Silver Cord

Encouraging volunteerism and Community service by youth

Mason City High School, in an effort to provide students with opportunities to develop to their fullest potential and to become valuable contributors to society, initiated the Silver Cord Service Program at the beginning of the 2004-05 school year.  It is our belief that students who interact positively within their community not only will benefit the community, but also will develop their own leadership and citizenship skills.  To encourage and reward volunteerism and community service, the Silver Cord program will recognize students each year who have made significant contributions to the community through their service.

Seniors who have completed a minimum of 160 hours of approved volunteer service during their four years at MCHS will be awarded a silver cord and will be recognized at graduation exercises.  While it is suggested and highly encouraged that students complete 40 hours of approved service activities each year to reach the 160 total hours, students may accumulate their 160 hours in varying amounts during their four years of high school.  Additionally, underclassmen who attain a minimum of 40 hours of approved service during a school year will be awarded a certificate and will be honored at the annual spring recognition assembly. 

A log of student completion of approved service activities will be maintained for all students by their teacher-advisor.  A committee will review periodically those activities which constitute “approved” community service.  To constitute an “approved” area of service, the following criteria must be met:

• The approved service hours must be attained during non-school time.

• The approved service house must be completed and turned in during a single school year in order to count toward the total. 

• The approved service hours must be completed for “non-pay.”

• The approved service hours from any one project or area may not exceed 20 hours.

• The approved service hours must be approved by the faculty-advisor BEFORE being undertaken.

• The approved service hours must be submitted to the advisor with appropriate documentation (see accompanying form) and then will be recorded by the advisor on the individual student’s service log sheet.

Any questions as to the approval of service hours will be referred to the oversight committee which will render a final decision about any issues. 

SILVER CORD SERVICE PROGRAM

Approvable service ideas

While it is impossible to foresee all opportunities for approved service by students, and while the listing below is and will be subject to continuous updating, the following guidelines are in place to assist advisors and students in understanding what will constitute “approved” (and not approved) areas for service as part of the Silver Cord Program.

Acceptable service areas:

• Volunteering with community service organizations 

• Reading to the elderly; assisting the elderly with household chores (shoveling, raking, etc.)

• Volunteering for special church projects

• Helping to improve the school buildings and grounds

• Youth Task Force activities (outside of school hours)

• Coaching younger children in a sport or other activity

• Working with a blood drive (outside of school hours)

• Tutoring other students before or after school

• Working on a community beautification or clean up project

• Assisting with Special Olympics outside of school hours

• Serving as a counselor (non-paid) at a camp or special outing

• Assisting at a hospital, shelter, day-care, or nursing home

• Volunteering for special events such as Relay For Life, Cancer Telethon, etc.

• Community service which fulfills requirements for Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts (not to exceed a maximum of 10 hours)

• Working for a political party or campaign

• Fundraising for NON-PROFIT organizations (not to exceed 10 hours total)

Non-acceptable service areas:

• Doing chores at home or helping family members

• Attending church or Sunday school

• Working on the family farm or within a family business

• Babysitting for siblings or relatives and friends

• Completing ANY task for which money is received

• Doing “extra credit” or special “chores” for a teacher at school

• Participating in extra-curricular activities (or doing a project “attached” to an activity, team, club, etc.)

• Court-ordered community service

As noted above, this list in no way encompasses ALL opportunities for service.  Students who have ideas for service undertakings that are not listed above should check with a school administrator BEFORE engaging in the activity to make sure that it is “approved.”      

Class of 2024 - 120 (due to "Covid Year")

Class of 2025 - 160 

Class of 2026 - 160 

Class of 2027 - 160

If you complete 40 volunteer hours in a single school year, you receive a certificate of recognition for your efforts. 

Ruby's Pop- Up Pantry

Ruby's Pop-up Pantry is held the 2nd Tuesday of the month at Rolling Acres Church in Mason City. 

If you are interested in volunteering, please call 641-424-1369 or email racrcrubyspantry@gmail.com

For more information, visit  www.facebook.com/RubysPantryMC

www.rubyspantry.org

457 Cannonball Park / Gardens

The 457 Cannonball Park / Gardens is looking for volunteers to help keep this project alive, and they are in need of volunteers to help maintain and volunteer at different events that happen there throughout the season. You can volunteer on a one time basis or a scheduled time as you are available. There is training available for the different aspects of the Cannonball park and gardens.

Please email Mary Litterer - volunteer service coordinator - or call 641-421-3372 and she will direct you to or help answer any questions you may have.

The YMCA:
- Child Supervision
- Coaching Youth Sports
- Officiating Games
- Assisting Fitness Classes
- Building/Property Maintenance 

Other Places to Check for Volunteer Opportunities:
- The MCHS Activities Department
- Your church
- Your former elementary teachers
- Nursing homes
- Your neighbors & family friends (raking leaving, shoveling snow or cleaning)
- Salvation Army (ringing bells)
- The hospital - Fill out  an application & view volunteer opportunities!
- The library
- Daycares
- The Humane Society
- Elderbridge Agency on Aging
-MCHS Activities Department