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MLK Day of Service

by | Jan 13, 2023

Did you know that MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated by US Congress as a national day of service?  Instead of a “day off” from school or work, Americans are encouraged to spend the day serving others. Coretta Scott King said:

“The greatest birthday gift my husband could receive is if people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds celebrated the holiday by performing individual acts of kindness through service to others.”   MLK Day is always the third Monday of January.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy of service, this blog post brings together several resources to support 4-H service projects to live out our motto, “make the best better.”

What is the Difference Between Service Learning and Community Service?

Service to the community is one of the pillars of 4-H membership. Our pledge includes “My HANDS to larger service.”  All 4-H members and clubs are encouraged to plan and execute at least one service project each year. Community service and service learning are often confused. Community service can be court-mandated and sometimes has a negative connotation. However, the biggest difference between community service and service learning is that community service is usually a “one and done” activity where youth collect food, clothes, or other items for a local organization or pick up litter. There is nothing wrong with these types of activities, but youth usually have little input on them, and they are one-time events. This is perfect for younger youth. In contrast, service learning is a longer-term process where youth identify a community need, develop a proposal or plan to address that need, and often involve other community organizations or officials to take action. Service learning is a great way for older youth and teens to develop awareness and empathy. For more information about the differences between service learning and community service, check out our previous blog post.

Getting Youth Involved in Service to Others

Service to others is a huge part of the 4-H Model. Not only is it part of our pledge, Generosity is one of the 4-H Essential Elements, and something we strive to integrate throughout our programming. 4-H Clubs are encourages to participate in at least one community service or service learning project each year- it one of many standards for club and individual members. If you are not familiar with standards of excellence, it is part of our 4-H Awards and Recognition Program. To learn more, check out this previous blog post or be sure to attend our workshop on Awards and Recognition next weekend at our Northwest 4-H Volunteer Forum.

Finally, there is a grant program to help clubs with service learning!  It’s called 4-H Community Pride, and not only does this program provide funding for service learning, there is a comprehensive leader’s guide to help volunteers, youth, and parents plan, execute, and celebrate thier service learning.

Ideas to Kick Start Community Service or Service Learning

If you are in need of some fresh ideas for service learning, be sure to read “17 Ways to Kick Start Your Service Learning.” We will also offer a workshop on Service Learning during our Northwest 4-H Volunteer Forum next weekend in Destin, FL. Finally, during our upcoming Northwest 4-H Teen Retreat, youth will have the opportunity to participate in a service project our youth planning committee selected. They will be making teddy bears to give away at a summer camp for youth with disabilities.

4-H Grows Compassion

by | Oct 6, 2015

4-Her Isaac Brooks helped prepare meals for hospice patients as part of his 4-H Community Service Project.

4-Her Isaac Brooks helped prepare meals for hospice patients as part of his 4-H Community Service Project.

With 4-H’s long history of community service and service learning built into the structure of the club model, 4-H members are poised to develop skills that make them highly valued students and eventually adults. And while grades and ACT or SAT scores used to be standard criteria for college admission, colleges and universities are looking for a well-rounded student in the highly competitive field of freshman admission.

By engaging in community service work, youth have the ability to explore their interests and find where their passions lie, show others what they believe in and define possible career paths. Community service also gives youth the ability to learn experientially and see that their contribution to a cause, project or event can make a difference.

Teenlife.com defines just a few of the personal benefits of youth volunteering as:

  • Developing an increased sense of social responsibility
  • Developing a global view of society
  • Developing a heart for giving back and helping others
  • Providing opportunities to apply what they’ve learned to real human needs
  • Building relations and social connectedness with peers and adults
  • Improving communication and critical thinking skills
  • Helping find passions and interests that may leader to future career options.

    4-Her Jessica Wells accepted a Florida 4-H Community Pride Top 5 Project award on behalf of the Fire Ants 4-H Club at 4-H University.

    4-Her Jessica Wells accepted a Florida 4-H Community Pride Top 5 Project award on behalf of the Fire Ants 4-H Club at 4-H University.

In addition to the 4-H Community Service Project, 4-H helps fund projects through the Community Pride Program.   This program helps members learn about their community and encourages them to improve their environment through completion of a service learning project. Grant funds awarded through the Florida 4-H Foundation help supplement the project. Once the project is complete, a final report is submitted for statewide competition and recognition at 4-H University as a Top 5 Florida 4-H Community Pride Project.  Florida 4-H also offers similar opportunities through the Marine Ecology Program which awards mini funds to 4-H clubs to execute Service Learning in Aquatic and Marine Education and Conservation through a gift from the Guy Harvey Foundation.  Community service has the ability to become life changing – for the youth involved and for those who are receiving their service.

If you would like to help 4-H grow the next generation of compassionate adults who are civically engaged, then become a volunteer.  4-H offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities based on your skills, interests and schedule.  For more information, contact your local UF IFAS Extension Office or visit http://florida4h.org/volunteers.

Tomorrow, learn how 4-H Grows Curiosity!