SPEAK UP PROJECTS Learn how to e-mail your government representatives and do so regularly! Join your PTA Go meet with your Congressman Call the City to volunteer to serve on a committee Write a letter to the editor about an issue you feel passionately about Organize a political forum to meet candidates and discuss issues Go talk to your city councilman Organize your neighborhood for emergency preparedness Organize your neighborhood into a Neighborhood Watch group Use blogs, Facebook and Twitter to spread your opinions VOTE EVERY TIME ON ISSUES YOU HAVE STUDIED FIRST!!

FUNDRAISERS Have sponsors sign up for book-reading marathon Have a birthday party where people donate for causes Giant Charity Garage or rummage sale – donate proceeds Bake sale Service sale – off range of services, donate whatever they want to pay Car wash Dinner or performance Cleaning marathon – get sponsors and go clean a park, roadside, etc. Boutique – especially crafts, holiday stuff, etc. Run a concession stand Organize a run/walk/bike ride for charity Sell painted rocks from children Frame children’s art and hold an art auction Hold a “dog wash” to raise money for a local animal shelter Recycle all your cans and bottles and donate the money to a charity

COLLECT PROJECTS Take food once a month to a foodbank – this can be a fun one-time scavenger hunt too Diaper drive for food bank or shelters Have a birthday party where people bring donations Collect children’s toys for a women’s shelter, orphanage – clean them and deliver Save all your change all year and just before Christmas, give them to a charity or homeless shelter (cash them in first!) Save your magazines and donate them Take used books to a homeless shelter Give your old children’s books to your school Collect magazines and books for shelters, after school or summer low income tutoring programs Collect CDs and DVDs for shelters, hospitals, schools, or military Collects used clothing/items for Salvation Army/ Industries or other organization Collect sports equipment for shelters or possibly Big Brothers/Sisters Collect suits/dresses for women’s transitional housing (they also need briefcases and pantyhose!) Collect jeans for teens Collect unused eyeglasses and donate them Collect gift cards and donate to shelters, foster youth, etc. Collect old towels and money for pet food. Deliver to an animal shelter. Develop a community garden and donate the food to a food bank or the needy Collect coffee grounds for community garden compost Collect unused toiletries from hotels to donate Collect coats and blankets to give to the local shelter Collect new toys for the cancer ward of your children’s hospital. Hold a crayon and coloring book drive for an underprivileged daycare. Collect expired coupons for military bases - http://www.grocerysavingtips.com/p/military- family.html Collect story books from your neighborhood and take them to a daycare that serves underprivileged children.

MAKE PROJECTS Contact a fire station and ask how many beds they have. Make and deliver quilts for the beds (using sheets and tying - easy.) and/or bake chocolate chip cookies. They would LOVE that!! Make and deliver sack lunches to the homeless Bake cookies or bring snacks to the police or other community service workers. Bake cookies or bring snacks to teachers or after school care programs for low-income families. Make T-shirt dresses Knit stocking caps and/or blankets and deliver to a cancer clinic. Crochet an afghan for babies Crochet hats for kids in other countries Cook and deliver a meal to a widower Contact local military base – make letters/cards for them Ronald McDonald House – make dinner for families Make placemats for nursing homes, Meals on Wheels or soup kitchens Make handmade birthday and holiday cards for nursing homes, Meals on Wheels or soup kitchens recipients (Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day). Arrange to deliver during meal times so you can just visit with people. Make CDs with singing or performing and give out to needy Make hygiene kits – donate to shelters Make baby layettes – donate to local Life Choices Counseling centers Make quilts – easiest is two sheets, batting in middle, tie with yarn Make book bags or simple backpacks Make quillows – quilts that fold up to a pillow (directions on the internet) Make TLC kits – small bags with goodies – lotions, books, jewelry – for women’s shelters Make kid packs – small bags with kid’s items for shelters Make bedrolls (use two old ties, an old blanket, and a square of fabric to make a pocket), etc. Make birthday cards for seniors, shut-ins, nursing homes Make a “New Kid” survival kit for new kids starting schools Make a book bag, put in a book and a CD of you reading the book and donate to schools Make double-sided easels and donate overseas or local schools/shelters Make pillowcases for children in pediatric unit of hospital Make clothes for stillborn babies Make heart pillows for heart patients to support chest when coughing Make small pillows for mastectomy patients to put under arm Make birthday bags for food bank – cake mix, frosting, candles, streamers, balloons Make welcome home kits for Habitat for Humanity Make toys, sewing projects, Christmas gifts for Kids on the Move (early intervention, Autism) Make Comfort kits for the Red Cross Make book bags, kids tote backpacks for the Boys and Girls Club Make birthday and or holiday cards for seniors, decorate placemats for Meals on Wheels Make kits for the homeless - Ziploc bags with crackers, gum, note, a bottle of water, hand wipes, toiletries, a travel size deodorant and shampoo, and a pair of socks etc. Keep them in your car and give to people collecting money at intersections. Design and laminate bookmarks to leave in the local library Create uplifting tissue box covers and donate with a tissue box Make a service jar – do a service, take a candy out

