Ways You Can Help

Care for Animals at a ​Shelter

Cats and dogs at an animal shelter often don’t get the care they need. You can volunteer to help take care of these animals. You can help feed the animals and give them a bath. 
Contact the Jacksonville Humane Society or your local Vet for information.

Tutor Young Kids After School

You can help the community by being a leader for the younger kids in school. Tutoring them after school or during the summer is a great way of giving back.  You can focus on just students having a hard time with their studies or tutor anyone interested.

Be creative with social distancing.
Use Facetime, Google Duo, or
What's App to communicate.

Run or Walk for a Cause

One of the best service projects for middle school kids is to become involved with a cause that is meaningful to them.  It could be a march to support cancer or other illnesses.  You could march to pronounce your support for renewable energy, fight against climate change, or something political in nature.​

Keep America Clean

 Start your own campaign to keep our city clean:  adopt  a neighborhood road, the beach, a popular park.  Pick up trash  and clean up our environment.
Join an organized beach clean-up or plan one on your own.
Go for a walk and clean up as you go.
Don't forget to wear gloves and carry a trash bag.

Donate Used Eyeglasses

Organize a used eyeglasses collection.  Collect used eyeglasses and drop off at designated collection Donate collected at designated centers.
​https://www.allaboutvsion.com/resources/donate.htm 

Help the Elderly

Help your elderly neighbors, homebound, or elderly family members.
Mow or rake an elderly neighbor's lawn.
Plant a flower garden, or wash windows for a senior citizen.
​Deliver  homemade (by you) cookies to a homebound senior citizen.
​Offer to walk their dogs.

Handmade Cards for the Elderly

People at assisted living homes can get lonely and sad, especially now the restrictions on visiting. Remind the elderly that the world hasn’t forgotten about them. You can make cards and send them to the homes or call ahead so you can deliver them. Even an act as simple as this can put a smile on their faces.
Use this link for hints and examples of notes to write:
https://lovefortheelderly.org/letters

Make Care Kits for the Homeless

Homeless people often cannot afford some of the amenities people take for granted. Make a list of the needed toiletries and ask your friends, neighbors, and family to help.  

Mission House on Shetter Ave, Jax Beach has a list of needed items.

Students ages 12 - 15 may personally volunteer with a parent present.
​
https://www.missionhousejax.org/donate-now

Send Cards to Soldiers

Soldiers sacrifice a lot for the safety of the country and their loved ones. Middle school students can show their appreciation by writing cards and send them to the local military office. Those cards will go to the soldiers fighting overseas. It will help remind them that they’re fighting for a reason and that the people they’re protecting still care.

​Use this link to find organizations that send letters to our soldiers and tips on writing letters to servicemen.
http://www.operationwearehere.com/IdeasforSoldiersCardsLetters.html