Community Service Guidelines

Community Service Criteria:

• Community service is NOT ACCEPTABLE if:

  • • • It is completed as a requirement, expectation, or done as a member of another organization. 

      • You receive any form of compensation for your “service” - this invalidates it as true community service. 

• Community Service is MOST LIKELY ACCEPTABLE if: 

  • • • Service is completed as a member of a school or other service organization that is NOT expected nor required (You may not "double-dip" hours for multiple clubs)

      • Service is completed with goal of helping or assisting a need within a community and could be completed by anyone regardless of club, religious, political, etc. affiliation. 

      • Service is designed to promote tangible improvement in an area and does NOT promote personal advancement, ideas, or beliefs 

Examples of Acceptable Service Opportunities

• SAVE opportunities: recycling days, tree recycling days, summer camp, help requested by “outside” groups

• “Officially” helping other students within the school district (ex. Tutoring, helping ESL students, special needs students) This must be under the direction of a teacher/administrator and be completely voluntary.

• In school opportunities: Hands Across the District, Moms in Touch, Souderton Sports Camp volunteer 

• Student opportunities: Easter Egg Hunt, Santa and Me, Community Day of Service, Art &Soul Fest

• Community Fair (FBLA) (NOT acceptable- College Fair or any other student activity that is a requirement of the student group member or raises money for said group) 

• Optional “missions trips” that focus on servicing a community (ex. Helping to build houses in New Orleans) instead of “spiritual” matters.

• Setting up/running fundraisers (just participating in a fundraiser will be looked at on a case by case basis)

• Volunteering at hospitals, nursing homes, daycare centers, etc.

• Coaching youth programs (not just “helping” Mom or Dad- but OFFICIALLY recognized as a coach)

• Construction voluntarily (ex. Building community play sets)

• Volunteering w/ a volunteer organization (Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Salvation Army, Indian Valley Boys and Girls Club, IVOC, Habitat for Humanity, LIONS, YMCA, etc.)

• Volunteering at a vacation Bible school (but not done only as a member of the church) 

• Volunteering at the Renaissance Fair

• Volunteering for Boy/Girls Scouts that is not a requirement or to earn a badge

• Volunteering time for charity events 

• Working with the sick or disabled (Camp Can Do, etc.) 

• Soup kitchens, Meals on Wheels, donating blankets, etc-helping the poor and homeless 

• Volunteering at the library

• Volunteer gift wrapping