DO PROJECTS Contact the Red Cross to sign up and volunteer Run a blood drive Donate blood regularly or donate plasma Sign up to be a bone marrow donor or organ donor (see online) Do a reading time at your local school, library or shelter Read books for the blind or read and record books for them to hear later Visit a low-income daycare to read to the children or do craft time. Volunteer for the Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts – and perhaps help out on a district level Have a birthday party where people randomly or as an organized activity volunteer Good works bracelets distribution – get a charm when you finish doing a service Help out in your child’s classroom at school Volunteer in your local hospital. See if you can go to the children's sections and read stories Contact the city to ask about low-income housing. Offer to go in and do a craft class for the children. A neat one is for them to make their own book - they do the pages. You staple the middle and voila! If you have a professional career, volunteer for a mentor group like SCORE Contact your local service club (Rotary, Kiwanis, Soroptimists, Elks, Lions) and volunteer Hold an art camp or dance camp for under privileged children for a week during the summer Tutor students at your community center Become a mentor for an adolescent – just call your school district to volunteer Attend the ballet recital, choir program, or art show of a child who needs a little extra attention Attend a ballgame of children whose mom or dad is deployed with the military Invite a service man/woman for dinner or a holiday Write letters to the Military and mail them to Operation Gratitude, 17330 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys, CA 91406 Do a “We appreciate the Custodian!” activity Organize a Make a Difference Day (it’s national, in October) or a Thank You week Help with repairs at local shelter or church Plan a Memorial Day, Veterans Day program or other veterans’ recognition/appreciation event Take a CPR course – better yet, organize one for a group! Hold events for nonprofits – having a dinner for them (doesn’t have to be fundraising) is great! Volunteer to help at a Special Olympics Holiday parties at special needs, children’s homes, senior centers Librarian appreciation – invite them to an event in their honor or take them TLC things Write notes/letters of encouragement to missionaries or a missionary family from your church. Help box canned goods for the local food bank Contact a local thrift store and ask to help sort donated items. Clean out closets and donate gently used clothing, toys, games, and books to the social services department for foster kids to use. Grow your hair out to donate to www.locksoflove.org or www.pantene.com Clean out old DVDs to give to a children’s hospital or shelter Contact Habitat for Humanity and volunteer (they have a website). Call the School District and ask if you can go clean up around a school. Take hoes, shovels, rakes, gloves and do some REAL clean-up work. Contact the City and ask if you can adopt a park. Go in and clean it up and plant flowers! Buy lots of flowers (6-packs at a plant nursery). Go to seniors’ homes and plant flowers. We did this one at night as a surprise for all the seniors and they were absolutely delighted. Just show up with bags of dirt and flowers and have at it! Paint park benches, fences, or a senior’s home Clean up a beach or riverbed Plant a tree Plant native flowers in public places Clean up a Cemetery Clear brush for a fire department Clean or do yard work for an elderly neighbor, someone in need or disabled Mow the grass of a neighbor who is out of town Pick up trash and pull weeds at a local park or community center Plant your own or help with a community a vegetable garden. Share with a struggling family Invite a new family in your church over for dinner Doorbell ditch treats on a neighbor's porch Go door-to-door inviting neighbors to your church’s Christmas program or summer picnic. Invite all your neighbors over for a potluck and do it once a year Hold a free car wash for all the neighbors on your street Offer to drive carpool for a family who is going through a difficult season Provide respite care for foster parents Contact the County and ask what their foster children need – do it! Adopt a Family Plan a “family night out” for single-parent families. Show a family friendly movie. Serve popcorn. Do childcare during a community/school meeting Offer to babysit kids or an elderly parent and give their caregiver a break! Call someone who recently had a baby and volunteer to take their other children to the park Offer to take a single mom’s children for the afternoon. Take photos and have a few good ones printed. Surprise the mom with them. Offer to run errands for an elderly neighbor or church friend. Make a grocery run, swing by the pharmacy, or give them a ride to church. Call a hospice center and ask if there are errands you can run for their patients When bad weather is coming, call an elderly neighbor or single mother to check on them. Offer to let them come to your home before the weather hits your area. Play the piano once a week at a local rest home Have a nursing home sing-a-long of old songs (like You Are My Sunshine, etc.) and perform a few numbers. Offer to record a short life-history in nursing homes (for privacy reasons, you have to leave THEM the recording when you're done so make them a CD). Have a prepared list of questions: "Did you fight in the war?" "What would you have done differently?" "What was your BEST day?" "Tell me about your first job/school/etc.?" Do 10 minute life histories at the local senior center. Take in computers and a printer. Have a list of 5 questions. Type it up for the seniors and give them a printout. They would LOVE it! Offer to paint nails, do hair, etc. in a nursing home Offer to conduct an arts and craft session or activity, etc. in a nursing home. Interaction is the key here – not just stand apart and perform. Remember, treats need to be sugar-free in a nursing home. Take elderly on a walk (or “wheel”) outside to enjoy the day Take a pet to a nursing home Befriend a widow and take your children to visit regularly. Help a senior citizen with simple fix-it projects around the house like changing lightbulbs or cleaning gutters. Help a senior learn how to use computers or other electronics Get with friends for a Clean Up Club to help elderly with house cleaning Sign up your family to help serve dinner at a soup kitchen Help Meals on Wheels deliver food to seniors Deliver birthday/ holiday cards and flowers for nursing homes, Meals on Wheels or soup kitchens recipients (Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day). Arrange to deliver during meal times so you can just visit with people.

