Community Service Resource Manual

“Paws for a Cause”

2019 - 2020

-- Ben Franklin

You tell me and I forget. You teach me and I remember. You involve me and I learn.”

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TABLE of CONTENTS Community Service Program ............................................................................................................. 3 What and Why is Community Service ............................................................................................... 4 What is NOT Accepted........................................................................................................................ 5 Requirements ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Steps for Completing the Community Service Requirement .......................................................... 7 Reflection Project ............................................................................................................................... 8 How Do you Serve

Fairmont Group Service Projects ............................................................................................. 9 Individual Service .................................................................................................................... 10 Get involved! Fairmont Service Clubs ................................................................................... 12 Summer Service Opportunities .............................................................................................. 13 Fairmont Preparatory Academy Placement Areas ............................................................... 14 Ways to Help ............................................................................................................................ 16

Listings of possible Volunteer Organizations & Agencies

Children/Youth ......................................................................................................................... 18 Environment ............................................................................................................................. 19 Health/Medical ......................................................................................................................... 20 Hunger/Homelessness ........................................................................................................... 21 Libraries ................................................................................................................................... 22 Miscellaneous .......................................................................................................................... 24 Non-profit Agencies/Organizations ....................................................................................... 25 Senior Services ........................................................................................................................ 27

Do’s and Don’ts of Successful Volunteering .................................................................................. 28 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) ............................................................................................. 29 Community Service Quiz .................................................................................................................. 32 High School Community Service Form ........................................................................................... 33

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Community Service Program Overview

Purpose The purpose of this program is to help our students to become “exemplary citizens of a global society”. A strong service program will not only help us to create students of character – it will also help our students in the following ways:

Work Experience – Volunteer work is an excellent way for a young person to explore fields of interest, learn important workplace skills, and gain experience that will benefit them in college and beyond.

College Acceptance – Many colleges look at community service as one of their determining factors for acceptance. In fact, the UC system suggests that students complete community service during high school.

Promote School Community – Group service projects are great opportunities for students from different social groups to get to know one another outside of the classroom.

Program Components

1. Director of Community Service Mrs. Kunkle is the Director of Community Service. Her duties include:

To promote the community service program to students, faculty, and parents. To provide service opportunities to students. To collect, review, and track student service hours. To promote the service program to the non-profit community.

2. Service Requirement Each Direct Entry student to the Preparatory Academy is required to complete 20 hours of community service for each year of enrollment. Each International Foundation Year and Foundation Program student is to complete 10 hours for each year of enrollment in the International Foundation Center.

The culmination of each student's service years will be in the creation of a reflective project detailing the services rendered and the subsequent lessons learned from these experiences. See page 8 for details.

3. Student Outcomes: Students will be provided the opportunity to:

Bridge varied ethnic, socio-economic, and generational backgrounds Gain self-reliance, self-respect, and confidence while developing a positive self-esteem Learn values and more fundamentals to American democracy Experience connections between academic and real life situations Develop life skills that apply to personal life, professional life, and possible future careers Analyze their experiences via reflective writing and work collaboratively with members of the community.

3. Individual Service Opportunities In this manual, you will find many different organizations with contact information for which you can perform community service hours. In addition, we publish at least one service opportunity for students in the weekly e-newsletter. If you would like more personalized assistance, we are more than happy to work individually with families to find appropriate service opportunities for students based on their interests and abilities. Students are not limited to the hours published in this book – they may serve at any non-profit organization.

4. Group Service Opportunities Each month we offer an opportunity for Fairmont students to come together and serve their community as a group. Group service opportunities vary from month to month, and include:

Beach clean-ups Preparing or serving meals to less fortunate Cheering at walks and runs

Tutoring younger children Packing and sorting donations And much, much more

5. Service Clubs We have many service clubs in existence. Please see Page 9 for further information or visit Mrs. Kunkle in room 28.

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What is Community Service?

The Fairmont Preparatory Academy (FPA) Community Service Program helps guide students to develop, plan, carry

out, and evaluate projects that improve the quality of life in their communities. Community Service helps young people

build skills for family, career, and community roles and encourages young people to develop the positive character traits

of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.

Examples of community service projects include (but are not limited to):

Cleaning a park through Adopt-a-Park

Participating in on-campus drives by donating much needed items including clothes,

hygiene products (toothpaste, tooth brush, soap, etc…), food, blankets, etc.

Getting involved with Action Partnership or Boys & Girls Club

Reading to the elderly in nursing homes

Volunteering at hospitals (must be 16+ years of age)

Helping out at a local public library

Tutoring developmentally disabled children for free.

Community service that engages youth is often called youth service. It is a methodology that is

simultaneously employed to strengthen young peoples' senses of civic engagement and nationalism, as well as assist

them in meeting educational, developmental, and social goals. Young people throughout the country are receiving

outstanding community service awards from the United States for their accomplishments. For more information on

awards visit the Presidential Service Award website.

Why is Community Service important for my student?

In cases of community service among youth, it is often a requirement for a student to advance to the next grade level or

graduate from high school to perform a certain number of hours of service. This is the case for Fairmont’s Preparatory

Academy.

Community Service is used by college-bound high school seniors as a way of attracting colleges to accept them. There

is no general amount of hours colleges are looking for when it comes to community service. However, they do look for

them. Some colleges also require their own students to volunteer a specific number of hours to graduate and get a

degree.

Not only is community service beneficial for the community, but it benefits the student as well. Service learning is the

deliberate connection of community service to stated learning goals. A common misconception among educators, youth

workers, and young people is the notion that service learning can be assigned. Several experts attest to the necessity of

engaging youth in deliberating, planning, implementing, and reflecting on their community service, thereby sustaining

high quality service learning. This is intended to make community service an effective learning tool.

To help other people

To feel good about oneself

To keep active in my spare time

To gain work experience

To do something fun with friends

To enhance my college applications and resume

To have variety in my life

To meet interesting people

To make a difference in my community and the

world

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What is not Accepted for Community Service Hours:

Examples of community service hours that will not be accepted include (but are not limited to):

Babysitting family members or friends

Teach/babysitting at church

Tutoring (some forms of tutoring are accepted; see Mrs. Kunkle for pre-approval)

Fairmont service – working/volunteer at any Fairmont campus

Helping a teacher or organization on campus set up an event/activity

Serving as a teacher’s assistant (TA) at school or church

Online class from any non-profit (501c3)

Missing school to complete hours (example: working at a polling place, working school blood drives,

etc…)

Any activity in which the student receives payment

See the FAQ section at the back of this manual for detailed information or contact Mrs. Kunkle at

akunkle@fairmontschools.com or visit her in room 28

What is Accepted for Community Service Hours:

Examples of community service hours that will be accepted include (but are not limited to):

Pre-approved hours by the Community Service Coordinator (hours may be pre-approved by email or

in person).

