Trick-or-Can

When: October 2025

Where: Local neighborhoods!

What: Door-to-door food collection drive to generate donations for a local food pantry. 

Service Fest

When: November 2025

Where: Your community

What: Volunteer in your community however you can, as much as you can!

Community Service Chapter of the Month

When: All year round!

What: One chapter is recognized each month for its outstanding community service efforts based on submissions to the WI DECA Community Service Form. Though only one chapter can be recognized per month, your communities will undoubtedly be impacted daily. 

MDA

When: Year-round! 

What: We encourage you to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) to advance research, care, and advocacy for people living with muscular dystrophy. Oftentimes, chapters will hold Miracle Minutes at various events to raise money. 

Pin Up Campaigns: You can also participate in Pin Up Campaigns to support MDA! Here are the forms to register (Holiday, Shamrocks, Summer Camp). MDA will reach out to you after registering with materials/details!

Online Fundraising: Your DECA chapter can also online fundraise for MDA! Contact Sabrina Allen at studentservices@mdausa.org to get started. Here is the MDA Online Fundraising page.

Special Olympics 

When: Year-round!

What: Special Olympics has many volunteer opportunities for WI DECA chapters to get involved! View this calendar to see which events still require volunteers. Sign up for the SOWI newsletter to explain Special Olympics initiatives and background here. 

Polar Plunge

When: January-March

What: Throughout the year, Polar Plunge WI holds 'Polar Plunges' to raise money for Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes. DECA Chapters are encouraged to participate in this fundraiser by jumping into freezing cold water! 

More information: https://polarplungewi.org/about-the-plunge-2/

Acts of Kindness

When: Year-round

What: Show acts of kindness to any individual, organization, association, group of people, or cause that needs and wants support.

General Contributions to Charity

When: Year-round

What: Host fundraisers to donate money to a charity (other than MDA!) We want to provide acknowledgment for giving back in a positive, community service-oriented manner through DECA.

100 Hours

When: Year-round

What: If your chapter's total community service hours are greater than 100, you will earn a ribbon at state! 

Color a Smile

When: Year-round

What: Host a chapter event and donate coloring pages to the Color a Smile organization. A minimum donation of 50 pages will receive a ribbon at state!

More information: https://colorasmile.org/ 

Volunteer to rake leaves for elderly community members.

Volunteer at or send letters to a local assisted living/nursing home. 

Volunteer to help with social media for a local charity or organization. 

Helping at a food bank or homeless shelter. 

Putting together Thanksgiving baskets for families in need.

Working with the counselors at your school to organize a school supply drive.

Tutor younger students either in person or virtually! Many parents are struggling with having kids learning at home AND working a full-time job. Work with your school to offer these tutoring services to families in need.

Volunteer as a storyteller at your local library or elementary school.

Help out at an organization like the Boys and Girls Club.

Pick up trash at a local park.

See the Community Service Guide for more innovative ideas!