SERVICE AT HOME IDEAS Plan 30 Days of service as a family project. One act of service each day. Thank you week Make a service jar – do a service, take a candy out Do something special for a spouse or family member Be obedient to your parents today Be nice to a brother or sister Go to bed on time without complaining Draw a picture for someone in your neighborhood Call your grandparents or a relative to talk, share or sing them a song Change a diaper Give a thank you to someone who has been nice to you Write your Primary teacher or anyone else a thank you card Write a letter of appreciation to someone Send a sibling a letter in the mail Write nice notes to family members and hide them around the house (in coat pockets, journals, books, under pillows, etc.) Write a nice note to the mailman Get the Mail for your mom/dad Play with your brother or sister Give your family hugs and kisses Ask your mom what you can do for her today Make a list “10 reasons I love you” and give to mom or dad. Turn all of your thoughts positive today Smile. Make someone in your family smile or laugh today Make a list of what you are grateful for today. Share your list with your family Go a whole day without whining, begging, or complaining Go visit an assisted living center and visit with the elderly Pray for someone you are having a hard time with Cook for someone today Help your mom make dinner Eat everything your mom fixes and thank her for making it. Make cookies or a special treat and take them to someone like a neighbor Go all out on a meal today and enjoy it with those you love Do an act of service in secret Make cookies or a special treat and take them to someone Make a small care package for someone who is homeless Help a younger sibling with chores, homework or a game Write a play with friends and siblings to perform at a nursing home Make a silly video (with some parental help) to give to a relative Surprise someone in your family by cleaning up a mess Help with dishes. If you are old enough, do them by yourself. Clean out the family car Vacuum the stairs, the car or anywhere inside Organize a shoe closet Empty dishwasher Sweep the front porch Empty the trashes Put clean clothes away Clean up toy area Dust the banister Play with younger siblings Set the table Make your bed then make a sibling’s bed Make the bed for more people in your family Surprise your mom by doing your regular jobs without having to be asked Go to an elderly person’s home and visit with them and sing them a song Give out 20 hugs in one day

DAILY SERVICE ACTS ON THE GO Smile or make someone else smile or laugh today Thank you week Return someone else’s cart at the grocery store Compliment someone at school that seems sad Tell the lunch lady thank you and to have a fantastic day Write a thank you card to your teacher Try to be nice to everyone today Give a sincere compliment to 5 people today Take a flower to an elderly woman and tell her she is beautiful Be honest all day Return someone else’s cart at the grocery store Go visit an assisted living center and visit with the elderly Make a difference in the life of a child today Instead of asking someone if they need help, find something to do for them. Send a secret package to someone that could use some uplifting Try to sincerely thank as many people as possible today As you pass strangers, try to imagine their life story and pray for them. Pay it forward - Go through a drive through, store, theater and pay for the person behind you. Shovel a neighbor’s walk or return their garbage can for them when you are outside Do something kind for a complete stranger Smile kindly at someone who makes a driving error Give a gift to a mailman, newspaper carrier, garbage man or grocery clerk. Place a Carson’s car - go to Carson Courage Cars on Facebook Also check out Brighten A Day and find ways to serve

