
Giving back while staying safe
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Giving back while staying safe
Volunteering ideas during COVID!
by Jill Jackson, Extension Educator with 4-H
Within the 4-H world, we constantly see members and adult leaders spending time helping others in the community. It’s even part of our 4-H pledge as we pledge our hands to larger service. But guess what? Anyone is capable of serving others!
Whether you are age 2 or age 92, there are a variety of things you can do! Here are just a few examples of how easy it is to help others:
Help your community/school
- Start a canned food drive and donate goods to your local Food Bank or community center.
- Clean up litter around your school and/or community businesses.
- Clean up a local park, cemetery or vacant lot.
- Turn a vacant lot into a community garden.
- Paint a mural over graffiti (with property owner permission).
- Adopt-a-Highway — Clean up litter along your local roadways.
- Plant flowers around the town to beautify your community.
- Volunteer at a beach clean-up or plant beach grass.
- Hold a Recycling Drive to repurpose items such as markers, plastic bottles, cans, jars, paper towel rolls, etc. See what kinds of crafts you can make out of these items!
- Tutor a student virtually in one of your favorite subjects.
- Volunteer at a Habitat for Humanity build site (ages 16 and older).
Help children in need
- Make and donate blankets or pillowcases to local hospitals.
- Gather items for Operation Christmas Child to send to needy children around the world.
Help the homeless
- Make care packages that include soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, socks, hats, gloves and scarves.
- Donate clothing, books, etc. to local shelters.
Help the elderly
- Help an elderly neighbor by doing yardwork, shoveling snow, etc.
- Adopt a “grandfriend”. Send coloring pages, cards, notes and call and elderly friend or neighbor.
Help the military
- Make and send cards to deployed soldiers throughout the year.
- Make and send care packages to local soldiers who are deployed. Find out what some of their favorite foods and be sure to include a note thanking them for their service! One example of this is through Operation Shoebox.
- Send encouraging notes and care packages to local families who have a family member who is deployed.
Help animals
- Make homemade toys and/or treats for animals in a shelter.
- Volunteer to walk your neighbor’s dog.
We hope these examples inspire you to become a true leader in service, just like so many of our Delaware 4-H members!