Getting Started

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.

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 Espanol
• Toolkit: Organize a Clothing Drive | en Español

Disaster Preparedness

Help your community prepare for disasters.

• Toolkit: Preparing Your Community for Disasters

Education

Help close the achievement gap and reduce “summer learning loss” by reading with kids or organizing a book drive.

• Toolkit: Read with Children
• Toolkit: Organize a Book Drive | en Español
• Toolkit: Becoming a Stem Mentor

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)

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

Hunger

Learn about the many ways you can help feed hungry families in your community.

• Toolkit: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Learn how to do outreach for the largest anti-hunger program in the U.S. (USDA)
• Toolkit: Summer Food Service Program - Help feed kids when they are out of school (USDA)
• Toolkit: School Breakfast Program - Increase access to school breakfast to all students (USDA)

Veterans and Military Families

• Toolkit: Community Blueprint Toolbox – A framework for producing positive, measurable outcomes for veterans, military members and their families (Points of Light)
• Toolkit: Connecting Veterans to Community Services

Create Your Own Project

Work with your neighbors to identify local needs and find solutions that work.

• 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.