Community Service

Being a member of 4-H provides awesome opportunities to be involved in your community! The possibilities are endless! Clubs from all parts of Missouri love helping out their neighbors.  Use the ideas below or develop your own!

Clubs submitting a Community Service Form will be awarded seals according to the percentage of club participation.
4-H Youth Service to Communities Form LG760 (Word) or (PDF)

4-H community service projects that might interest your group…

Weights Work Wonders Project
Make weighted blankets or vests for autistic children.
Weights Work Wonders Video
(1:53 minutes)
Weighted Blanket information (PDF)

Instructions
Weighted Blanket (PDF)
Weighted Vest (PDF)

Hero Packs
Support the children left at home taking on extra responsibilities while their parent is deployed to support the Global War on Terrorism by creating Hero Packs (backpacks or bags filled with various items).
Hero Pack Information and Instructions

Camo Coolers
Make cooling neck rings for our military serving in extreme heat areas.
Camo Cooler Instructions (PDF)

 

Carry On Suitcase Project
Fill suitcases with personal care items to assist local battered women's shelters or other assistance organizations.
Carry On Suitcase Information and  Instructions

Make A Wish Scrapbooks
Make scrapbooks for the children granted wishes through the Make A Wish Foundation.
Make A Wish Information and Contacts (PDF)
 

Mail Kits Project
Create decorative shoeboxes filled with stationary items for children of offenders to write their incarcerated parent.
Mail Kit Information and Instructions

Maybe you like to help your elderly neighbors?  Your club could...

• Adopt-A-Grandparent or Senior Pals

• Deliver Meals on Wheels

• Donate fresh fruit and vegetables or flowers from the garden

• Provide lawn maintenance (mowing, leaf raking, weeding) for elderly

• Make holiday treats such as valentines, May baskets, cookies, decorations for elderly  

• Make Lap Quilts

• Serve elderly Christmas dinner; make Thanksgiving baskets

• Nursing Home

  • Decorate for Christmas,Thanksgiving or other holidays

  • Christmas caroling

  • Make colored eggs and Easter baskets for residents

  • Play bingo

  • Photo album sharing activity

  • Ice cream social

  • Plant flower or butterfly garden

  • Make special gifts for residents

  • Take a pet day activity

Maybe you like to help elsewhere in your community?  

• Volunteer, provide entertainment, sponsor or display at community festivals and events or special days such as Community Clean Up Day

• Adopt a family - help family in need, mow lawn, paint house, walk dog, carry groceries

• Assist a local animal shelter

• Help the environment - plant and care for flower around public buildings, clean roadsides and other community areas, plant trees, recycling drive

• Help plan local horse show

• Food drives for shelters

• Christmas and Thanksgiving baskets for needy

• Have a workday at County Fairgrounds, 4-H building trash pickup, etc.

• Help stuff and mail out newsletters, Extension ballots and other needs of the local Extension Center

• Donate to community organizations

• Give thank you treats to the staff at local nursing homes 

• Display flags at cemetery or restore a neglected cemetery  

• Plant/tend flowers, shrubs, etc. in the community  

• Made bird feeders for community

• Perform clowning for cancer survivors, children's hospitals, etc.

• Write letters to military personnel away from home

• Sponsor community blood drive  

• Perform Random Acts of Kindness around the community

• Apply for service grants such as BOAC Grant to use within your community.  4-H Clubs have used grants for water line/hydrant in barn at fairground, build corral at fairgrounds, etc.

• Ideas for service to children - day camp for 5-7 year olds, read at preschools, tutor, kid community gardens, afterschool programs 

In 4-H, we love to help those in need! Missouri 4-H'ers have served with...

• Adopt-A-Christmas Angel  

• Adopt-a-Family  

• Adopt-A-Grandparent  

• Donated funds to Holocaust Fund  

• Ambulance Toy Drive for the needy 

• Bell Ringers for the Salvation Army

• Clothing Drive Coat Drive

• Collected items and sent to military personnel in Kosovo  

• Donated dog food to Humane Society

• Collect food and supplies for the needy 

• Collect food for food pantry  

• Collected school supplies for Special Learning Center  

• Collected supplies for Rape and Abuse Crisis Center  

• Donated to Oklahoma Tornado Victims 

• Donated to Kids Helping Kids Fund  

• Cards and letters for military personnel overseas  

• Donated $ to help families in need pay their heating bills  

• Donated to the Giving Tree 

• Donated gifts to the homeless shelter  

• Donated items for Emergency Boxes  

• Donated food and toys to Christmas Caring  

• Donated gift certificate to needy families  

• Donated to local family that lost home to fire

• Some 4-H Clubs have sponsored the recycling trailer, replaced ceiling in local historic building, participated in Christmas parade, held ice cream socials