer, talk with the community's activities director about scheduling a magic show, concert, or play.

3. Clean up a park. If the environment is where it's at for your child, have her put her passion to good use. Check with your parks and rec department or community garden to find out what volunteer help they need, whether it's picking up litter, pulling weeds, or planting bulbs.

4. Take part in a food drive.  Many organizations collect canned goods for the hungry. Your child can help organize the event or spread the word to friends.

5. Clean a closet. Make cleaning a feel-good event. Pick a Saturday afternoon to go through your child's clothes and set aside a stack that can go to the needy.

6. Mentor another kid. Depending on where your child excels, he can be a role model. Perhaps he can utilize his math prowess by regularly tutoring someone who struggles with numbers. Or if he's a whiz on the basketball court, he can coach a younger athlete. Being a mentor helps your child learn leadership and responsibility, but also makes a positive impact on another kid's life.

7. Brighten someone's day. There are plenty of projects for your do-gooder at your local children's hospital. Check the age limit for volunteering, but even if your child is too young for traditional candy striper duties, she can coordinate another project. She might organize a toy drive for kids spending the holidays sick and away from home, for example, or help decorate common areas in the hospital. Or how about gathering a group of friends for a "get well soon" card-making campaign?

8. Use the mighty pen. If your child feels strongly about an issue, encourage him to draft a letter to a local representative or newspaper, or collect signatures on a petition. Sometimes, the power of words is enough to get the ball rolling!

Source: http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/extracurricular-activities/8-super-community-service-starters-kids

Focus Questions: How might these ideas benefit your project design?

A Chain Reaction of Community ServiceMassachusetts teen raises $12,000 for cancer research

By Kevin Agostinelli |

Matthew Cappucci speaking at a press conference, and with New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft. (Photos courtesy Matthew Cappucci)

If you earned $12,000 while manning a lemonade stand for the summer, what would you do with the money? Massachusetts teen Matthew Cappucci used his earnings to help find a cure for cancer.

Since 2006, Matthew has volunteered for the nationwide organization Alex's Lemonade Stand for Childhood Cancer, which was founded by a young girl with cancer. When I spoke to him about his volunteer work, he shared a story that helped explain why he became so devoted to this cause.

"After I went door to door fundraising for the lemonade stand, I decided to stop into a local pizza shop to see if they could donate a raffle prize," Matthew explained. "I met the manager, but as soon as I mentioned the word 'cancer,' she began crying. She explained how her 2-year-old grandson had just been diagnosed with cancer."

During Matthew's service for Alex's Lemonade Stand, he has kept in touch with the people

who have impacted him.

"It was really nice for me to stay in contact with the pizza-shop woman," Matthew said. "Within a few years, thanks to the generosity of others, [her grandson] had received the treatment that he needed and is now cancer free. It's these kinds of moments that make me proud to be a part of the cure for cancer."

Matthew's impressive resume of community service also includes teaching religious education to first-graders, serving as a lector, and helping to run the Vacation Bible School Program at his local church, St. Bonaventure.

In the future, he wants to inspire others to volunteer. He has started working toward this goal by promoting donations to the American Cancer Society.

"Last year, I helped kick off the [American Cancer Society] event and delivered a 'pep talk' to encourage more people to support the organization," Matthew said. "I hope to continue many of these events in the future."

Matthew is now a freshman at Sturgis Charter Public School on Cape Cod. On December 14, 2010, he was honored by Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick in Faneuil Hall for his efforts to benefit his community. During the event, Matthew delivered a speech on community service. He was able to meet Lt. Governor Tim Murray, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and several Patriots players, in addition to Governor Patrick.

On January 8, 2011, Governor Patrick selected Matthew to be one of the two "statewide ambassadors" for the inaugural meeting of Project 351. Project 351 is a program of 351 eighth graders from communities in Massachusetts.

"[Governor Patrick] wanted the members he selected across the state to bring back what they learned to their communities and start a 'chain reaction'," Matthew said.

Since the Project 351 assembly, Matthew has continued to reach out to his own community of Plymouth to carry out Governor Patrick's message. And he continues to volunteer with Alex's Lemonade Stand to keep educating people about the fight to cure cancer.

"I have started a chain reaction across the community by educating people about cancer," Matthew explained, "Through this education, I hope that in the future, people will become more apt to fight cancer."

Matthew plans to incorporate his passion for volunteerism and service into his future life.

"After a few years of doing these kinds of community service projects, I have realized that whatever I do in the future, I want to help people," he said. "It really gives back to you, and community service is such a nice way to give back to the community."

Source: NEWS FOR KIDS, BY KIDS - http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3756773

Focus Questions: How can Matthew inspire you with your community service project?

The Pros and Cons of Engaging Young VolunteersShari Tishman | May 13, 2014 | Youth/Family Volunteering |Focus Questions: How can community service benefit young people? Should community service be voluntary or forced as most school districts do? Will your project be voluntary or forced? What if students do not volunteer?

Does your nonprofit organization work with high school-age volunteers? What about even younger kids? For some groups, younger volunteers are a great fit, while for others they might create too much additional work and complication.

We thought we’d kick off this debate by listing some of the pros and cons of engaging young volunteers in nonprofit work. Take a look, let us know what you think, and join the debate here, on LinkedIn or on Facebook!

Pros of Engaging Young Volunteers

Cons of Engaging Young Volunteers

They are really passionate about the causes they care about.

