Service Projects

Conduct a free yard sale

Collect yard sale items, such as clothing, books, dishes, furniture, etc. and hold a free yard sale, either at your church or a location in a low-income area. Encourage a welcoming atmosphere by offering refreshments to shoppers. Advertise for the yard sale by posting flyers and signs in the community.

Host a block-party in a low-income area

Plan a “block party” to celebrate the strengths of your community, facilitate community ownership and share the hospitality of Christ. Work with community members to plan events and arrange for food, music and other forms of entertainment. Invite community organizations to share important opportunities and resources for individuals in the area. Include games and activities for children of all ages!

Build or repair a community playground

Raise awareness and support to build a playground for children with limited access to public play space. Work to identify and reserve a plot of land, draw out a plan and identify needed materials. Then work with a team to prepare the grounds, build a sandbox, basketball court or other open area, and work with contractors to install new play equipment. Celebrate the opening of the playground with a community-wide ceremony.

Host a breakfast for local firefighters, police officers or other public servants

Work with your local police or fire department to host a meal of appreciation. Invite community members to partner with you in preparing food and offering words of encouragement for those who serve your local safety needs

Adopt a stretch of highway and help keep it clean

Contact your state highway cleanup organization and volunteer to “adopt” a stretch of road in your community. Organize teams of volunteers to regularly pick up litter and maintain grassy areas near state roads.

Spruce up the grounds at a local school, park or nonprofit organization

Together with the community, get your hands dirty and invest in the beauty of your neighborhood and of God’s earth. Work with a local park, school or other public area to spruce up the lawn, weed overgrown areas or plant new flowers.

Join with your community in assembling disaster relief kits

Join with your community in assembling basic kits containing practical items for a family or individual who has lost their material goods in a disaster. Take time to pray for those affected and for volunteers and emergency workers who aid survivors.

Organize a community lawn clean-up

Identify several areas of your local neighborhood that can benefit from a lawn clean-up. Receive permission from residents prior to your event, and take careful note of any restrictions or special instructions from homeowners. On the day of your event, break up into teams to rake leaves, mow grass, pick up litter and pull weeds. Take time to converse with neighbors, and leave notes of encouragement following your work. Make sure the team warmly invites them to church!

Host a quilting or knitting group and donate items to a needy cause

Find skilled members of your congregation or community to lead regular quilting or knitting groups. Donate your finished products to an organization that provides blankets and clothing for children in need. Invite community members of all skill levels to participate, and use the time to establish friendships and support while helping others.

Contact your local shelter and volunteer to serve the homeless in your area

Work with the volunteer coordinator at your local shelter or mission to find ways your congregation can help those who are homeless in your area. Establish one-time or ongoing service groups to collect items, organize goods, serve food, clean or spruce up the facilities. Consider the needs of the shelter and how they match the gifts of your group.

Clean up graffiti in your neighborhood

Identify an area in your community that is tarnished by graffiti, and work with the local government and community organizations to clean up the graffiti and create a clean and respected environment.

Plant a community garden

Designate an area for a community garden/pea patch. Allow members of the community to “adopt” plots of land to grow flowers, vegetables or fruit. Encourage the community to invest in the garden and to develop it into an area that the entire community can enjoy. Use the area to host community gardening classes and to connect with neighbors.

Host a free car wash with donations going to a needy charity

Have a group from your church conduct a free car wash for the community. If individuals feel led to donate, let them know that their donations will not be used by your church or group but will instead be given to a needy local, national or international charity chosen by your congregation.

Grocery shop for the elderly in your community

Shop for groceries and deliver them right to the doorsteps of elderly members of your community. Collect grocery lists beforehand so you know what to purchase. Contact your community’s senior center or ask the elderly within your congregation for a list of elderly people within your community.

Host a free car check-up and oil change

Set up a car check-up station at your church or another location in your community to reach out to your neighbors in a practical way. Check car fluids and tire pressure and change the oil. Conduct a car wash and make the cars look glamorous on the outside, too.

Paint a mural for a local organization or public park

Identify a public wall or area that would benefit from artwork. Develop an appropriate theme, and commission individuals in your church and community to submit artwork for review. Select a final design, and have the community (along with children) prepare the site by sanding, washing and priming the area. Once the artist has completed a clear outline of the design, select volunteers to assist in painting the mural. Celebrate the completion of the mural with a public ceremony for the community.