Fairmont Prep Academy service clubs (with approval from the Director of Community Service)

Pages 18 – 27 of this manual

www.volunteermatch.org (please print opportunity from site as proof)

www.oneoc.org (please print opportunity from site as proof)

www.anaheimvolunteer.com (please print opportunity from site as proof)

It is recommended that service projects/hours be pre-approved by the Director of Community Service before

the service begins. Simply pick up a high school community service form, describe in detail on the form what

the project is, and then get the pre-approval signature. Students who do not get pre-approval for service

projects/hours take the risk of their hours not begin accepted.

The main purpose of Fairmont’s community service requirement is to help our students to become exemplary

citizens of a global society.

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The Requirement

The Community Service graduation requirement consists of the following:

1) 20 hours of service per year of attendance at Fairmont Preparatory Academy. This comes to a total of 80 hours for high school. If a student transfers to the Prep, they are responsible only for the hours corresponding to their grades of attendance. Likewise, current Prep students (19-20) are responsible for completing the following hours for graduation/promotion These hours can be completed in a number of ways. Students have the option of completing all required hours in one summer, spreading it out over their years at Fairmont (20 hours per year), or any combination they choose. The hours can be earned through participation in Fairmont-sponsored group service projects or by doing individual service projects. One-half of the requirement must be completed within the United States. This resource manual is full of resources for pursuing individual service opportunities.

2) Students must submit a reflection project upon completion of their hours. 12th grade students must submit their completed Community Service hours prior to Spring Break, Tuesday, April 7, 2020, for documentation. The reflection project must be submitted to the Director of Community Service by Tuesday, April 21, 2020. This component provides a means for the students to look back at their experiences and contemplate thoughts and feelings as it relates to helping others. See the reflection project guidelines on page 8 of this resource manual. Implemented June 20, 2016 – For 12th grade students only: All but 20 hours of the community service requirement must be completed by Tuesday, January 14, 2020. This was created so seniors don’t struggling second semester to fulfill this portion of the graduation requirement. The remaining 20 hours are due by Tuesday, April 7, 2020 and the reflection project is due after Spring Break on Tuesday, April 21, 2020.

Current Grade level # of required hours

Senior 80 hours

Junior 60 hours

Sophomore 40 hours

Freshman 20 hours

International Foundation Year & Foundation Program 10 hours

“If you want happiness for an hour – take a nap.

If you want happiness for a day – go fishing.

If you want happiness for a month – get married.

If you want happiness for a year – inherit a fortune.

If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else.”

-Chinese Proverb

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Steps for Completing the Community Service Requirement The following procedures are to be followed by the student in order to successfully fulfill the community service requirement:

1). Community Service Resource Manual: All information outlining the Community Service program and requirements are

available on the Fairmont website at www.fairmontprepacademy.com, listed under the Campus Life tab. Via the resource

manual students may look up information on how to locate acceptable agencies from which students may choose and all

documentation procedures. This information is shared with parents/guardians/homestays and printed copies are available on

request.

2). Selecting an Agency/Organization: Community service is work performed with a non-profit organization for which you

receive no pay. Organizations should be selected from materials printed by the school or via the Community Service bulletin

board located outside room 29, the school website – www.fairmontprepacademy.com under the Campus Life tab, or by

email/visit Mrs. Kunkle, Director of Community Service – akunkle@fairmontschools.com. Community service performed for

family members, for-profit businesses, or private individuals will not count toward the community service requirement. When

a student is unsure of a community service opportunity, he/she should check with the Director of Community Service prior to

the beginning of the project.

3). Contacting the Agency/Organization: Students are responsible for contacting the agency to determine days and times to

perform the service. See the “Individual Service” section on page 10 or visit Mrs. Kunkle for further assistance.

4). Community Service Verification Form: Students are responsible to complete the top half of the form Community Service

Verification form. At the end of the service activity, the bottom half of the form is to be filled out and signed by the

individual/volunteer manager who supervised the student. Students choosing to serve their hours for the same organization

over a long period of time should use only one form. Community Service forms need to be turned in within a month of

completing the service. The white copy is for the Director of Community Service and once verified and accepted the yellow

copy will be given to the student for his/her records.

5). Miscellaneous:

Students may use as many forms as necessary to complete the required hours of community service.

The service may be performed anytime during the year, outside the regular school hours, including summer, winter,

and spring vacations.

One-half of the requirement must be completed within the United States.

Any student who has a personal problem relative to this requirement should contact the Director of Community

Service.

Requests for an itemized list of completed hours may be made with the Director of Community Service via email at

akunkle@fairmontschools.com or students may view their community service projects and total number of hours in

the “Official Notes” section of Blackbaud.

6). Awards: Student that go above and beyond the minimum 80 hour requirement are eligible for awards. For eligibility

requirements please contact the Director of Community Service - akunkle@fairmontschools.com.

Presidential Service Award: Domestic students completing 100+ hours or more within one year are eligible for this award.

Congressional Award: Domestic students looking for an opportunity to earn a challenging certificate and medal.

End of Year Award: One senior who has completed 150+ hours within their high school years at the Prep.

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Community Service Reflection Project Overview of Reflection Options

In order to help students capitalize on their work and assist them in analyzing and synthesizing their service experience, students are required to complete a Reflection Project. This project can take one of two forms: (1) a written Reflection Paper, or (2) a Portfolio Project.

1. 500-750 word essay in MLA format

2. 3-5 minute video documentary

3. 15-25 slide PowerPoint Presentation

4. 15-25 page Scrapbook

5. Other (anything other than above must be pre-approved by CS Coordinator)

Choose and complete either the Reflection Paper or Portfolio as described below:

This project allows you an opportunity to reflect on your community service work. You are encouraged to write about your personal reaction to your overall experience, but should concentrate on the service experience. When completing your project, you should address the following questions:

How did the experience(s) affect you?

Did you learn anything about yourself?

Did you learn something about others in your community?

Did you learn something about an issue or agency that is particularly interesting or new to you?

Was your experience everything you expected? If not, why?

What were the negative and positive aspects of your volunteer experience?

What types of benefits (academic, personal, professional) did you gain?

Do you feel you had an affect on a person, group of people, or problem in our community? How and why?

Is there anything you would change about your service work experience?

What impact will this experience have on your future, including career choices?

**Where appropriate, students are also encouraged to note references. You may cite any of the following that are

relevant to your service work and your project: Agency brochures or material; newspapers or magazines articles; other published material such as videos. You may also use quotes from agency supervisors or people you served through your volunteer work. Please indicate references with appropriate citations.

If you have any questions please discuss them with the community service coordinator in advance.

Start by doing what's necessary, then do what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

- Saint Francis of Assisi

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How do I serve??? What do I do? Where do I go?

