Community service projects can look great on college applications. But the difference between a worthwhile community service project and a flimsy excuse to check a box is not only vast but easily recognizable by college admissions officers. Before you start adding new commitments to your schedule, take some time to think about what areas you’re most interested in, whether that’s working with children, cleaning up local trails, coaching youth sports, etc. Then, explore which community service projects exist (or might be possible) in your area. Hoping for some inspiration? Our list of 130 community service examples and ideas for high school students will get you started.
Community service is a great way for college students to give back, build skills, and make a difference. With busy class schedules jobs, and social lives finding time for community service can be challenging. However, dedicating even just a few hours per month to volunteering can have a big impact both on your community and your own personal growth.
In this article, we’ll explore 25 meaningful and practical community service ideas perfect for college students. Whether your interests lie in working with children, aiding the elderly, assisting animals, or environmental cleanup, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Why Community Service Matters
Before diving into specific ideas, let’s first look at some of the key reasons why community service should be a priority during your college years:
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Builds real-world skills. You’ll gain practical skills in areas like communication teamwork problem-solving, time management, leadership, and more. These talents will serve you well in future jobs and life in general.
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Looks great on your resume. Volunteer work demonstrates responsibility compassion, and initiative to employers and graduate programs.
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Allows you to explore interests. Volunteering lets you test out potential career paths with little commitment. It’s a chance to learn what you’re passionate about.
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Broadens perspectives. Immersing yourself in communities beyond college exposes you to new people, ideas, and life experiences. This expands your worldview.
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Promotes civic engagement. Contributing to a cause fosters community spirit and motivates future volunteering and activism.
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Feels fulfilling. Helping others simply makes you feel good. Community service provides a sense of purpose.
25 Meaningful Community Service Ideas for College Students
Alright, now let’s explore some hands-on community service projects perfect for college students!
1. Volunteer with Local Youth
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Tutor or mentor at-risk students through local after school programs. You can help with homework, studying, college prep, and more.
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Coach a youth sports team at the YMCA or recreation center. Share your passion for sports with the next generation.
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Lead a reading circle at the library focused on a children’s book series. Make reading fun through related crafts and activities.
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Volunteer with Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters or a similar youth development organization. Form meaningful mentoring relationships.
2. Help Distribute Food
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Volunteer at a food bank or pantry, sorting donations and assembling food boxes for local families in need.
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Join meals on wheels to deliver food to elderly and disabled neighbors who have difficulty leaving their homes.
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Help collect, organize and distribute groceries through a campus food recovery network. Reduce waste while supporting students facing food insecurity.
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Prepare and serve meals at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Provide warm, nutritious meals to hungry community members.
3. Care for Animals
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Socialize cats and dogs at a local animal shelter. Take them on walks and give them love as you help them get adopted.
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Foster pets when the animal shelter is over capacity. Provide temporary homes for dogs, cats, rabbits and other small animals.
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Volunteer at an equine rescue facility. Help care for abused and neglected horses.
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Transport rescue dogs for adoption events. Help bring shelter pets to public venues so they can meet potential families.
4. Assist Senior Citizens
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Visit seniors in assisted living facilities to provide companionship through talking, reading aloud, playing games, music and more.
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Help elderly neighbors by raking leaves, shoveling snow, changing light bulbs, cleaning gutters and completing other household tasks.
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Teach technology classes at senior centers to increase digital literacy among older adults. Help them learn skills like using smartphones, computers and the internet.
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Volunteer with Meals on Wheels. In addition to delivering food, check in on seniors to ensure their safety and assess any needs.
5. Clean Up the Environment
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Organize or participate in beach, river, park, highway or other community cleanup efforts. Help beautify shared public spaces.
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Volunteer at a community garden. Help plant, water, weed and harvest produce for donation to local food banks and pantries.
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Join environmental nonprofits like the Sierra Club for conservation efforts like tree planting, trail restoration and invasive species removal.
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Educate others about sustainability, recycling and other green living practices through tabling events and social media. Encourage lifestyle changes that benefit the planet.
6. Contribute Creative Skills
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If you enjoy visual arts, offer free lessons to underprivileged kids through a community center. Share your passion for painting, drawing, ceramics and other mediums.
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Join a committee for a local film festival. Help select films, organize events and promote the festival. Gain experience in arts event planning.
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Design posters, flyers and other promotional materials for nonprofit organizations. Assist with their marketing and outreach efforts.
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Photograph events for a charity and provide them with photos to use in newsletters, websites, social media and other materials.
7. Fundraise
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Organize supply drives for items like school backpacks, hygiene products, clothing, toys and nonperishable foods. Distribute to people in need.
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Plan fun charity events like dances, game nights, car washes and bake sales. Proceeds can support causes like fighting cancer, homelessness, animal welfare and more.
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Fill leadership roles in campus chapters of national nonprofit groups like Relay for Life, March of Dimes and Habitat for Humanity. Gain event planning experience.
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Crowdfund through platforms like GoFundMe to raise funds for local individuals in need due to medical bills, emergencies, and other unexpected hardships.
