Here is a list of ideas for completing Community Service Hours SAFELY:
- Call a Nursing home and ask to write letters to some of the residents. (You could also make cards for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, & Easter!)
- Create a community art project
- Help neighbors with yardwork (Picking up leaves, shoveling snow, gardening, ect.)
- Call elderly neighbors or neighbors who can't go out and talk to them for a while.
- Help at a local soup kitchen with a parent
- Donate to a local food shelter
- Make blessing bags to give out to the homeless (Look up Brian's Bags!)
- Make a spiritual bouquet for a friend, neighbor, or family member. (A spiritual bouquet is when you ask others you know to offer certain prayers for a person. So one person could offer 3 hail Mary's, another could offer mass, another could offer 10 hail Mary's.
- Here is an example of two different ways to make them: Bouquet #1 or Bouquet #2
- Write a note to a priest, family member, or friend to share how much you appreciate them.
- Do random acts of kindness.
- Think of your own way to do community service and make someone's day! Just run it by Sister Karen or Emily Golec first. But most likely, we will approve it.
Immaculate Conception Shelter, Hartford
Prepare food and/or serve at the shelter. Food prep is done that day or the day before. For serving time, meet at St. Francis of Assisi at 5:30pm and return by 8:15pm.
Altar Servers
Seventh graders and up, who volunteer as altar servers, may count their time toward community service. Contact the parish office to sign up at (860) 644-2411.
St. Junipero Serra Parish Religious Education Program
Youth Service Hours
A very special part of the Religious Education Program for High School students is the performance of community service work.
A minimum of 15 hours of service work is required as part of the Confirmation Preparation program. Volunteering may be done during the summer for the year prior to 9th grade or no later than Easter of 10th grade.
Students are responsible for reporting the volunteer work done to the Faith Formation office. Blank community service hour forms are available online. The following information must be given: your name, description of the job done, number of hours worked, date performed, signature of adult supervisor.
Written verification is needed and should be submitted 2-3 times per year. Email copies to faithformation@southwindsor.cc or submit through Google Classroom where applicable.
Students may find independent volunteer opportunities, such as helping a neighbor, or join with a group on a church sponsored task. Please look for jobs outside of your own home to truly help your community. Babysitting for a younger brother or sister without pay or helping other relatives is wonderful for your family, but it does not count toward community service. Must be something over and above what you are already required to do. Example: Cleaning your room or managing a sports team. We ask that a minimum of Min half the time in some sort of church ministry.
Participate in the life of the Parish as ONE church.
- 8 hours – Parish Community and/or Corporal works of Mercy
- 7 hours – Community Service
Many opportunities will be available for sign-up in Signup-Genius on-line. Link available on Confirmation site. Below is a list of possible ways to help at church, school or elsewhere in the community:
Church Coffee Hours
School Fairs
Church Fund Raisers
Special Church Programs
Altar Server
Teacher aide in After School Program
Summer Program Helper
St. Vincent De Paul
Baking
Choir
Stuffing inserts into Bulletins
Retreat
We hope that you will enjoy your service work for the community. Your efforts are very much appreciated.
PARENTAL/GUARDIAN CONSENT FORM AND LIABILITY WAIVER:
NOTE: All Church sponsored events with volunteers will follow strict Archdioceses guidelines. All events at Shelters and Senior Centers require participants to wear masks until further notice.
By signing up for a church sponsored activity, Parent agrees to the following:
I ask for and grant permission for my son/daughter to participate in an event that requires transportation to a location away from the parish. This activity will take place under the guidance and direction of employees and volunteers from the ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD and St. Junipero Serra Parish.
While youth are responsible for his/her own behavior, as parent and/or legal guardian, I remain legally liable for any actions or damages made by the above named minor. I am aware that I will be called if my teen breaks any of the rules and has to be sent home. I agree on behalf of myself, my teen named herein, our heirs, successors, and assigns to hold harmless and defend the ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD, St. Junipero Serra Parish, its officers, directors, agents, employees, representatives associated with this event from any and all liability claims, loss or damage arising from or in connection with my teen attending this event or in connection with any illness or injury or cost of medical treatment in connection therewith, and I agree to compensate the above named parish, and the ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD, its officers, directors, agents, employees, or representatives associated with the event for reasonable attorney fees and expenses arising in connection therewith.
I hereby warrant that to the best of my knowledge, my teen is in good health and I assume all responsibility for his/her health. In the event of an emergency and I cannot be reached, I hereby give permission to transport my child to a hospital or medical facility and to seek medical attention. I give permission for the administration of non-prescription medication - throat lozenges or cough syrup - if deemed appropriate and if the situation is not life-threatening.
