Member Information
Community Service
Community service hours are hours spent during the year in work which directly benefits either (1) people experiencing poverty, discrimination, abuse, poor health, old age, and/or physical-mental limitations or (2) the protection of animals or the environment for which an individual does not receive financial compensation.
Acceptable Hours
Coordination of fundraising activities and services performed for day care centers, retirement homes, animal hospitals, nature parks or other non-profit organizations will count as volunteer service hours. (fundraising alone does not count)
Participation in performances (dance, theater, music) will count as service hours if the production is created specifically to address identified community service needs as defined above. To count the student and/or organization cannot receive financial benefit from the production.
In general, hours spent coaching youth sports count as service hours if there is no financial benefit.
Services performed on staff at non-profit athletic or music camps for no financial compensation (including lowering cost of tuition) will count as community service hours, as well as hours on long-distance service projects. (See limitations, below.)
Involvement in service projects of for-profit businesses that address a community service need will result in justifiable community service hours.
Tutoring when sponsored by a community organization or done in school and signed off by a MHS staff member.
Teaching youth worship classes counts for hours.
Limitations on Community Service Hours
Parents cannot sign for their children as the event coordinator.
For performances (dance, theatre, music), individuals will receive service hours for the time of the actual performances only. Hours are not awarded for rehearsal, set-up, or travel.
All youth group or church activities must be service to a community in order to receive credit.
In all cases, volunteers receive a maximum of 8 hours credit for any 24-hour period of service, and a maximum of 45 hours credit for any 7-day period. Time for travel to and from a service site or time sleeping overnight at a service site does not earn service credit.
What Does Not Count?
Fundraising for clubs or organizations. For example (car washes, cookie sales, bake sales). Fundraising will only count as service hours if the activity is created specifically to address identified community service needs/group as defined above. Just donating/collecting money does not count.
In general, service rendered directly to a for-profit organization will not count as service hours.
Volunteer work done solely to promote a particular religious or political point of view such as proselytizing or campaigning for a party candidate does not count as volunteer service hours.
Something done for your family such as painting your house, moving, or taking care of a grandparent.
Managing or being on an athletic team, chorus and participating in the school play are considered school activities and do not meet the definition of service to the community.
Hosting a foreign exchange student
Babysitting
Eating, sleeping, worship, and playtime on a mission trip
Any contributions such as prom gowns, books, soda tabs, coats, food, and toiletries.
Activities that take place during a normal worship service such as ushering, participation in choir, playing music for a service, or other worship activities.
Private tutoring.
