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Definition from webster.com
1: capable of being sustained
2 a: of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged
b: of or relating to a lifestyle involving the use of sustainable methods
"A Sustainable Service Project is something that will leave a long lasting impact"
Big Brothers-Big-Sisters-Building a Shelter/Playground for children
The Salvation ARMY-Restoration of run down trailers
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Advertising on television/radio
Going door to door asking for donations
Hosting an event to get the community involved
Contacting local and home newspapers
T-shirts with our company and people who we are donating our time and money to
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Definition from webster.com
1 a : to fix firmly by or as if by packing or wedging b: to press together
2 a : to have a direct effect or impact on : impinge on b: to strike forcefully; also: to cause to strike forcefully
Impact is what it is going to do for the community and/or the organization you are helping out. Our impact was to raise money for Project Warmth so they can help pay/provide for people's heating and winter time needs. We also collected canned goods in order to donate to the local community so that poor people could eat.
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There were five phases to our service project. In the first phase we had volunteers go trick or treating for canned goods. The volunteers did not have to dress up; but could if they wanted to. Then they paired up and went to different residential locations and trick or treated for canned goods by explaining that we were supporting project warmth, which collects blankets, coats, and canned goods for needy people during the cold winter months.
The second phase of our service project was aimed at helping the Lighthouse distribute contact information to people in an effort to promote healthy relationships. Several people were assigned to go to local businesses and request coupons in an effort to reward those people who carried the contact information with them. This is how we helped The Lighthouse: On Monday November 6th we handed out approximately 2,000 cards to students on campus. The cards were given to use by The Lighthouse and contained their phone number and an explaination of who and what they are. The card also had the following phone numbers: 911 for an emergency, 660-543-4123 for the UCM Department of Public Safety, 660-543-SAFE for the Walking Escort SAFE Team, 660-747-9133 for the Warrensburg Police, 660-543-4060 for the Counseling & Psychological Services, 660-543-4770 for the University Health Center, 660-747-25000 for the Western Missouri Medical Center, and 660-429-1088 for the Survival Adult Abuse Center. The card also provided the addresses and website addresses for each of these places. Then on Friday, November 10th, several students carded people on campus - seeing if they were carrying the contact information with them, and if they were, they were given a coupon they could use at a local business/restaurant.
The third phase consisted of asking each member of the company to go as a group with their team into the Warrensburg community and leave sacks with an attached not on the door handle of houses. This was done on a Wednesday. The note requested donations of canned goods and/or non-perishable food items to project warmth and indicated that members from central warmth would return two days later on Friday to pick up any donations.
The fourth phase consisted of a canned food drive held at one of the local elementary schools. A few IBE students contacted local businesses to see if they would donate "prizes" to the students of the local elementary school for winning different categories of a canned food drive contest. Each class of the elemtary school was asked to have students bring in canned foods from home they could donate to project warmth. They were instructed to design something with the canned food. A few IBE students then acted as judges which visited the school and selected the best design, the most cans, and some other categories. The winning classes were awarded prizes for their contribution and a few other IBE students were responsible for picking up the canned goods. This was aimed to instill a sense of pride and community service into the hearts and minds of the students as they work together to help those who need help with getting enough to eat.
The fifth phase of our service project was to hold a pool tournament for students of UCM. The entry fee was set at $5 and the students were allowed to donate canned goods to cover the entry fee at the rate of four cans equaling one dollar. Once again our aim was to illustrate to college students that it is possible to have an organized effort to help the needy and have fun doing it.
When looking back and wondering what we could have done that we didn't in regards to our service project, a couple of things come to mind. One - we could have held a 'blanket' drive and then donated teh blankets to Catholic Charities. And two - we could have held a clothing or 'coat' drive and collected warm coats we could have donated to Catholic Charities. Come to think of it, we could have done both of these things at the same time or held two separate collection campaigns for these items throughout the semester. If we had done this, we would have involved the Warrensburg community in mirroring some of the efforts Project Warmth undertakes.
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Other elements that should be reported at the end of the semester is how much we have donated to the charity. Another thing is also what the project was, how many hours were involved, and how much was spent on the project. You might also report the impact of the project and how long it will stay around.
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Central Warmth has decided to donate money and time to the 25th annual Project Warmth campaign, sponsored by The Kansas City Star and KCTV5. Project Warmth's main purpose is to help those in need during the cold winter months. Since its inception in 1982, Project Warmth has collected more than 1,862 tons of food, clothing and blankets, along with over $7 million for area residents.
All of Central Warmth's donated funds will go directly to the community and will not be used for salaries or overhead expenses of Project Warmth. They money is to be used to assist with rent, utility assistance and weatherization of homes. The Salvation Army and the Mid America Assistance Coalition will elect who to give the money to based on those who are in greatest need.
- Project Warmth is transitional help-more than half of the money raised will go to help the working poor.
- Project Warmth helps families with children and the elderly, who are especially at risk during the winter months
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We tracked service hours using an extended version of the form below:
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Central Warmth measured our impact by counting service hours, the projects we did, and trying to make a substantial profit for our charity. We also wanted a service project that could make a lasting contribution to the community or our charity of choice.
Here is a link to a page that has great ideas for service projects:
http://www.orecity.k12.or.us/ochs/nhs/ProjIdea.html
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Timeline:
Make sure you design a timeline and stick with it. You'll find as you go along in your company that time starts slipping away and you soon realize there is only a couple of weeks left instead of a couple of months. A timeline and being well organized can help your service project run smoothly and be less bothersome to people. People like to know about events a week or two ahead of time, they get a little annoyed when there is need for help at an event that night or the next.
Here is a web page that has a couple of different downloads for a person to make a timeline with:
http://www.teach-nology.com/downloads/time/
Picking a charity
In picking a charity there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you want to have a charity that is somewhat well recognized so they do not just take your money. Second, you want to make sure that the money is actually going to something and not just paying wages of people that work for that charity. Third, the service product that you need to do must be thought up and ran by your company. It also must leave a lasting impact on the community. One other thing you want to consider is trying to get the money to stay locally.
Different Charities
There are tons of different charities out there. Here are some of the most recognized charities and their websites:
Muscular Dystrophy Association (http://www.mdausa.org/)
American Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org/)
Salvation Army (http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn.nsf)
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