Group Service Projects

1) Every month Fairmont offers at least one group service project. These projects include sorting and packing food, sorting clothing and toys, cheering walkers/runners at non-profit 5k runs, beautifying local parks and beaches, caring for the sick and elderly, and serving food to the homeless at local shelters. Hours for participation in these projects are automatically added to the student’s file as long as the student turns in a permission slip and shows up to the project. Monthly group service project information is provided in the weekly e-newsletter, the Fairmont Prep Community Service Facebook page, is emailed to students via their Fairmont email account, and is also promoted on campus with flyers and morning announcements

To participate in the group service projects, students need to:

Read the weekly e-newsletter, listen to the morning announcements, and/or visit Mrs. Kunkle’s office to find out what project(s) are being offered each month.

At the beginning of each semester, students are given the semesters list of projects in their homeroom class.

Choose a service project of interest.

Pick up the permission slip for the corresponding project (sometimes there are more than one a month) from the Director of Community Service office, room 28.

After the permission slip has been signed by the parent/guardian/host, return it to the Director of Community Service by the deadline. (Note: Without a signed permission slip, students will NOT be able to attend the service project.)

An confirmation email will be sent to those students who have turned in a permission slip the Thursday before the service project.

Show-up the day and time of the service project, serve the community, and HAVE FUN!!!!! (Note: Students must arrive on time and stay for the entire project to receive full credit).

Parents/guardians/hosta must drop off and pick up their student on time.

Students may not leave with another student unless the parents/guardians/host have provided a written note.

If students have turned in a permission slip and attended the project, hours will automatically be input and added to your file.

“I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

- Stephen Grellet

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Individual Service To volunteer individually, students need to:

Use this resource manual, talk with the Director Community Service, or perform individual research in order to find a project.

o Assess your interests and time by asking the following questions: What are some things I enjoy doing? What would I like to learn to do better? What is an activity I have never done but I have always wanted to do? Where do I like to be: Indoors? Outdoors? Close to home? Far away? Do I prefer to be: With people? On my own? What kind of people do I like to be with: Old? Youth? Like me? Different from me? Am I more comfortable with: Groups? Individuals? How will I get to a volunteer opportunity: Car? Bike? Bus? Get a ride? When am I available to volunteer: After school? Evenings? Weekends? Do I want an on-going or a one-time volunteer opportunity? What do I want to gain from volunteering? What are three problems, in my community or elsewhere, that need solutions?

Research the different types of issues and agencies/organizations in your community: o Look at the Community Service bulletin located across from room 29, the school website –

www.fairmontprepacademy.com under Campus Life - Community Service, Facebook (Fairmont Prep Community Service), or visit the Director of Community Service in room 28 for the following service areas:

Children/Youth Disabled Environmental Health/Medical Hunger/Homelessness Seniors Miscellaneous/Special Interest

Contact the agency of interest and find out about current service opportunities and requirements for volunteering (i.e. Saturdays only; must be 16 to volunteer; parent permission required, minimum 12-month commitment, etc.).

o Ask for the volunteer coordinator/manager. Express your interest in volunteering and ask for more information regarding the opportunity. Some agencies/organization will have an application to be completed.

o It is helpful to schedule an appointment and visit the agency/organization to get a feel for the place and the people. It is important that you arrive on time for the appointment. If you are unable to keep the appointment or are running late make sure to contact the agency/organization and let them know.

When visiting the agency/organization make sure to ask the following questions:

What does your agency do?

What kind of services do you provide and how do you provide them?

What sort of things do you want volunteers to do?

What kinds of task will I be doing?

Are there job descriptions for the opportunity?

What type of initial and ongoing training is provided?

When (days, hours) do you need volunteers?

Do you require volunteers to commit for a certain length of time (once, 3 months, 1 year, etc…)

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Make your decision. If you are unsure about volunteering there, tell them you would like to think about it and get back to them. Be sure to let them know either way (yes or no) as soon as you have made your decision.

o If you know that you do not want to volunteer with the agency/organization, it is alright to be honest and say so. Example: (“Thank you very much for talking with me, but this is not quite the kind of volunteer opportunity I had in mind.”)

o It is important to give yourself time to explore a variety of opportunities with different agencies/organizations. While one particular opportunity may not be ideal for you, dozens of others may better meet your needs and expectations.

If unsure about whether the service project will be approved for service hours, it is highly recommended that students get approval before volunteering. By getting a pre-approval signature on the community service verification form, the hours for the service project are guaranteed. For approval please see the Director of Community Service or send an email to akunkle@fairmontschools.com. Make sure you have completed the top half of the verification form and know what tasks you will be completing.

Students/parents/guardians should take the community service verification form with them to the service placement. The contact person or supervisor for that day must completely fill out the rest of the community service form. Except for the “Community Service FPA Administrative Use”. This is for the Director of Community Service’s use.

Once the hours are completed, the community service verification form must be turned in for logging and tracking purposes. You are welcome to turn in the form to the front desk; however, it is recommended to physically place the form in the Director of Community Service’s possession.

Once the project is completed and the hours are turned in, they will be logged and kept in your file. You may view logged hours in MyBackPack, by clicking on the students photo.

Students/parents are free to verify the logging of the hours by either emailing the Director Community Service at akunkle@fairmontschools.com or looking at the students “Official Notes” section of Blackbaud to see specific hours.

“I am only one, but still I am one; I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something I can do.”

- Edward Hale Keller)

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Get involved! Fairmont Service Clubs

Getting involved in a service club on campus is an excellent way to gain community service hours while making new friends and developing valuable leadership skills. Joining a club is easy and there are several ways to do it. You can:

Go to the Club Rush at the beginning of each semester. You can learn more about service clubs, ask questions, and sign up for clubs of interest to you.

Email Mrs. Joslyn Awa, Director of Student Services, at Jawa@fairmontschools.com for a list of clubs. Most listings include contact information for the advisor and president as well as regular meeting times.

Stop by Mrs. Awa’s office anytime and ask about clubs. She can put you in touch with the president or take your contact information and have him/her contact you.

Create your own service club! See Mrs. Awa to get started making your idea a reality at the Prep in the coming semester.

Some service clubs are free and some have membership dues. Some meet weekly and others only for special events. A few (such as the National Honors Society) are by invitation only. Contact Mrs. Awa anytime if you want to learn more about service or any other clubs or if you want to start one of your own.

High School Service Clubs:

Here are a few service clubs: Food Served Here – Purpose: To feed the homeless youth of Anaheim and to help make their lives better. Key Club - Purpose: A means of providing community service opportunities in order to build character and develop leadership, we hereby establish the Fairmont Preparatory Academy Key Club. Red Cross Club - Purpose: The Red Cross Club aims to make the world a better place. The objective is to raise awareness of human health as well as raise money to help the needy who need physical aid. UNICEF –

Purpose: To work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. We believe that we can, together, advance the cause of humanity. .

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Summer Service Opportunities:

The summer is a GREAT time to earn service hours and engage more deeply in a field of interest.

