COMMUNITY SERVICE

Community service is a great way for 9th graders to build leadership skills, strengthen college and scholarship applications, and give back to the community. Most community service hours are earned outside of school.

As counselors, whenever we learn about community service opportunities, we try to share them with students by email, so be sure to check your school email regularly.

Also, joining school clubs may provide opportunities to earn community service hours. For example, the F.O.R. Club has organized community service projects for students in the past.

Here are some age-appropriate ways to earn community service hours:

At School

• Tutor younger students

• Help teachers organize classrooms or materials

• Serve as a peer mentor or student ambassador

• Assist during school events (Open House, Parent Night, orientation)

• Volunteer in the library

• Help with school beautification projects

• Participate in campus clean-up days

• Join service clubs such as Student Council, FOR Club, or NJHS (if eligible)

In the Community

• Volunteer at a local food pantry or soup kitchen

• Help at animal shelters

• Participate in park or neighborhood clean-up projects

• Volunteer at community festivals or city events

• Help with church or faith-based outreach programs

• Collect and organize donations for clothing or food drives

• Assist at local nursing homes by visiting residents, playing games, or reading aloud

• Volunteer with local nonprofit organizations

Through Church

• Help with Vacation Bible School

• Assist in children's church or nursery

• Participate in church clean-up or landscaping days

• Help prepare meals for families in need

• Sing in the choir or assist with church programs (if recognized as service)

• Participate in mission or outreach projects

Helping Others

• Make cards for hospital patients, nursing home residents, or veterans

• Assemble care packages for military members or the homeless

• Organize a school supply or hygiene drive

• Read to younger children at a library or daycare

• Help elderly neighbors with yard work or simple chores (with parent permission)

• Collect pet supplies for animal shelters

Environmental Service

• Plant trees or flowers

• Participate in recycling drives

• Start a school recycling initiative

• Help maintain a community garden

• Organize a litter pickup event

Virtual Community Service

• Create educational videos or study guides for younger students

• Design flyers or social media graphics for nonprofits

• Write encouraging letters to deployed military members or seniors

• Participate in online volunteer opportunities through approved organizations

Leadership Projects

• Organize a canned food drive

• Coordinate a school clothing or coat drive

• Plan a fundraising event for a local charity

• Start a kindness campaign at school

• Organize a blood drive (students under 16 can volunteer rather than donate)

Suggested Community Service Requirements

If you're creating a requirement for a school program or club, you might consider:

• 15 hours per school year for 9th grade 

• Service must benefit the community and be unpaid

• Students should submit a signed Community service form - available in the front offices, on-line and with counselor

These opportunities help students develop responsibility, leadership, teamwork, communication skills, and civic engagement while making a positive impact on their school and community.