To Organize a Service Project

1. Question the situation for the service project.
   • Subject: What community issue will you address? How can you help? What will the project entail?
   • Purpose: Why are you choosing to address this issue? Why is it important?
   • Audience: How many people will the event involve? Who can help you coordinate the event?
2. Plan the event by completing a planning sheet. (See page 361.)
   • Service-project ideas: Park, highway, or beach clean-up; charitable food drive; soup kitchen or thrift store work; adult or children’s reading programs; tutoring or mentorship programs
3. Research the event.
   • Gather information about the agency or organization you are interested in helping. Contact the agency’s supervisor or volunteer coordinator for more information—ask about the organization’s needs and secure a date and time for the event. Then ask people to help you plan and execute the event.
   • Arrange transportation to and from the event. Determine what materials or equipment you will need to complete the service project.
   • Publicize the event, using a variety of print (posters, fliers), digital (social media), and other media options (television, radio).
4. Create the event, considering the following roles.
   • Project coordinator: This person is in charge of setting up ground rules and supervising the event as it happens.
   • Team leaders: These people lead teams of volunteers to complete different aspects of the project.
   • Volunteers: These workers do the various jobs.
5. Improve your event.
   • Evaluate the event. Did the service project fulfill its goals and objectives? Did it achieve its purpose? How many people attended? Did they enjoy it? How were you received by the group or agency? How could a similar project be improved next time?
   • Improve the event by fixing any inefficiencies, adding additional parts, and reworking parts to make them more effective.
6. Present the results of the project through social media, in a local or school newspaper, in a newsletter, on a school Web site, or in other media. If the service project happens more than once, publicize the next event.