Domestic Volunteer Programs:

Civic Leadership Institute Website: http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/cep/ Phone: 847-467-2572

The Civic Leadership Institute offers service-learning courses for high-achieving students entering grades 7-12. Courses

are three weeks in length and they combine a rigorous academic program with community service and an opportunity to

explore a new city. Students will be introduced to social and political issues affecting our society today such as urban

poverty, health care and homelessness. Programs are affiliated with the Center for Talented Youth (CTY) in San

Francisco and Baltimore and the Center for Talent Development (CTD) in Chicago. Prices range from $2,500-$3,500.

Student Conservation Association Website: http://www.thesca.org/ Phone: 603-543-1700

SCA conservation crews are open to students age 15-19. As an SCA crew member, you will build hiking trails, protect

threatened habitats, sleep under the stars and connect to the land in ways you never thought possible. The work you do

will endure, making an important difference in our national parks. There’s work to be done in all 50 states—in forests,

on beaches, at fisheries and volcanoes. There is no trip fee, but you are responsible for your own travel expenses and

supplies. Projects are generally a month in length. Applications are due March 15, so visit the web-site and apply as

soon as possible if you are interested!

International Volunteer Programs:

Rustic Pathways

http://www.rusticpathways.com/ Phone: 800-321-4353

Rustic Pathways offers travel programs for high school students, families, groups and college

students. Summer programs are available for students from 12 years of age. Rustic Pathways

also offers scheduled family adventures and customized family trips, as well as organized overseas

programs for school, universities, groups, and clubs of all kinds. The company runs programs year round to Australia,

New Zealand, The Fiji Islands, Tanzania, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Vietnam, China, India, Peru, Costa Rica,

Panama, Nicaragua, Mongolia, Transylvania Mongolia and the United States. Rustic Pathways summer programs are

suitable for most students. Trips cost $2500-$5000.

Putney Student Services

Website: http://www.goputney.com/ Phone 802-387-5000

Putney Student Services offer 4-week programs where participants immerse themselves in programs in developing

countries and disadvantaged communities working to improve schools or hospitals, construct or repair housing, run

enrichment programs for children, and much more. Working alongside people from the host country, students build

friendships and learn new skills. Locations include Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Grenad, Vietnam,

Brazil, Alaska, Hawaii, and India and trips cost $5000-$7000.

Volunteer for Peace

http://www.vfp.org Phone: 802-259-2759

Volunteer for Peace (VFP) is a non-profit organization that places volunteers in “work camps” throughout

the world. In these camps, students will work to restore the environment, teach English or build houses.

The age requirement for most of the programs is 14–18 with a program cost of $500 plus travel expenses

and equipment.

I did not find the world desolate when I entered it. My fathers planted for me before I

arrived, so I plant for those who come after me. - Talmud

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Fairmont Preparatory Academy Service Program Placement Areas

Below are the ten (10) Placement Areas in which students may volunteer to get their service hours at Fairmont Preparatory Academy. Listed under each general placement area are specific agencies acceptable for that type of service. Students volunteering at an organization/agency in any of these areas should feel secure that the hours will be acceptable. Should the student, for any reason, be in doubt, he/she should see the Community Service Coordinator for clarification.

Animal Care Placements

Animal Adoption Agencies

Animal Shelters

Animal Therapy

Civic/Cultural Placements

Campaign Staffing

Community-Based Functions

Non-Profit Theater Performances

Disability Placements

Facilities for the Blind

Facilities for the Deaf

Homes, Centers, and Schools for the Disabled

Special Olympics

Educational Placements

Learning Centers

Libraries

Library Reading Programs

Tutoring Programs

Environmental Placements

Beach Clean-ups with non-profit organization

Community Beautification/Restoration Programs

Graffiti Removal with city program

Recycling Programs

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Fundraising Placements

Jog-a-thons (i.e. OC Marathon)

Walk-a-thons (i.e. CHOC Walk, AIDS Walk)

Medical Placements

Health Centers

Hospitals

Medical Centers

Rehabilitation Centers

Ronald McDonald Houses

Poverty Placements

Clothing/Food Drive Distribution with non-profit organization

Habitat for Humanity

Homeless Shelters

Soup Kitchens

Senior Services

Nursing Homes

Retirement Homes

Senior Centers

Youth Placements

Boys and Girls Clubs

Boy Scouts of America

City/Park Recreation Programs

Coaching Youth Sports Teams

Girl Scouts of America

Orphanages

YMCA Programs

"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can seriously help another without helping himself."

~Charles Dudley Warner

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WAYS to HELP

Getting involved in your community starts with the "little" things. Review this list of 36 ways to help and make efforts

to accomplish a few each week. A little “you” goes a long way.

1. Offer to take an elderly neighbor to a medical

appointment

2. Recycle

3. Start a community garden

4. Become CPR certified

5. Play kickball with neighborhood kids

6. Join a Service Club

7. Adopt a pet

8. Visit sick kids at a hospital

9. Donate good-condition toys, clothing and household

goods

10. Write messages to soldiers overseas

11. Donate goods to support the troops

12. Donate blood

13. Turn everyday moments with a child into teachable

moments

14. Support businesses that care about the community

15. Write thank you notes to those that help the

community and hand deliver them

16. Ask a senior citizen to tell you about their

childhood

17. Visit a nursing home and talk to someone with no

visitors

18. Tape a children’s book and deliver it to a sick child

19. Donate gently used books to a daycare center

20. Agree to be an organ donor on your driver’s license

21. Plant a tree

22. Plant extra rows of vegetables in your garden and

share them with friends

23. Donate new shoes and socks to shelters

24. Donate an instrument to a school music program

25. Organize a fund raising event such as a drink stand,

car wash, or yard sale and donate the proceeds to a

charity.

26. Leave your newspaper behind in a public place for

the next person to read

27. Leave a nice note about your waiter on the back of

the bill

28. Get to school/work a little early and leave a piece of

29. Bake something as a family and take it to a

neighborhood or family in need

30. Wear a ribbon or bracelet to show support of a

cause

31. Educate yourself on issues you care about

32. Play an instrument or sing for hospice patients

33. Donate new or gently used baby supplies

34. Add a banner ad or widget to your personal

webpage to raise awareness or funds for a cause you

believe in

35. Participate in a local walk/run for a cause

36. Promote worthwhile events and festivals by word of

mouth

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Volunteer Agencies & Organizations

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CHILDREN/YOUTH Volunteer organizations below are samples. Other non-profit organizations can be used for service hours.

Anaheim Family YMCA

240 S Euclid St.

Anaheim, CA 92802

(714) 635-9622 ext. 1613

www.anaheimymca.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Interact and work with

children

Anaheim Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO)

714-524-2976

714-477-7444

Volunteer Opportunities: soccer referee

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS)

14131 Yorba St. #200

Tustin, CA 92780

Volunteer Opportunities: Please call for more

information

Boys & Girls Club of Anaheim

311 East Broadway

Anaheim, CA 92805

(714) 491-3617

www.theboysandgirlsclub.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Interact and work with

children in the areas of educational assistance and

public safety.

Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park

7758 Knott Ave.

Buena Park, CA 90620

(714) 522-7259

www.boysgirlsclubbuenapark.org/

Volunteer Opportunities: Recreational

Boys & Girls Club of Garden Grove

10540 Chapman Avenue

Garden Grove, CA 92840

714-530-0430

http://www.bgcgg.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Recreational

Boys & Girls Club of Stanton

11050 Cedar Street

Stanton, California 90680

(714) 891-0740

www.boysandgirlsclubofstanton.com

Volunteer Opportunities: Recreational

GOALS – ABC Community

2176 W. Alameda Ave.

Anaheim, CA 92801

714-956-4625

https://www.goals.org/abc-community#!

Volunteer Opportunities: Tutoring and playing

with children.

Human Options

5540 Trabuco Rd., Ste. 100

Irvine, CA 92620

949-737-5242

Email. info@humanoptions.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Tutoring and playing

with children.

Kidworks

1902 W. Chestnut Ave.

Santa Ana, CA 92703

714-834-9400

Volunteer Opportunities: Tutoring

Think Together

www.thinktogether.org

E-mail: tlinnert@thinktogether.org

Phone Number: (714) 543-3807 ext. 204

Volunteer Opportunities: Work with at-risk

youth through mentoring and tutoring

19

ENVIRONMENT Volunteer organizations below are samples. Other non-profit organizations can be used for service hours.

Adopt-a-Park Program

714-973-6871

www.ocparks.com

email: agneline.santiago@prfd.ocgov.com

Volunteer Opportunities: Cleaning up the lakes,

beaches and parks of California.

Anaheim Parks, Recreation & Community

Services

200 S. Anaheim Blvd., Suite 433

Anaheim, CA 92805

714-765-5191

www.anaheim.net

e-mail: volunteer@anaheim.net

Volunteer Opportunities: Clearing House: Oak

Canyon Nature Center, Kids for Parks program,

Meals on Wheels, tree planting, graffiti removal,

etc.

Coast Keepers

(714) 850-1965

https://www.coastkeeper.org/

Volunteer Opportunities: Clean the beach.

Earth Resource Foundation

949-645-5163

www.earthresource.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Beach clean-ups, water

quality research projects and native plant

restoration.

Environmental Nature Center (ENC)

949-645-8489

www.ENCenter.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Grounds maintenance,

gardening, office duties, craft projects, birthday

parties

Fullerton Arboretum

1900 Associated Road

Fullerton, CA 92831

714-278-7548

http://arboretum.fullerton.edu/

Volunteer Opportunities: Landscaping

Harbors, Beaches, & Parks of OC

1 Irvine Park Road

Orange, CA 92862

714-973-6871

www.ocparks.com/adoptapark

Volunteer Opportunities: Maintenance

Placentia Parks & Recreation

401 E. Chapman Ave.

Placentia, CA 92870

714-993-8184

www.placentia.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Recreational

Shadetree Partnership, Inc.

949-453-5670

www.shadetreepartnership.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Water, weed, stake,

prune, fertilize and replant plants. Take inventory

and perform general nursery functions.

Surfrider Foundation, South OC Chapter

P.O. Box 865

San Clemente, CA 92672

949-206-2523

www.surfrider.org/southorangecounty

e-mail: southoc@surfrider.org

20

HEALTH/MEDICAL Volunteer organizations below are samples. Other non-profit organizations can be used for service hours.

Alzheimer’s Association of Orange County

17771 Cowan, Suite 200

Irvine, CA 92614

949-955-9000

www.alzoc.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Help with committees,

events, information tables/health fairs, art therapy

projects, general office work

American Cancer Society

1940 E Deere Ave # 100

Santa Ana, CA

949-261-9446

www.cancer.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Help promote the different

health fair events throughout the year, such as, Teens

Kick Ash Program and Relay for Life Program.

American Red Cross Blood Services

600 Park Center Drive

Santa Ana, CA

714-835-5381

www.oc-redcross.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Help with registration

during blood drives. Free training, volunteers do not

touch blood!

Anaheim Regional Hospital

1111 W. La Palma Ave.

Anaheim, CA 92801

714-774-1450

ww.anaheimregionalmc.com

Volunteer Opportunities: Clerical

CHOC Hospital

455 S. Main St.

Orange, CA 92868

(714) 558-2462

www.choc.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Child life: playrooms,

waiting rooms, school rooms. There are many others

via the website.

Garden Grove Hospital

12601 Garden Grove Blvd.

Garden Grove, CA 92843

714-537-5160

Volunteer Opportunities: Students should contact the

volunteer manager for further information.

Hoag Hospital

One Hoag Drive, P.O. Box 6100

Newport Beach, CA 92658-6100

949-764-HOAG (4624)

Volunteer Opportunities: Students should contact the

volunteer manager for further information.

St. Joseph Hospital

1100 West Stewart Drive

Orange, CA 92868-3891

(714) 771-8000

www.sjo.org

Email: volunteer@stjoe.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Patient support, errands, gift

shops, and much more

UCI Medical Center

101 The City Drive South

Orange, CA 92868-3298

(714) 534-0547

www.ucihealth.com

Volunteer Opportunities: Clerical

21

HUNGER/HOMELESSNESS Volunteer organizations below are samples. Other non-profit organizations can be used for service hours.

Action Partnership

11870 Monarch Street

Garden Grove, California 92841

714- 897-6670

Volunteer Opportunities: Packing food boxes

that are distributed to the hungry in Orange County

Catholic Worker

316 South Cypress Avenue,

Santa Ana, CA 92701

714-835-6304

Volunteer Opportunities: End of the month can

use more help with feeding the poor, interacting

with children, and various other opportunities.

Mary’s Kitchen

517 West Struck Avenue

Orange, CA 92867-5521

714-633-0444

www.maryskitchen.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Sorting clothes,

preparing meals and serving to the

underprivileged.

Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter

1963 Wallace Avenue

Costa Mesa, CA 92627-3424

(949) 631-7213

www.ocinterfaithshelter.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Feeding the poor;

mentoring/tutoring youth

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County

8014 Marine Way

Irvine, CA 92618

(949) 653-2900

Volunteer Opportunities: Food labeling and

sorting for distribution to needy families.

Serving People in Need (SPIN)

151 Kalmus Drive, H-2

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Phone: (714) 751-1101

Email: info@spinoc.org

Web: http://www.spinoc.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Feeding the poor

Someone Cares Soup Kitchen

720 West 19th Street

Costa Mesa, CA 92627

(949) 548-8861

Volunteer Opportunities: Serve and prepare

meals. Monday – Friday 9a.m – 5p.m., Saturday &

Sunday 8 a.m.-2p.m.

