Community Service Projects A SUMMER OF SERVICE!

Objectives  Understand the requirements for the Community service project for both the site team and children.  Discuss acceptable and unacceptable ideas for a community service project.  Understand the process for selecting and reporting on community service projects.  Brainstorm ideas for the community service project.

Activity  Brainstorm in your groups, using the markers and flip chart paper what you think low-income, rural communities in WV need. Rank them 1 to 5 on your paper with 1 being the greatest need for those types of communities.  Remember, 15 minutes, select a writer and a person to read when your group is called upon.

Requirements of a Community Service Project  Member driven.  Visible to the community.  Completed as a site team.  Promoted through the local media.  Includes a reflection.  Must be between 20 and 30 hours.  Can not violate any AmeriCorps prohibited ideas. (EE AmeriCorps Member handbook – pg. 16)

Community Service Report 2013  71 sites participated.  174 community service projects completed.  34 sites did Blood Drives.  35 sites did snack packs which were sent home on Friday’s with the children.  27 sites led a school supply drive.  23 sites worked with local food pantries to restock and replenish their shelves to help meet the needs of their communities.

Our Goal  1 to 2 quality projects rather than multiple smaller ones.  Those who did snack packs reported they were glad to send food home with children on Friday knowing they had something to eat over the weekend.  Most reported they had no idea how large a need food was in their communities and communities around the state.

Children’s Projects  Meet an identified need.  Involves children in identifying the needs of the community.  Complete during the Making My World a Better Place Week.  Children select one project from options.  Incorporates the skills of the children.  Includes reflection.  Project should be concrete and visible enough for the children to understand the impact.

Community Service Project Ideas  Break into groups, stay with your team, get a sheet of end roll, markers and the handout Community Service Project Ideas.  Make 4 columns on your paper: Good ideas for Mentors, NOT appropriate ideas for Mentors, Good ideas for Children and NOT appropriate ideas for Children.  Use the handout and place the Project Ideas under the proper heading.  Discuss why some are appropriate and others aren’t.

Selecting and Planning a Site Team Community Service Project  Fill out the form Selecting and planning an AmeriCorps Site Team Project. (Found on the Website) and Policy manual Page 133.  Project Plans due by June 27, You will be notified by the state office by June 30,  Start planning and carrying out your project/plan after you receive approval.  Record hours on your timesheet for planning, coordinating, carry out and reflecting. Between 20 and 30 hours total.  Take pictures documenting your project.  When your project is complete, you MUST fill out the Community Service Final Report Document and send in your community service project picture, no later than August 1, 2014.

Planning form and Final Project Form  Please go over these forms thoroughly and fill out the Final Project Form online using the Energy Express website.

Reflection Event  Reflect on the summer of service.  Reflection Events will be done at the county level.  Energy Express will not provide funding for the Reflection Event.  Reflection Events take place during the final week of the program.  Agenda should include: Introductions, Icebreakers, presentation of AmeriCorps Certificates and a structured reflection activity that includes all members and sites present.

Questions  Thank you!!!!! Have a great summer!