View Article

Family Life > Family Living

10 Community Service Ideas
Printer Friendly Version

1.  Family beach clean-up

Nothing brings home the reality of the recent oil spill and following crisis like a picture of a polluted beach.  This is a life-altering event, but you can still find teachable moments with your family about the importance of caring for the earth and being responsible people.  If you live in one of the areas affected by the oil spill, take your family down to the beach to assist in the clean-up efforts.  If you live where the beaches are still clear, take your family out and work together to help out your community by picking up trash as you explore. You can use this time with your kids to discuss protecting the environment, and the importance of caring for the things that we are given.

2. Collect items for sun coast seabird sanctuary

The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary of Indian Shores, Florida is leading the effort in rehabilitating animals from the oil crisis.  You could help by donating items, money or time to the organization. Sit down with your kids and put together a care package for the volunteers to use.  If you are in the area, you could volunteer with the organization yourself.

3. Collect human (and pet) hair

As many inventions go, it was an accident that led to the next way to help.  A salon owner discovered that human hair will soak up oil.  Watch this video for the amazing facts.  To learn how to collect the hair, go to Matter of Trust for information and instructions.  So the next time you are brushing Fido or Fluffy, think of all the help you can offer!  No member of the family is too small to help.

4. Paint a Picture?

Olivia Bouler is an 11-year-old girl who was so moved by the crisis in the gulf, that she did the only thing she knew how to do:  draw.  She began drawing pictures of birds and then contacted to Audubon Society with her plan.  She started her own organization, selling the pictures she creates and then donates the money she receives to the gulf cleanup effort.  What can you do?  Ask your children.  They may have an idea that can make a huge difference.  Just like Olivia.  See how she was inspired by watching this video.

5. Teach your kids to recycle

Recycling has gotten a lot of press over the last several years.  Responsible recycling has proven to be really useful in making the most of our resources while limiting our waste.  If you aren't recycling already, now is a good time to teach your kids to reduce, reuse and recycle.  Many communities have recycling programs in place, just call your local government office and find out how to participate.  If your community is one of the few that doesn't yet offer recycling on a grand scale, that doesn't mean that you can't participate.  You can recycle as a household and even track the reduced waste that your household produces.  You'll reduce your carbon footprint, teach your children responsibility, and contribute to an environmentally cleaner future.

6. Clean your house, have a garage sale and give money to the gulf efforts

Don't wait for spring cleaning to come around again…go through your house and reduce what you have.  You can host a garage sale and use the proceeds to contribute to the cleanup efforts.  If you want to think about a grander scale sale, enlist your neighbors to help and have a sale at the same time.  You could even invite the local paper to cover your efforts and share your community support.

7. Do a cleanup in your neighborhood

Speaking of neighbors, after you clean up your own house, why not take a walk through your neighborhood?  You and your children can pick up litter, and you can use the opportunity to teach your kids how to treat their community with respect.

8. Take a bike ride or a jog/walk with your kids

Get your kids out for a little exercise through a nature park, along the beach, lake, or local biking trail. Teach your kids how to stay active and healthy and teach them how to respect the environment along the way.  With just a little preparation, you can find out about local indigenous wildlife and make it a goal of your ride to spot a native plant or animal.  Fun and fitness with a purpose!

9. Go fishing or swimming with your kids

Take your kids out to a lake or to the beach and go fishing or swimming.  Use the opportunity to talk about the ecosystem of the lake…and how pollution and the recent oil crisis could affect the fish in the waters.  If you like to fish, you can teach about fishing responsibly and only taking what is abundant and in season.  If you are fishing for sport, teach your kids about "catch and release."  This is a perfect moment to talk to your children about the impact a single person can have in conservation efforts and environmental protection.

10.Start a recycling program at your school/community

Schools go through an enormous amount of recyclable materials daily.  If your school is not currently involved in a recycling program, start one!  Meet with your local Parent Teacher Association (PTA) president, or with the school's administrator and talk about the importance of teaching recycling responsibility to the kids.  Suggest that a portion of the proceeds can benefit the school for an environmentally friendly xeriscape project (a method of landscape design that minimizes water use), and that the remaining proceeds be used for the clean up efforts in the name of your school.