Easy Volunteer Service Projects

Sometimes it's hard to come up with quality ideas for service projects within your community. For various reasons a large project may be out of the question, or just not quite what the group is looking for at present.

Small, easy projects ensure that your service club or volunteer group doesn't get stuck in a rut. They can keep you actively performing an interesting variety of projects, not just the same thing time and time again.

Low on ideas? Here are a few easy service and citizenship project ideas that may work for your club.

[Image courtesy of WBD on stock.xchng]

There are loads of reasons why you would be looking for an "Easy" Service Project. Here are just a few:

• When you need a quick and simple project just to kick things off.
• When you need a project to train up new members with.
• When you need to increase your standing in the community through a quick promotional activity.
• When you are low on funds.
• When you are low on members.
• When you are low on time.
• When your membership is burnt out and needs re-energising.

Or, how do you know what to look for?

An "easy" service project should meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Short preparation time
• No special skills required
• Low cost or no cost
• Low time commitment
• Low manpower commitment

Tree planting

Rubbish Clean Up

Graffiti removal

Yard mowing and clean-ups for seniors

Collecting items for charity - such as blankets, warm clothing and toiletries

Holding Conversation Club or Have-A-Chat sessions - focus on the elderly or on English-Second-Language Students

Take flowers and have a visit with patients in the local hospital, or residents in the local nursing home

Hold an Old Time Movie Night fundraiser and show a silver screen classic

Craft / sew / knit / crochet / woodwork items to be given to those less fortunate or sold as a fundraiser

Enter a team or support a representative in a larger organisation's service or fundraising event (Shave For A Cure, Relay For Life etc)

Reading - read to the visually impaired, help youngsters learn to read or provide home library deliveries to those with mobility issues

If you're in Australia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Fiji or Indonesia and aged between 18 and 45 why not check out your local Apex clubs?

You can find out more information at the Apex Australia official website.

Better still, if you're in Ipswich, Queensland Australia, come and read more about the Apex Club of Ipswich (this links to the Club's Facebook page). Like the page to get regular news updates and photos of club activities and events delivered directly to your Facebook newsfeed.

This page is hosted on Squidoo.com and as such earns royalties from advertising links. 10% of the proceeds earned by this lens are set to donate to the charity Room To Read.

I have chosen to support this charity because I believe that literacy is one of the most important skills we can arm a child with. A good foundation in reading and writing opens up so many doors to further learning and education and equips the child to be a lifelong learner.

Do you have any great easy service project ideas? What kinds of projects have you found work best in your club? Thanks for sharing with us!