Southwest Community Center

1601 West 2nd Street

Santa Ana, CA 92703-3618

(714) 543-8933

Volunteer Opportunities: Serving the poor.

22

LIBRARIES Volunteer organizations below are samples. Other non-profit organizations can be used for service hours.

Anaheim Central Library

500 W. Broadway

Anaheim, CA 92805

714-165-1880

Volunteer Opportunities: Shelve books in

children’s area, craft projects, participate in puppet

shows,

Brea Branch Library

#1 Civic Center Cir.

Brea, CA 92821-5784

714-671-1722

www.ocpl.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Shelve books in

children’s area, craft projects, participate in puppet

shows, Summer Reading Program, create flyers

and signs for upcoming events.

Chino Branch Library

13180 Central Ave.

Chino, CA 91710-4125

909-465-5280

www.sbcounty.gov/library/

Volunteer Opportunities: shelving to sorting

books, from story time to computer training, from

tutoring in our literacy program to assisting with

children's programming

Costa Mesa Branch Library

1855 Park Avenue

Costa Mesa, CA 92627

949-646-8845

Volunteer Opportunities: Book covering and

Mending, Special Events & Projects, Children’s

Programs, Computer Help

Cypress Branch Library

5331 Orange Avenue

Cypress, CA 90630-2985

714-826-0350

www.ocpl.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Shelving books and

assisting with arts and crafts projects.

Garden Grove Branch Library

11200 Stanford Ave.

Garden Grove, CA 92840

714-530-0711

Volunteer Opportunities: Shelving books and

straightening shelves and tables.

Heritage Park Regional Branch Library

14361 Yale Avenue

Irvine, CA 92604-1901

(949) 936-4040

Volunteer Opportunities: General volunteers will

shelve and clean books and bookshelves. Summer

Reading Program Volunteers will assist in

registration, decorations, nametags and crafts.

Huntington Beach Central Library

7111 Talbert Avenue

Huntington Beach, CA 92648

714-842-4481

www.hbpl.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Assist staff with

shelving books, assisting patrons to find materials

and checking materials in and out. Assist students

with homework.

Irvine – Heritage Park Regional Library

14361 Yale Avenue

Irvine, CA. 92604

949-936-4040

Volunteer Opportunities: Please call for more

information.

23

LIBRARIES Volunteer organizations below are samples. Other non-profit organizations can be used for service hours.

La Habra Branch Library

221 E La Habra Blvd

La Habra, CA 90631

562-694-0078

www.ocpl.org

Volunteer Opportunities: shelve and pull books

and prepare arts and crafts projects.

Summer Reading Program volunteers will assist

with the reading program through June, July and

August.

Newport Beach Public Library

1000 Avocado Avenue

Newport Beach, CA 92660

949-717-3800

www.newportbeachlibrary.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Pease call for more

information.

Orange Public Library

407 East Chapman Avenue

Orange, CA 92866-1509

(714) 288-2400

www.ocpl.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Help prepare for

events, shelve and label books and assist with the

Summer Reading Program.

Placentia Library District

411 East Chapman Avenue

Placentia, CA 92870-6101

714-528-1906

www.placentialibrary.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Computer help, shelve

books, tutor in the bookstore.

Santa Ana Public Library

26 Civic Center Plaza

Santa Ana, CA 92701

714-647-5250

Volunteer Opportunities: Cleaning, shelving, and

straightening library materials. Filing, typing, and

inputting data. Friends of the Library Book Sales.

Processing library materials. Assisting with

children's programs.

Tustin Library

345 E. Main Street

Tustin, CA 92780

(714) 544-7725

Volunteer Opportunities: Computer help, shelve

books, tutor in the bookstore.

24

MISCELLANEOUS Volunteer organizations below are samples. Other non-profit organizations can be used for service hours.

Boy Scout of America/Council 39/OC

1211 East Dyer Road, Santa Ana, CA 92705

Phones: (714) 546-4990, (714) 546-8558

www.ocbsa.org

Volunteer Opportunities: The mission of the Boy

Scouts of America is to prepare young people to

make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes

by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath

and Law.

City of Anaheim Police Department

425 S. Harbor Blvd.

Anaheim, CA 92805

Non-emergency phone: (714) 765-1900

www.anaheim.net

Volunteer Opportunity: Help with explorer

program, do traffic control, events, office work and

newspaper

Discovery Science Center

2500 N. Main Street

Santa Ana, CA 92705

714-913-5037

www.discoverycube.org

e-mail: volunteer@disocoverycube.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Recreation, Office

Work

Extra Hands for ALS

(949) 362-2869

www.extrahands.org

e-mail: val@extrahands.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Child Care,

Landscaping, Household Assistance

Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo

1801 East Chestnut Avenue

Santa Ana, CA 92701

(714) 836-4000

www.santaanazoo.org

Volunteer Opportunity: Help with different

events throughout the year

Girl Scouts of America

949-461-8858

www.girlscouts.org/

Volunteers@GSCOC.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Girl Scouting builds

girls of courage, confidence, and character, who

make the world a better place.

Giving Children Hope

8332 Commonwealth Ave.

Buena Park, CA 90621

714-523-4454

Volunteer Opportunities: Sorting canned food

and medical supplies for distribution to countries

in disaster

J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center

26284 Oso Road

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

949-240-8441

www.sheacenter.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Maintenance

Special Olympics of OC

2080 N. Tustin #B

Santa Ana, CA 92705

714-564-8374

www.sosc.org/orangecounty.html

e-mail: orangecounty@sosc.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Recreational Working Wardrobes Development

3030 Pullman Street

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Phone: (714) 210-2460

Fax: (714) 434-2870

Email: Info@WorkingWardrobes.org Volunteer Opportunities: Office duties, sorting and tagging donations, etc…

25

NON-PROFIT AGENCIES/ORGANIZATIONS

Volunteer organizations below are samples. Other non-profit organizations can be used for service hours.

Aids Services Foundation Orange County

17982 Sky Park Circle, Suite J

Irvine, CA 92614

949-809-5700

www.ocasf.org

e-mail: asf@ocasf.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Office Work, Program

Services

American Heart Association

4600 Campus Drive

Irvine, CA 92612

949-856-3555

www.americanheart.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Office Work, Program

Services

Arthritis Foundation

17155 Newhope Street

Fountain Valley, CA 92708

714-436-1623

www.arthritis.org

e-mail: info.sca.ocb@arthritis.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Office Work

Canning Hunger

407 W. Imperial Hwy., Suite H-313

Brea, CA 92821

714-990-9234

www.canninghunger.org

e-mail: norm@canninghunger.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Human Services

Goodwill Industries

410 N. Fairview Street

Santa Ana, CA 92703

714-547-6301

www.ocgoodwill.org

Volunteer opportunities: Office Work

Habitat for Humanity

www.habitatoc.org

714-434-6200

Volunteer Opportunities: Prepare and serve

lunch at a construction site, work in the ReStore, or

organize a variety of fundraising events.

