Submitted by: Sophia Birch, Vice-President of Development
As the leaves change and winter approaches, STAR season kicks off as well. If you’re having trouble coming up with project ideas, you and your chapter could take part in a community service project and use it for STAR under the categories of Chapter Service Project Display & Portfolio. This project is a great way to serve your community and show off your chapter’s efforts to develop and implement a service project that contributes to families, schools and communities.
Of course, every service project needs a focus, and what better way to help out families in your community than volunteering at or donating to the local homeless shelter? At this time of year, there is a critical need for warm clothing donations: coats, hats, and gloves are always in demand. Your chapter could make tie blankets, sew gloves, or hold a coat drive to help meet this need. One project that Milford does every year is Socktober, where, during the month of October, classes are in a competition to see who can donate the most socks. The class that donates the most gets a prize. This is an easy way to raise supplies quickly. Your chapter could also volunteer at a soup kitchen- volunteers are always needed, and with the colder weather, the kitchens will be busier than ever.
Aside from volunteering with homeless shelters, communities also need volunteers to help keep their parks, libraries, and highways clean. Nebraska offers a program called Adopt-A-Highway, where groups can “adopt” a road that they keep clean and beautiful. More information can be found at this link: https://dot.nebraska.gov/projects/get-involved/adopt-hwy/. Communities also appreciate chapters that clean the parks or rake leaves. Your chapter could even go from house to house asking if homeowners would like FCCLA to rake their leaves or sweep their driveways. Many elderly people in the community appreciate efforts like this.
Finally, your FCCLA chapter can volunteer at community events. This year, events may not proceed as normal, but usually chapters can send students to run booths at the local fall festivals. Make sure to ask your local Chambers of Commerce, Legions, Senior Centers, or Kiwanis if they need volunteers for any of their events throughout the fall.
Even if you don’t turn it into a STAR project, community service is always a good way for members young and old to get involved. So as the leaves fall and the temperature drops, remember to make time for your community and get involved in local projects. Have a great autumn, Nebraska FCCLA!