8. Connect College Students
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Create a peer mentoring program between upperclassmen and incoming freshman. Guide new students in transitioning to college.
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Lead orientation groups as a volunteer student ambassador. Welcome new students and share tips for college success.
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Tutor fellow college students at academic success centers. Assist with writing, math, test prep and other subjects.
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Volunteer with campus support centers like the women’s center, LGBTQ+ center and multicultural center. Help run events, staff hotlines and provide resources.
9. Teach Valuable Skills
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Instruct English as a Second Language classes through local churches, libraries and nonprofits. Help new immigrants adjust to life in America.
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Teach basic computer skills like using Microsoft Office, email and the internet to disadvantaged community members needing to build digital literacy.
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Share your expertise in arts, crafts, cooking, gardening or other hands-on skills with kids, seniors or veterans in structured workshop settings.
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Lead financial literacy classes that teach budgeting, saving, building credit and avoiding debt traps. Set up young people for future financial success.
10. Lend Administrative Abilities
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Assist overburdened nonprofits with administrative tasks like data entry, mailings, answering phones and organizing files.
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Use your writing skills to draft website content, press releases, newsletters, annual reports and other materials for community organizations.
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Photocopy, prepare mailings, create flyers, update bulletin boards and assist with other clerical duties at charities and associations.
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Offer your transcription services to help nonprofits convert recorded meetings and events into written documents.
11. Help Promote Community Health
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Educate groups on health topics like nutrition, fitness, stress management, sexual health, mental health, addiction and disease prevention.
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Volunteer at local health clinics, blood drives and health fairs. Help with registration, data entry, post-care and other tasks.
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Join campus organizations focused on health outreach. Raise awareness through tabling events, social media campaigns, workshops and memoir writing groups.
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Assist elderly, disabled and other transportation-disadvantaged patients with getting to medical appointments. Provide a valuable service.
12. Advocate for Social Causes
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Call or write elected officials to advocate for policies like human rights, environmental protection, homelessness, education funding and other critical issues. Make your voice heard.
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Volunteer with the campus chapter of a national organization like Amnesty International or the Sierra Club. Join advocacy efforts around relevant issues.
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Educate voters and register people to vote through nonpartisan civic engagement campaigns. Encourage participation in the democratic process.
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Attend rallies, protests, town halls and other events. Stand up for causes you believe in.
13. Coach Sports Teams
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Share your passion for athletics by coaching a little league, YMCA or recreational league team in your favorite sport like soccer, softball, basketball or swimming. Make practices and games fun.
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Become a “team buddy” for youth sports organizations supporting children with disabilities. Help them participate.
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Offer swimming lessons at the community pool. Teach kids a vital safety skill.
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Volunteer as an assistant coach for your college team. Help lead practices and provide support during games and meets. Gain coaching experience.
14. Participate in Disaster Response
- Join organizations like the Red Cross
130 Examples of Community Service Projects for High School Students
As you read through the following list, eliminate the ideas that don’t appeal to you, as well as ones that aren’t relevant to your community. Take note of the ideas that sound promising.
Community Service Project Ideas: Environment
- Host a clean-up of your local park or hiking trail.
- Join and work at a community garden.
- Create a composting center in your neighborhood, and host how-to workshops.
- Create a Christmas tree recycling program.
- Join a tree-planting organization working to reduce greenhouse gases.
- Organize a recycling and composting workshop to teach upcycling habits.
- Help maintain the walking trails in local and national parks.
- Host a clean-up of a nearby river, lake, or beach.
- Create a community pledge to boycott the consumption and use of toxic products.
- Organize a carpooling network to reduce car emissions.
- Join an organization that plants and protects endemic species.
- Advocate for more bike lanes and improved public transport.
- Volunteer at a nature center to teach visitors about the local environment.
- Volunteer at a bird sanctuary.
- Host a workshop on how to recycle and donate batteries and electronics.
- Volunteer at a botanical garden.
- Organize and lead nature walks.
- Organize a group to plant flowers and seeds in bare public spaces.
Innovative Community Service Ideas For Teens! (Part 1) | #Volunteer
Why should a college student do community service?
Having community service on college applications and resumes can also make a great impression. Other benefits of doing community service as a college student include making new friends, gaining more knowledge, and learning new skills. What kinds of community service opportunities are available for college students?
How can students get involved in community service?
Remote volunteer opportunities provide an ideal way for these students to get involved in community service. These opportunities might include putting writing or communication skills to use for sending emails or letters. Other opportunities might involve helping others via video chat, texts, or phone calls. 14.
Do community service projects look good on college applications?
Community service projects can look great on college applications. But the difference between a worthwhile community service project and a flimsy excuse to check a box is not only vast but easily recognizable by college admissions officers.
What are some good community service ideas?
Host a bake sale. Host a silent auction, trivia night, or fashion show. Ask local businesses if they’d be willing to match any donations you receive. Once you’ve made your list of community service ideas, do a little digging to see which opportunities exist in your community. This will narrow down your list some more.