Help for Brain Injured Children

981 Euclid

La Habra, CA 90631

562-694-5655

http://www.hbic.org/

Volunteer Opportunities: Office Work, Program

Services

HomeAid of Orange County

1744 Sky Park Circle, Suite 170

Irvine, CA 92614

949-553-9510

http://www.homeaidoc.org/

e-mail: info@homeaidoc.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Office Work,

Construction

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

2020 E. 1st Street, Suite 120

Santa Ana, CA 92705

714-881-0610

e-mail: ingramj@lls.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Human Services,

Office Work, Special Events

Make a Wish Foundation of

Orange County / Inland Empire

14232 Red Hill Ave.

Tustin, CA 92780

714-573-9474

www.wishocie.org

e-mail: orangeco@wishocie.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Office Work, Human

Services

26

NON-PROFIT AGENCIES/ORGANIZATIONS

Volunteer organizations below are samples. Other non-profit organizations can be used for service hours.

March of Dimes OC Division

2222 Martin, Suite 155

Irvine, CA 92612

949-263-1100

www.marchofdimes.com

Volunteer Opportunities: Office Work

Multiple Sclerosis Society of OC

3000-C Airway Ave., Suites 100-125

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

800-344-4867 http://www.mspacific.org/ e-mail: msinfo@mspacific.org

Office Work

National Fibromyalgia Association

2200 N. Glassell St., Suite A

Orange, CA 92865

714-921-0150

www.fmaware.org

Office Work

Orange County Burn Association

333 The City Blvd., Suite 810

Orange, CA 92868

714-456-9838

www.ocburn.org

e-mail: office@ocburn.org

Office Work, Special Events

Orangewood Children’s Foundation

1575 E. 17th

Street

Santa Ana, CA 92705

714-619-0200

www.orangewoodfoundation.org

e-mail: swhittenberg@orangewoodfoundation.org

Children’s Services, Special Events, Office

Work

Parent Help USA

330 W. Bay Street, Suite 120

Costa Mesa, CA 92627

949-903-2356

www.parenthelpusa.org

e-mail: moacausa@aol.com

Office Work, Child Care

Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation

9272 Jeronimo Rd., Suite A-107A

Irvine, CA 92618

949-859-6312

www.pcrf-kids.com

e-mail: admin@pcrf-kids.com

Children’s Services, Special Events

Ronald McDonald House of OC

383 S. Batavia St.

Orange, CA 92868

714-639-3600

www.ronaldhouseoc.org

e-mail: info@ronaldhouseoc.org

Human Services, Office Work,

Special Events

Salvation Army Corporation

10200 Pioneer Road

Tustin, CA 92782

714-832-7100

www.salvationarmyoc.org

Recreational

27

SENIOR SERVICES Volunteer organizations below are samples. Other non-profit organizations can be used for service hours.

Acacia Adult Day Service

11391 Acacia Parkway

Garden Grove, CA 92840

714-530-1566

info@acacia-services.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Helping with activities

for elderly or disabled adults.

Alta Garden Care Center

13075 Blackbird Street

Garden Grove, CA 92843

714-530-6322

Volunteer Opportunities: Room visits – singing,

stories, general conversation, instruments a plus

etc…

Bradford Square Retirement Center

1180 N. Bradford Ave.

Placentia, CA 92870

714-996-9292

Elderly Care

Buena Vista Care Center

1440 S Euclid Avenue

Anaheim, CA 92802

714-535-7264

Volunteer Opportunities: Interacting with

residents; reading stories, conversation, activities,

etc…

Council on Aging Orange County

1971 East 4th St # 200

Santa Ana, CA 92705-3917

(714) 479-0107

www.coaoc.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Help promote the

different health fair events throughout the year,

such as, Teens Kick Ash Program and Relay for

Life Program.

Cypress Gardens

285 W. Central Ave,

Brea, CA 92821

(714) 672-0183

Elder Care

Hugs for Health

Hug For Health Foundation

P.O. Box 896

Seal Beach, CA 90740

714-832-4847

http://www.hugs4health.org/

e-mail: hfhinfo@hugs4health.org

Elder Care, Special Events

Sea Cliff Healthcare

18811 Florida Street

Huntington Beach, CA 92648

714-847-3515

mwilliams@ensigngroup.net

Volunteer Opportunities: Play games, exercise

groups, room visits – orientation needed

Sunbridge for Tustin

(714) 541-1444

www.ochealthinfo.com

Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteer at Health

Fairs, community projects and work with

businesses for a no smoking policy.

28

Do’s and Don’ts of Successful Volunteering

Do be flexible. It is rare to find the “perfect” fit right away.

Keep an open mind – you might discover something new that

interests you.

Do be persistent. Volunteer coordinators are often busy, so don’t

assume they are not interested in you if they don’t call or email you

back right away.

Do attend orientation meetings. Keep in mind that informed

volunteers are the best volunteers. These meetings will help you do

the best job possible.

Do take necessary training classes. Ask about them before you

decide to get involved and be prepared to learn what will be needed.

Do be responsible. Show up on time and follow through with your

commitments. People will be depending on you.

Don’t expect to start at the top. You have to work hard and prove

your worth before you are given more responsibility.

Don’t think volunteering has to be a group effort. You can start on

your own volunteer program and do it on your own time.

Do expect to get plenty of personal enjoyment and satisfaction from

your volunteer experiences.

From Catch the Spirit! A Student’s Guide to Community Service published by The Prudential in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education.

29

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

What is the Fairmont Preparatory Academy Community Service Program?

Through the Fairmont Preparatory Academy (FPA) Community Service Program, students are provided with a structured program in which they can better understand the reality of service to others. Potentially, the Community Service Program will allow the student to experience community service in a dynamic way by actively participating in a wide variety of community service opportunities.

Is participation required in FPA’s Community Service Program?

Yes, participation in the Fairmont Preparatory Community Service Program is a graduation requirement.

How many hours are required?

Students must complete a minimum of 20 community service hours a year during their time at Fairmont Preparatory Academy. By spring break of the senior year, students should have accumulated a minimum of 80 hours. Students are encouraged to exceed the 80 hour requirement.

When do the students perform their service? All service hours must be completed after school, on weekends, holidays, or during vacation periods. Students are NOT allowed to be absent from school to perform their service hours or perform community service hours during school hours. The only exception would be for a specific service learning project for a class project.

What if I transfer to FPA? If a student transfers into FPA from another school the community service hours will be pro-rated. For example: If Johnnie transfers in as a 10th grader then he/she will be responsible for 60 hours rather than 80 hours.

Can students get service hours through helping people individually?

Helping a family member, friend or neighbor, who, for example, suffers from a serious illness or needs assistance with schoolwork, is NOT accepted in the FPA Service Program. This is considered a personal issue and NOT a form of community service. Service must be performed with a non-profit organization.

