SAL: Community service project ideas

Community service is a term used to describe the act of volunteering one’s self in order to provide services and benefits to a community. Community service can be performed through cleaning roadways, helping a military family whose spouse is on serving overseas, hosting send-off and welcome home ceremonies for servicemembers, feeding the homeless, or organizing charitable donations. Community service should be a main focus of your local Squadron, as it is a small way for SAL members to honor and give back to family member’s who served our country. The following are a few ways to get started with community service:

• Assign a chairman to coordinate volunteering and community involvement.
• Contact your Detachment Americanism Chairman for ideas.
• Contact your local food bank to see what type of donations they need.
• Send a candidate to Boys State or Girls State.
• Find families of active-duty military in your area who need help around the house.
• Conduct send-off and welcome home celebrations for servicemembers.
• Get involved with a local Habitat for Humanity project.
• Start a flag replacement and flag etiquette program at your post home.
• Host an American Legion Baseball team.
• Start a local Adopt-A-Road team.
• Educate members about and support The American Legion National Emergency Fund.

Overall, there are many ways you can involve your Squadron in community service. The main thing is to educate members that this is what we should be doing. Also, I am sure you have new members who are looking for a way to get involved and this could be a great start. If you would like any help or information please email sal@legion.org.