Conduct a computer drive

Collect used computers and donate them to a nonprofit organization, such as Goodwill Industries, that refurbishes them and donates or resells them to those who may be unable to afford a brand-new computer. Advertise for and host a computer drop-off event to collect used computers from members of your community. Contact electronics stores, local businesses and schools for donations as well.

Host arts and crafts classes with community children

Volunteer with a local childcare facility to teach simple arts and crafts projects to children. Identify a needed list of supplies, a lead teacher and additional volunteers. Build relationships with children while giving child workers a chance to relax!

Volunteer with a local food bank

Coordinate with a local food bank to host a food drive, transport donations, re-package food or assist with administrative tasks. Invite the community to participate with you, and include an opportunity to learn about hunger in America and around the world.

Fix up old bikes and distribute them to needy children in your community

Collect used bicycles from members of your church and community, and set up a restoration shop. Work to sand away old paint, remove rust, replace worn parts and cover with a fresh coat of paint. Present your “new” recycled bicycles to needy children in your community.

Create school tool kits for needy children

Gather with people from your church and your community to collect, organize and assemble school kits for needy children. Consider presenting statistics about low-income education in both the United States and the world. Pray that children around the world would have access to education, and that they would flourish.

Create a tutoring partnership with a local school

Make a commitment to partner with a local school in providing one-to-one tutoring services on a weekly basis. Assign a director and recruit volunteers to tutor, advertise and work with local school officials. Have church members travel to the school and invest in the lives of community children.

Collect children’s books and organize a story time at your local library

Work with your church and community to collect new and gently used children’s books for a local library. Work with librarians to help label, sort and place the books. Celebrate the arrival of new books by conducting a “story time” for children in the community.

Make "welcome baby" kits for low-income mothers with newborns

Put together baby bags filled with diapers, baby bottles, pacifiers, wash clothes, gentle baby soap, hooded bath towels, snap t-shirts, lightweight sleepers, socks and blankets for new mothers lacking the funds to provide for their newborns. Include a short message of encouragement or prayer with the goodies. Donate the baby bags to a pregnancy clinic in a low-income area.

Create an “after school center” for community children

Make use of an area in your church or another public building in your community to create a safe and fun place for children to go after school. Set up a “quiet area” for homework, a computer lab for research and a game area where children can play.

Organize an ongoing support program for mothers in the community

Establish regular get-togethers for mothers to take a break, relax and connect with other moms about the joys and challenges of parenting. Provide childcare for mothers and an environment to relax, converse and have fun!

Take disadvantaged children on a community field trip

Conduct a one-time or ongoing opportunity for low-income or disadvantaged youth to visit a local landmark, park or cultural event. Invite several family members to help chaperone, and include fun activities to make the event memorable for the youth.

Host a quilting or knitting group and donate items to a needy cause

Find skilled members of your congregation or community to lead regular quilting or knitting groups. Donate your finished products to an organization that provides blankets and clothing for children in need. Invite community members of all skill levels to participate, and use the time to establish friendships and support while helping others.

Mentor children in your community

Connect with a mentoring program in your community (or create your own) and develop relationships with youth in the community that would benefit from a positive role model. Participate in academic, cultural and recreational activities and encourage positive behaviors and choices in their lives.

Provide free musical instruments and lessons for low-income families

Create a team to plan and implement a musical instrument ministry for disadvantaged youth in your community. Contact local musicians, music teachers and music stores to collect instruments and volunteer their time to teach. Work with local schools to sign up qualified students, and reserve a location in your area to conduct music lessons.

Host arts and crafts classes with community children

Volunteer with a local childcare facility to teach simple arts and crafts projects to children. Identify a list of needed supplies, a lead teacher and additional volunteers. Build relationships with children while giving child workers a chance to relax.

Volunteer with a local food bank

Coordinate with a local food bank to host a food drive, transport donations, re-package food or assist with administrative tasks. Invite the community to participate with you, and include an opportunity to learn about hunger in America and around the world.

Donate games and other toys to a children’s hospital, then organize a playtime

Work with volunteer services at a local children’s hospital to provide an organized playtime. Ask hospital personnel to suggest recommended games and activities, and then conduct a community or church drive to collect toys, games and other play materials. Schedule group playtimes along with individual time with children who are not able to leave their hospital rooms.

Contact your local city manager and find out how you might serve your city

During this time of economic recession cities are having to pull back services more than ever. Maybe there is a service that volunteers could provide that would otherwise go unmet. This is a great way for your church to be a witness to city leaders.