What activities will count for community service hours at church? There are many activities through religious organizations that students can use to earn service-learning hours. These include: preparing and serving meals to homeless; working in shelters; clothing/food/book/toy drives; community improvements/renovations; or participating in community clean-up projects. As specified by the federal guidelines on the separation of church and state, service that is conducted for religious practice cannot be counted for community service/service-learning hours. This includes activities such as Altar services, Acolytes, choir, teaching and/or assisting in the teaching of Bible/Sunday school, and setting up for religious services.

Is baby-sitting accepted in the Fairmont Preparatory Academy Community Service Program? No, students cannot babysit for neighbors, friends, or family for free and earn community service hours. However, if the student is providing a service that helps address a community need, such as supervising children on site during a PTA meeting or a community health meeting (such as Alcoholics Anonymous or political forum), these hours could count. The only acceptable form of childcare results from a service preformed at a non-profit facility that is publicly licensed.

“I slept and dreamt that life was pleasure, I woke and saw that life was service, I served and discovered that service was pleasure.”

~ Rabindranath Tagore

30

Can my child earn service-learning hours at a licensed day care center? Yes. All child labor laws must be followed and the center must be licensed by the state of California. Students must be working directly with children to promote healthy child development. Acceptable activities may include reading to/with children, assisting with arts and crafts, supervising recreation time, completion of learning activities that provide school readiness, tutoring, etc…

Additionally, students cannot be paid or used in place of a paid employee and the business cannot financially benefit from the student's participation (i.e., additional children cannot be brought into the day care facility because the student is present).

Does clerical/custodial work count for community service hours? Clerical tasks may be a component of many valuable service-learning projects. However, these tasks must be done in a nonprofit organization and cannot be more than 25% of the service experience (e.g., answering phones, stuffing and labeling envelopes, collating, stapling, filing, faxing). Work that is considered custodial or janitorial cannot count as service-learning hours.

Can my child work for my friend's business? All service-learning projects must meet a real community need. Students may be able to earn hours depending on the activity, but a business may not financially profit from the service-learning efforts of our students.

Example: Students can serve at a senior citizen home if they are visiting with residents and assisting with recreational or other approved activities. Students cannot work for a business without being paid to earn hours, even under an internship or work study program, unless their service meets a community need such as assisting a restaurant in the planning and serving of a free dinner for the homeless.

Can my child campaign for a political candidate/specific issue and earn community service hours? Yes, a student may complete independent service-learning activities for any political candidate or endorse any issue/cause of their own choosing without discrimination as long as it is done completely outside of the school day. All activities must be pre-approved and cannot be supervised by a teacher/advisor.

Can my child earn service-learning hours by being a team manager? No. While team managers/assistants can be a valuable part of school athletic teams, participation as a manager or assistant does not meet the state requirements for service-learning. However, students assisting in the coaching and supervision of community-based teams (such as those run by County Recreation and Parks) may earn hours if they are not paid for their service.

Can my child earn hours for participating in music/theatre productions? Students cannot earn hours for participating in a school performance or competition (such as the spring music concert). However, if the group is voluntarily performing in public (e.g., community parade or event, performing at a senior citizen center during the holidays) then students can earn service-learning hours for their service.

Where can students go to do service hours? The best way to get a better understanding of the types of service acceptable is to refer to the following placement categories: Animal Care, Cultural, Disability, Educational, Elderly, Environmental, Fundraising, Fairmont-related, Medical, Political, Poverty, and Youth. Generally speaking, organizations/agencies that provide service in any of the aforementioned placement categories are acceptable to the FPA Community Service Program. If the volunteer work being considered does NOT fall under one of the aforementioned placement categories, please contact Mrs. Kunkle, the Director of Community Service, at akunkle@fairmontschools.com BEFORE beginning the service. Additionally, students are encouraged to use the check their Fairmont email, pay attention to the morning announcements, and/or visit Mrs. Kunkle in room 28.

31

How are group service hours documented?

Students that participate in Fairmont’s group projects do not need to turn in a green community service form. By signing up, turning in the permission slip, and showing up the day of the project, hours are automatically input in their files. Students who have NOT turned in a permission slip are not able to attend the service project.

How are individual service project hours tracked? Students that participate in individual service projects need to turn in a community service form. Every independent community service project must be pre-approved by the Director of Community Service PRIOR to beginning the project.

Once the service project has been completed the student must turn in the form in order for their hours to be logged. Once the hours are logged, the form is placed in the student’s community service file. Students are welcome to verify their hours with Mrs. Kunkle. Students must have a community service form in their possession from the time they start volunteering at a particular organization/agency so the hours can be documented as they occur. To prevent a form from being returned and slowing the verification process, students should be sure to follow all directions and policies as disclosed on the document. Only original community service forms that have been correctly completed will be accepted. Form letters or

certificates of achievement from an organization/agency are NOT accepted in lieu of the form, but a copy of the letter or certificate may be attached.

How can the student make sure the service hours have been processed and recorded? Students may request a printout that details the number of hours they have served. This request can be made by sending an e-mail to Mrs. Kunkle at akunkle@fairmontschools.com. Approximately one week should be allowed for processing, from the time a community service form is submitted, before a printout is requested.

What is the “Reflection Project?” This component of the Community Service requirement provides a means for the student to look back at their experiences and contemplate thoughts and feelings as it relates to helping others after the required service hours have been successfully been completed. The outline for completing the reflection project is on page 6 of this book.

“In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it.”

- Marianne Williamson

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”

- Albert Pike

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Community Service Quiz

To help you understand the difference what is a service project and what is not considered service the following quiz will test your knowledge. Circle the correct answer! 1). Is babysitting my brother service? a). YES, Service b). NOT Service 2). Is helping out at the Boys & Girls Club service? a). YES, Service b). NOT Service 3). Is planting a tree in my backyard service? a). YES, Service b). NOT Service 4). Is planting a tree in a local park service? a). YES, Service b). NOT Service 5). Is working in my dad’s office service? a). YES, Service b). NOT Service 6). Is working at CHOC Hospital service? a). YES, Service b). NOT Service 7). Is participating on my school’s track team service? a). YES, Service b). NOT Service 8). Is fundraising and participating in the CHOC Walk or AIDS Walk service? a). YES, Service b). NOT Service 9). Is feeding the homeless at my church service? a). YES, Service b). NOT Service 10). Is teaching Bible study at my church service? a). YES, Service b). NOT Service 11). Is going to Skid Row in Los Angeles with some of my church members to feed the poor service? a). YES, Service b). NOT Service 12). Is having a car wash fundraiser for my Travel Week trip service? a). YES, Service b). NOT Service Answer Key! 1). B 2). A 3). B 4). A 5). B 6). A 7). B 8). A 9). A 10). B 11). A 12). B