With school and extra-curricular activities, their availability may be limited.

They are very socially oriented – so they’ll bring their friends!

There is a risk their social natures might distract them from the work at hand as they spend time with their friends.

Their youthful energy can be contagious, infusing existing supporters with new

Since they can’t drive, they probably have a curfew and they might need a chaperone, they

“oomph.” won’t have as flexible a schedule or as much freedom to move around as an adult volunteer.

The young ones who need chaperones will bring their parents along, increasing your community of adult supporters, as well.

Their lives are changing very quickly, and it might be tough for them to commit long term to helping out.

If you get the connected in a meaningful way now, you can engage them for the long haul and turn them into super-volunteers, champions and donors as they get older.

(Photo from Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco.)

Source: “Engaging Volunteers” http://blogs.volunteermatch.org/engagingvolunteers/2014/05/13/the-pros-and-cons-of-engaging-young-volunteers/

SERVICE PROJECTS FOR KIDSFebruary 20, 2013 by kidworldcitizen

Focus Questions: Which community service projects interest you the most? How can you take one of these ideas and make it your own for our community?

1. Make Valentine’s for Senior Citizens.

2. Collect sleep-away camp items for Camp Dreamcatcher, a program for children whose lives have been affected by HIV/AIDS.

3. Donate kids’ craft kits to a local children’s hospital.

4. Organize a board game night at your local nursing home. Gather your friends and favorite classic games, and plan a fun afternoon.

5. Decorate placemats for Meals on Wheels.

6. Wrap gifts during the holidays for Barnes and Noble to raise money for a specific cause.

7. Make a no-sew fleece blanket for a child in need through Project Linus.

8. Organize a food drive in your neighborhood, church, or school.

9. Have a garage sale or lemonade stand for your favorite cause.

10. Plan an afternoon of fun: crafts, a movie and popcorn afternoon, or a kickball tournament at a children’s home or refugee center. Plan a day of fun!

11. When school supplies are very cheap at the beginning of the year, pack up a backpack and supplies for a local child in need (the YMCA frequently collects these, in addition to other organizations).

12. Bring gently used board games and decks of cards to a local homeless shelter.

13. Put on gloves and pick up litter at your local park.

14. Write a letter to your elected official about a cause you believe in.

15. Collect DVD’s and videogames you no longer use/watch and donate them to a Children’s Hospital for patients, or to KidFlicks, an organization that set up movie

libraries in the children’s wards of hospitals.

16. Volunteer at an animal shelter- play with the dogs and cats, help to brush them, and clean up after them.

17. Read stories to or share your talent with younger children. Be a positive role model that kids can look up to!

18. Work with your local high school or college to place empty boxes on campus at the end of school. Collect textbooks for students who need them in Tanzania, Sierra Leone, and other African nations (and keep them out of landfills!).

19. Stuff warm socks with snacks and fruit to pass out to people who are homeless.

20. Secretly rake leaves or shovel snow for a neighbor in need.

21. Make sure your school is recycling- talk to your city hall to get recycling bins for all of the classrooms and make posters to explain what materials can be recycled.

22. Hold a “dog wash” to raise money for a local animal shelter.

23. Volunteer to read letters or the newspaper to residents in nursing homes.

24. Collect used sporting equipment and donate to communities that do not have access (such as Level the Playing Field to help kids in the US or  IAYS that works with the Peace Corps to deliver worldwide).

25. Donate used baby and toddler toys to a nearby church, synagogue, mosque, or temple for their youngest members. Most places of worship have a place for little ones to be entertained during services.

26. Buy a kit from KidKnits– yarn made by widows in Rwanda or Chile, that comes with instructions to knit a hat plus cultural information. A simple craft to change the world!

27. Do you have a cool talent or hobby? Ask your local Girl Scout or Boy Scout group if they would like you to come in to be a guest speaker. You can share your collection, hobby, or talent with them, and allow them to ask questions and learn more about it.

28. Go through the books you’ve grown out of and donate them to the waiting room of a local dentist or doctor.

29. Grow extra fruit and vegetables in your garden to donate to a food bank.

30. Hold a spa day at a nearby nursing home for residents: paint their nails and do their hair and make-up.

31. Donate your gently used stuffed animals to a local firehouse or police station to give to children in emergencies.

32. Find out when the next sporting event is for your local Special Olympics teams, and go there as cheerleaders for the participants with signs, balloons, and noisemakers.

33. Work with your friends to make a “New Student” guide to your town that includes your favorite parks, a map of the neighborhood, and fun things to do.

34. Plant a garden or tree that your school or neighborhood can enjoy.

35. Promote bike-riding and carpooling at your school to reduce traffic and air pollution.

36. Host a shoe-cutting party for Sole Hope! With your old jeans, help make shoes for kids in Uganda, so they are not affected by painful jiggers!

Source: http://kidworldcitizen.org/2013/02/20/35-service-projects-for-kids/

“A Helping Hand” by Ray Hansell

Make a differenceEach day you liveOpen your heartLearn to give

Life for manyIs so unkindGiving peopleAre hard to find

So open your heartGive what you canWe’re all responsibleFor our fellow man

It’s so easy to lookThe other wayBut the tables could turnOn any given day

So help if you canFor one day you may beThe one who’s down and outThe one no one will see

Focus Questions: What does this poem teach about volunteering to help others? What lines are most important in showing this?