50 Community Service Ideas

Create Goodie Bags - Gather neighborhood friends and put together care packs to keep in your car to serve the needy you see on the street. Include a granola bar, water and basic toiletries inside a Ziploc bag.
Collect Humane Society Wish List Items - A good way to involve younger volunteers, collect items off your local animal shelter's wish list — such as toys, treats, old towels or blankets — to help take care of the animals.
Give a Basket Baby Shower - Throw a baby (or big kid) shower for a foster family by packing commonly needed items in baskets. Get names from a local family services organization and drop off the baskets so they can pass them on to the families.
Meet Critical Needs - Host a "critical needs" drive for the Red Cross or a local shelter, collecting new items such as socks, underwear, diapers and toiletries.
Give the Gift of Hugs - Loving Hugs and Stuffed Animals for Emergencies are nonprofit organizations that give stuffed toys to kids in crisis situations. Host a stuffed animal drive at your church or school to help serve these great charities.
Tutor Future Leaders - If you have a high-poverty school in your area (most school districts have a list of Title 1 schools) and have time during the day, offer to tutor, proctor tests or read tests aloud to students. This makes a huge difference in student success.
'Tis the Season for Service - Look for seasonal opportunities to help process donations for organizations such as Toys for Tots or Operation Christmas Child. Make sure donations fit the guidelines for the charity.
Spread Cheer through Song - Gather your school choir or college a cappella group (or any group that loves music) and sing at a retirement community or homeless shelter. Whether you're belting out carols during the holidays or classics that everyone loves year-round, the simple gift of music can serve others by bringing joy.
Get Bookish - Search your local public library's website for shelving and organizing opportunities or special events where an extra set of volunteer hands are needed.
Write Encouraging Notes - Organize a holiday card-making party and write encouraging notes to those in the hospital, nursing homes or for your local heroes such as firefighters and police officers.

Become a Mentor - Relationships help create lasting change, so sign up to mentor a boy or girl in your community who could use some extra assistance. Whether it's helping with math homework or taking them for a monthly outing, you can make a big impact.
Teach Nature Classes - If you have a passion for the outdoors, research bike or animal safety and spend time sharing your passion and knowledge at local schools, parks and nature centers.
Love Your Neighbors - Use a social networking site to let neighbors know you'd like to do seasonal yard work like raking leaves, shoveling snow, putting up outdoor holiday lights or light yard work for any senior citizens in the area.
Be a Translator - Have a language skill you don't mind putting to use? Many public schools and libraries can use translators for events such as program registrations, health fairs and job interviews.
Manage Social Media - Volunteer to set up and manage a social media account for a local nonprofit that you are passionate about, particularly if it's a small group that relies on extra help.
Train to be a Shelter Manager - For disaster relief in your area or to help other communities, you can be trained to be a shelter manager with the Red Cross. You can find more community service training opportunities on the Corporation for National and Community Service's website.
Train Your Pet for Service - If you have a pet that is great with people, explore the possibility of getting them certified as a pet visitation animal. Reach out to your local nursing home or hospital to see if they have a pet visitation volunteers program where you and Fido can help others in your community.
Provide Classroom Supplies - Though back-to-school supplies are great, things start getting thin by the first of the year and by May, supplies are really running low. Take the opportunity to grab pencils, lined paper, sanitizing wipes and tissues when they are on sale and drop of them off at a nearby school. You will become a local hero.
Serve the Nations - Have a heart for refugee care in your community? A little internet search will help you connect with churches or non-profits in your area who will pair volunteers with a newcomer to help them with English conversation and mentoring.
Teach Computer Skills to Seniors - You can help older community members understand how to communicate with their families, order items they may need, search for events and more through technology. Show them how to set up their email, use FaceTime or create social media accounts if they wish!