The Community Service Office is here to assist student organizations in getting connected to the community. We can meet with you to discuss your interests in planning a service project, to offer ideas on how service can build your team, and to expand your group’s knowledge of the Springfield community. We can help you set up a one-time activity or help you establish an on-going partnership with a local non-profit organization. We can also provide you a list of possible service projects. Check out this link to review the latest listing of special service projects and to sign-up to receive notices about ways you can get your group connected to the community.
Keep us informed
E-mail the Community Service Office (weserve@wittenberg.edu) and let us know what your organziation is doing.Include the following: name of organization, name of person submitting this information and contact information, project, date and time, explain the details of your service/philanthropy project, and what your group learned from engaging in this project.
Calendar
Possible Funding Sources for YOUR Student Organization's Service Project
Funding from the Wittenberg University Community:
Build A Better Wittenberg (BABW)
Distributes funds to Wittenberg students and student organizations that are planning projects and events that promote diversity of thought, discussion, and community building within Wittenberg and between Wittenberg and Springfield. All proposals must be submitted to the chair of BABW and will be reviewed by the BABW committee. For more information contact the Student Senate Vice President.
Week-end Alcohol Free Programming
Funding is available for programs held on week-ends that promote alternatives to alcohol-based activities. For more information contact the Student Development Office.
Funding from Local or National Sources
Do Something: GameStop Youth Grants (outside link) Amount of grants awarded is up to $500. Applicants 25 years old or younger are eligible to apply. Grants are focused on projects that address the following areas: community building, health and the environment. Grants are awarded on a yearly basis.
Youth as Resources (YAR) of Clark County and Springfield (outside link) Amount of grants awarded is up to $500. Applicants 22 years old or younger are eligible to apply. For more information contact yar@wittenberg.edu.
Youth Service America (YSA) (outside link)
YSA keeps a list of possible grant opportunities for service projects. The YSA list includes opportunities for college students as well as K-12, so be sure to look carefully at the grant requirements.
If you know of a funding source that is not listed here that is available for college students to do service project please let the Community Service Office know by emailing: weserve@wittenberg.edu.
Planning a Meaningful Service Project
A Step-By-Step Guide
GOALS
• Why do you want to involve your organization in this service project?
• What do you hope participants will gain from being involved?
• How many participants do you hope/need to be involved in the project?
• Include others in the brainstorming of goals/ideas for this service project.
SITE SELECTION
• Choose your site based on your interest in the issue, population or project.
• Pick a site based on the interests of the participants.
• Will the work be direct, indirect service or advocacy?
• Consider the needs of the site/community. To truly make a difference in the community, your actions must meet a real community need.
• What types of services does the site offer? What types of clients does the site serve? What confidentiality policies or restrictions does the site have?
• Where is the site located?
• Consult the list of service opportunities provided by the Community Service Office.
PREPARATION
• What kind of orientation (or training) will your group receive prior to the service activity?
• Make sure to train participants on how to appropriately interact with the clients they will be serving, the importance being flexible and open-minded, and maintaining confidentiality.
• Who will provide the orientation?
• Educate your group by inviting the contact person from your service site to come and talk about his/her work, the problems they see daily, background on their site, etc.
RECRUITMENT
• How will you get students to participate in the activity? In what ways can students benefit from this particular service activity?
• How will you recruit drivers or student leaders? In what ways would either one benefit from taking a leadership role?
• What should the timeline be for both of these recruitment efforts?
TIME
• Start your planning of the service project early!
• How much time will you commit to this activity?
• Develop a timeline of what you need to do and when you need to do it by.
• Are you interested in planning a one-time project or would you prefer to participate with this organization on an on-going basis?
• When (date and time) will the project take place?
• Have you considered the schedules of your participants?
• Check out the campus calendar to see what else is happening on the date(s) you plan to do your service project.
• Consider the time of year and how weather could impact your project.
• Have you factored in orientation and reflection time?
TRANSPORTATION
• Do you have directions to the site and do you have those written out for your drivers?
• How will you get students to and from the service site? Do you have certified drivers?
• How will you deal with "stranded" students?
SUPERVISION
• Who will be your contact person at the site? Who do you talk to when you get to the site? Will a site person supervise the activity?
• Will there be a "site leader" from your organization? Is this person knowledgeable about the site? How will this person be trained to lead?
• Who do you talk to when issues arise?
COMMUNICATION
• Keep in regular contact with the site and follow up with them as needed and in a timely manner. Remember site contacts have hectic schedules so respectful of their time and ability to return your messages.
• Confirm details with the site the day before the event.
• Keep the participants informed on what they will be doing, where they need to be, what they need to bring and who to contact if they have a concern or question.
SAFETY AND EMERGENCY CONCERNS
• Is the work within the students' capabilities?
• Should you consider any safety precautions?
• Who needs to know where you will be an for how long?
• What will you do if there is an emergency?
• Will you have a cell phone or other way to make an emergency call?
• Does the site require that participants sign a waiver?
RESOURCES
• What will you need to do the work?
• Are supplies provided at the site, or are you responsible for bringing them?
• Might anyone be willing to donate supplies for the service activity?
• Do you need water, food and how will that be provided?
• Do you need to reserve a space on campus to do orientation/reflection?
• Set up a budget based on estimated costs of resources needed. Remember to track actual expenses and hang onto receipts.
REFLECTION
• Will the reflection be a group discussion, or take some other form?
• Where will it take place?
• Will it be formal or informal?
• How will you use open-ended questions to prompt reflection?
• Will it be useful to use a service reflection model?
• Come to the Community Service Office to get a listing of reflection activities
POST-EVENT FOLLOW UP
• Have you thanked the site supervisor, the participants and those who donated supplies?
• Have you given all participants (if known) a summary of the event's successes?
• Have you created publicity to inform the campus and community about what you've accomplished?