FAMILY HISTORY/ LDS PROJECTS Go to lds.org for service projects available - lds.org/topics/service/spare-time?lang=eng&_r=1 Tag Photos - createldsmedia.lds.org/tag-photos National & International indexing - .org/indexing/projects#/list-view Media Talent Service Projects www.lds.org/topics/service/create?lang=eng&_r=1 Service Hours - volunteer.lds.org/ Indexing (7 and up) Make up questionnaires to have family and friends fill out (8 and up) Upload pictures to FamilySearch or Genealogy sites. (8 and up) Help YW complete or complete your own Young Women’s Personal Progress (12 and up) Get your Eagle Scout (Ages 12-18) Plan a family reunion, get to know extended family. (18 and up) Volunteer at the MTC (18 and up) Serve an LDS mission (18 and up) Go to different cemeteries and take pictures of grave stones, upload the pictures to www.billiongraves.com and www.findagrave.com Collect and donate for Deseret Industries Add $5 to your church contribution and designate “Humanitarian Aid” Put your testimony in a and give it to the missionaries Contact LDS Social Services to volunteer to be a foster parent Learn to play hymns on the piano Go to Bishop's Storehouse and volunteer – ask about kits you can make Visit older family members ask them to share personal stories about their childhood. Record the conversations. Share the Gospel with others Write a notes/ letters of encouragement to missionaries or a missionary family Make and bring treats for the nursery in your ward Make a sack or bring treats for the bishopric during tithing settlement, or meetings on (after church is over) Bring breakfast for early morning church meetings Volunteer to watch kids or elderly while caregivers attend the . Offer to watch the Bishop’s children, so he can go on a date with his wife. Help Cub or Boy Scouts write letters to Soldiers serving our Country Become a Merit Badge Councilor Teach a class on Family History or Volunteer at the Family History Center Do a service scavenger hunt with an auxiliary or singles ward program Perform Baptisms for the dead Gather names to have work done at the temple Go to the Temple Free Genealogy sites to help with Family History www.libertyellisfoundation.org www.chroniclingamerica.loc.gov www.cyndislist.com www.crestleaf.com www.storyworth.com www.news.google.com/newspapers.com www.castlegarden.org www.aadarchives.gov www.familysearch.org

KIDS 15 AND UNDER Assist in baking cookies for someone in need of cheer (Age 1-4) Draw or color a card (Age 1-4) Learn and sing a song for an elderly neighbor (Age 1-4) Plant flowers or a plant to give away (Age 1-4) Help assemble a gift basket (Age 1-4) Choose toys and items to donate to those in need (Age 1-4) Read a story aloud to a neighbor in need of comfort (Age 5-10) Sort food with an adult or older sibling at a food bank (Age 5-10) Crafts or games at a Senior Center (Age 5-10) Help make and stuff lunches for the less fortunate (Age 5-10) Make a meal for someone who’s sick or recovering from surgery (Age 5-10) Clean a room in the home of someone else (Age 5-10) Earn money to give to an organization or to someone in need (Age 5-10) Create thank you gifts for local law enforcement officers or fire fighters (Age 5-10) Collect soap from hotels etc. Donate to developing countries/ homeless shelters (Age 5-10) Sole Hope upcycles jeans as shoes for children in Uganda. Patterns provided. (9 and up) Yard work (10 and up) Mentor young children (10 and up) Volunteer for an organization, such as a homeless shelter or soup kitchen (10 and up) Go on a mission trip (younger children can go with a parent) (10 and up) Clean up parks, neighborhood or school yard (10 and up) Volunteer time to sit with a neighbor and talk (10 and up) Run errands for those who are unable to themselves (10 and up) Adopt a family in need, and consistently do random acts of kindness to help (10 and up) Wash cars (10 and up) Hunger at Home and Beyond: math lesson to understand world hunger (12 and up) Coffee to Compost: collect coffee grounds from coffee shops for compost (12 and up) Celebrate a holiday or birthday with guests participating in service as a party (Ages 12–15) Leave or give written notes of kindness (park benches, cars and restaurants) (Ages 12–15) Use a roll of quarters in several soft drink, gumball and game machines (Ages 12–15) Donate gently used blankets to an animal or homeless shelter (Ages 12–15) Donate jackets & shoes (Ages 12–15) Donate canned food to a local food bank (Ages 12–15) Use $5-$10 in a random act of service or donation of your choice (Ages 12–15) Hand out water bottles to outside workers, joggers, or bike riders (Ages 12–15) Tape microwave popcorn bags to Redbox Movie machines (Ages 12–15) Pay for someone's ticket at the movie theater (Ages 12–15) Drop change around a playground for children to find (Ages 12–15) Hand out balloons to little children shopping w/ their parents (Ages 12–15) Purchase & donate coloring books and crayons for hospital waiting rooms (Ages 12–15) Leave tokens for games in the arcade taped to the games with a note (Ages 12–15) Leave dollar bills in your favorite books at the book store or library (Ages 12–15) Buy $5 gift cards. Hand them to people walking into those stores (Ages 12–15) Work in a homeless shelter and help distribute meals (Older Teens) Work behind the scenes in the business office (Older Teens) Volunteer for an adult literacy program (Older Teens) Get involved in an environmental group (Older Teens)

