Family Community Service

Children thrive when they have important roles and responsibilities in their home, school, and community. The holiday season is a perfect opportunity for children to create or support a program that serves the needs of various cultural communities around the world. Kids can develop empathy and respect for diverse cultural communities while supporting their schools and communities with their families. Many schools sponsor clothing drives, gift collections, food collections, and emergency support programs for those affected from natural disasters. As part of their learning, students can learn about another country and culture as they participate in a cultural experience of community service.

Partnerships with Schools

The Generational Parenting bloggers have partnered with the Santa Clara County Office of Education to provide culturally sensitive workshops to parents and families on parent communication topics, how to support your child’s school success, how to play while learning, what to do when your child is having trouble in school, and how to plan for college and careers. Through this partnership, students can provide community service to their schools. They can contact their school teacher about offering a workshop on a parenting topic that their parents would like to learn more about. The student can gain community service credits by organizing the workshop. They can work with interpreters, copy handouts, advertise the workshop, help parents register, and host the workshop. Afterwards, the student can meet with the teacher and parents. Students can discuss opportunities to support future workshops with parent/student leadership support.

Community Service Planning Worksheet

During this season of giving, brainstorm various community service activities that you can share with your family by completing the worksheet.

Happy community service!

Mary Ann

Community Service Worksheet for My Family

Review the various community services that you can share with your family. Check those that you would like to research and support through community service.

Type of Service	Check those you would like to research for support services.
Collecting money for disaster relief
Gathering clothes and food for those in need
Planting trees and cleaning a park, a school, or the beach
Adopting a school in need of computers
Serving meals at a homeless shelter
Visiting and performing for seniors
Making gifts for seniors, veterans, and those in need
Tutoring younger children or helping at the school
Helping a mother or babysitting for young children
Assisting at a daycare or nursery school
Working in an afterschool daycare program
Helping at a hospital or community service agency
Doing secretarial and computer work at agencies
Organizing and providing interpretation and translation services at a parent education workshop
Other:

Describe how you will provide these services. How will you learn more about a community service or need? What can each family member do to support this community service activity?

Have you ever volunteered for a social service agency, a church, at your school? What did you learn by volunteering? What leadership skills did you develop?

What did you learn when working with other cultures?

How can we help you develop a community service project for your family and community?