Have an idea for a service project – like getting a group together to volunteer each week at a homeless shelter, or reading to kids at your local library? Learn how to turn your volunteer idea into a successful service project using our do-it-yourself toolkits below.
Education
Help close the achievement gap and reduce “summer learning loss” by reading with kids or organizing a book drive.
•Toolkit: Read with Children
Read with Children: The Facts
Children who are not engaged in learning between school years suffer from “summer learning loss.” Many of the achievement gaps that continue to exist for disadvantaged students today result not from students falling behind during the school year but rather losing out on chances to learn over the summer.
Did you know that if a young person reads only five books over the summer, the effect “is potentially large enough to prevent a decline in reading achievement scores from the spring to the fall?” footnote 1
Did you know that if a young person is read to at least three times a week, that person is twice as likely to score in the top 25% of reading? footnote 2
Commit yourself and a team of your friends, family, and neighbors to help young people close the summer learning gap by joining United We Serve. This tool kit will give you the basics to start a reading program from scratch, recruit a team, organize your group, and make an impact.
•Toolkit: Organize a Book Drive | en Español
Starting a Book Distribution Team: The Facts
80% of preschool and after-school programs serving low-income populations have no age-appropriate books for their children. footnote 1
A recent study shows that while in middle-income neighborhoods the ratio of age-appropriate books per child is 13 to 1, in low-income neighborhoods the ratio is 1 for every 300 children. footnote 2
The most successful way to improve the reading achievement of low-income children is to increase their access to print. Communities ranking high in achievement tests have several factors in common: an abundance of books in public libraries, easy access to books in the community at large and a large number of textbooks per student. footnote 3
Commit yourself and a team of your friends and neighbors to help increase reading achievement and literacy by joining United We Serve. This tool kit will give you the basics to run a book drive, organize your group, and make an impact.
What will you do to help increase reading and literacy?
Health
Promoting healthy lifestyles in your community is key to preventing costly disease and improving our nation's health.
•Toolkit: Support Community Gardens | en Español
•Toolkit: Starting a Walking Team | en Español
•Toolkit: Promote Back to School Health | en Español
Community Renewal
At a time when many Americans are struggling with the loss of their job or their home, you can help meet some of their most basic needs by working to reduce hunger, secure donated clothing and strengthen community resources.
•Toolkit: Support Local Food Banks | en Español
•Toolkit: Organize a Clothing Drive | en Español
Energy and Environment
Join your friends and neighbors to reduce energy by auditing your home and helping maintain public lands.
•Toolkit: Audit Your Home | en Español
•Toolkit: Maintain Public Lands | en Español
•Toolkit: Let's Glean! (USDA)
Veterans and Military Families
Support military families and veterans who have served our country.
•Toolkit: Connecting Veterans to Community Services
Disaster Preparedness
Help your community prepare for disasters.
•Toolkit: Preparing Your Community for Disasters
Create Your Own Project
Work with your neighbors to identify local needs and find solutions that work. MFT Continuing Education
•Toolkit: Create Your Own Project
Disclaimer of Endorsement
Toolkit references to any specific non-profit organization, commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise do not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the U.S. Government or any agency thereof.
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