SENIOR FAMILIES WHO SERVE American Association of Community Colleges - www.aacc.nche.edu A national voice for two-year associate degree granting institutions. Since 1920, AACC works with other higher education associations, government, Congress, and other national associations that represent the public and private sectors to promote higher education for people of all ages.

American Society on Aging - www.asaging.org Strives to enhance the knowledge and skills of professionals working with older adults and families. Our vision of technology as a tool for empowerment is reflected in technology training, articles, and web-enhanced learning.

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) - www.aarp.org/giving-back AARP has information centers staffed by volunteers to provide a place for volunteers to find and work on projects, and a volunteer talent bank for members to share their knowledge and abilities with others. Their Web site has more information on these programs and on finding local chapters. AARP is the nation's oldest and largest organization of older Americans, with a membership of more than 33 million.

Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement - www.easi.org A national nonprofit coalition of environmental, aging and volunteer organizations established in 1991 as the result of a visionary agreement between the US Environmental Protection Agency and the American Association of Retired Persons. Works to build, promote and utilize the environmental ethic, expertise, and commitment of older persons to expand citizen involvement in protecting and caring for our environment for present and future generations.

Executive Service Corps (ESC) - www.escus.org An association of retired business men and women that volunteer their time to consult with nonprofit and public service agencies. They believe that the experience and skills acquired during their business careers can help these agencies solve management, governance and administrative problems. The ESO Web site has a list of chapters throughout the U.S.

Family Caregiver Alliance – www.caregiver.org Information on demand from a pioneer in caregiver services. Easy-to-access website offers free publications, news, advice, resources, interviews and an online support group for families and friends providing care. Specialized information on Alzheimer's, stroke, Parkinson's and other disorders.

National Council on the Aging - www.ncoa.org An organization of 7,500 members who direct community-based resources for older people. NCOA encourages older people to take full advantage of the opportunities for advocacy, employment and self-expression that PC and Internet technology can offer.

OASIS - www.oasisnet.org A national organization designed to "enhance the quality of life for mature adults." Offers programs in the arts, humanities, wellness and volunteer service, and creates opportunities for older adults to continue their personal growth and provide meaningful service to the community.

Senate Special Committee on Aging - www.aging.senate.gov Serves as a focal point for discussion on matters relating to older Americans. The Committee submits recommendations for legislation to the Senate and publishes materials on public policies which relate to the elderly.

SeniorNet - www.seniornet.org Has more than 140 Learning Centers in 35 states offering hands-on training in a peer based environment.

Senior Corps RSVP Program - www.seniorcorps.org Part of the Corporation for National Service. RSVP matches the personal interests and skills of older Americans with opportunities to help solve community problems. RSVP volunteers choose how and where they want to serve - from a few to over 40 hours a week. RSVP volunteers provide hundreds of community services. They tutor children in reading and math, help to build houses, help get children immunized, model parenting skills to teen parents, participate in neighborhood watch programs, plan community gardens, deliver meals, offer disaster relief to victims of natural disasters, and help community organizations operate more efficiently.

Service Corps Of Retired Executives (SCORE) - www.score.org A resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is dedicated to aiding in the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE offers an email counseling at no cost (for U.S. citizens and resident aliens only); its huge searchable databank helps users find the SCORE member whose expertise best addresses their business needs. The expertise of members is highly varied and specialized -- you can get email counseling in everything from tropical agriculture to unemployment compensation to wholesale lighting equipment. The Web site also has a database for finding local SCORE affiliates.

Go online and find so many more! More volunteering sites we found.

DoOneNiceThing.org DoSomething.org KIVA.org EveryMondayMatters.com CharityNavigator.org UnitedWay.org Foundcom.org Habitat.org/youthprograms CleanBirth.org/about ProjectLinus.org DaysForGirls.org