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Service Projects

General

AFOQT breakfast: Ah, remember that early morning when you too got to take the AFOQT? Imagine how much better you would have performed if you had first filled up on orange juice, fruit, oatmeal, etc., rather than the soda pop to wake you up.
A-thon: Have an a-thon! A dance-a-thon, read-a-thon, my personal favorite the sleep-a-thon, a bowl-a-thon, or any other a-thon you can think of! Donate the proceeds to a worthy cause. (No, your tuition is not a worthy enough cause.)
Blood or plasma drive: Working with your local blood bank lets you show just how much you enjoy giving of yourself this time literally!
Care packages: This could be a variety of projects. Putting together personal hygiene kits for homeless or abused women shelters is always welcome. Or, on a completely unrelated tangent, this could be putting together survival kits for your fellow students during finals week.
Children’s book drive: They’re cute, they’re cuddly, and they’re full of energy. Giving a child a book is a rare opportunity to develop a young mind. Whether this is for a shelter or a school library, half the fun is getting to read to the kids after the drive is finished.
Children’s hospital visit: It’s lonely when you’re stuck in the hospital, especially at an age where sitting down for more than five minutes is a tragedy. Visiting kids in the hospital encourages them and gives them some fun in the day. No, you don’t have to be Patch Adams. Yes, you do have to want to have a good time.
Corps socials: Show your detachment you care by hosting a Cadet Officer’s Club for them. It’s a great way for the GMC, POC, and Cadre to interact plus, AAS gets some visibility (and maybe some candidates).
CPR training: Would you know what to do if someone stopped breathing? Wouldn’t you like someone else to if it happened to you? Providing low cost CPR/First Aid training for members of your squadron, detachment, or the university at large could save lives.
Designated driver program: Make a list of drivers available at the student union on your campus. It’s better to get up at 3 AM to drive someone home than to go visit them in the hospital the next day.
Home renovation: Volunteer to rake their leaves, clear the junk out of the garage, or paint the house for those unable to do it themselves. Not only will they appreciate it, it’s work that you can see immediate results from.
Homeless shelter visits: For those of us in the dorms, home is a 12′x12′ room. There are those with even less to live in; those who don’t have the luxury of a warm bed and nourishing food. The homeless can be helped by blanket or food donations, etc., but what a lot of them want is conversation.
Honoring local heroes: Know of someone spectacular in your community? Hold a ceremony to honor this individual who went above and beyond.
Joint dinner: Hold a dinner/social with the Air Force Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Order of World Wars, or another ROTC unit on campus.
Leadership classes: Develop courses for a local school. Apply the ATG and what you’ve learned in LLAB to the common experiences of a student. Situational awareness, time management, and dynamic followership might be key topics.
Literacy awareness: Helping a child or adult become more literate promotes confidence and the desire to learn. Ideas might be holding a literacy fair, helping out at the local library, or hosting a book sale.
Nursing home visit: Go visit some people who can’t get around like they used to. Work with the staff to see what you can provide: maybe a senior citizens’ dance or talent show could be in the future.
Park/highway clean-ups: Adopt a section of road or clean up a local park. Contact the city to find out what you can do to save the environment and make everything a little cleaner.
Science project judging: So you’re not Bill Nye the Science Guy. Most elementary schools aren’t asking you to test cold fusion. They need help running events, etc. These events may be in the springtime or bi-yearly.
Soup kitchen: Food, new friends, and pleasant conversation. Sounds like a good deal to me! Serving at the local soup kitchen not only promotes community spirit, it allows you to relate to those needier than yourself.
Sponsor single parents: Somewhat like “Adopt-A-Family” this program is designed to help a population that needs it more than most single mothers. Whether by helping out with household chores, providing resources such as continued education, or just giving clothes, toys, etc., sponsoring a single mother gives them another chance at the future.
Stuffed animal drive: You collect them, and you get to hand them out. A lot of trauma programs use the stuffed animals to relate to kids that have been in accidents. They can also be given at homeless shelters.
School tutoring: Hey, we got this far in school there’s got to be something we remember well enough to pass on to another student. This could be elementary or high school or even on your own campus. In addition, Visions classrooms are always looking for volunteers.
Wing dry cleaning: Organize a system to make routine trips to the local dry cleaner for the corps. Those who don’t have a vehicle will appreciate it, and maybe the cleaner will give you a discounted rate.

Fall

New student shuttle: Provide van service for new students between the airport, train station, etc.
Back to the dorms move-in: The more the merrier! It’s a good introduction for AAS and Silver Wings.
POW/MIA vigil: Organize a 24-hour vigil on the congressionally mandated day. Not only does it show respect to our POW/MIA, it also lets students see the pride we have as cadets.
POW/MIA bracelet sale: Help your detachment show that they remember the POW/MIA by selling silver memorial bracelets.
POW/MIA run: Organize a campus run in memory of the POW/MIA.
Halloween Carnival: Provide a safe (and weather proof) alternative to trick-or-treating by hosting a carnival. Beanbag throws, bobbing for apples, tootsie rolls, haunted houses and getting to dress up is the real bonus!
Halloween safety campaign: Organize a community campaign, perhaps through the elementary schools, to educate kids and parents about safe practices while trick-or-treating.
Trick-or-Treating for cans: What do most people think when college kids show up on their doorsteps on Halloween? Prove them wrong by asking for nonperishable food for a local charity. Sometimes they’ll give you candy anyway!
Children’s hospital pumpkin carving visit: Get some pumpkins donated and carve or paint them at the children’s hospital. Or just take some already prepared ones in to brighten up the wards.
Study Skills Workshop: What, study? As if there’s time for that among all of your other activities! Well, in this case that’s the point. Offer a workshop on more effective study skills for the corps of cadets–those that are saved from Academic TDY will thank you later!
Thanksgiving food drive: Organize a food drive and have something to be truly thankful for this year.

Winter

Holiday food and toy drive (adopt-a-family): Give families a merry holiday by soliciting food and new toys. Toys for Tots might be a good organization to do this through.
Hospital caroling: Maybe you can’t carry a tune in a bucket, but you’ll sound perfect to those staying in the hospital during the holiday season.
Christmas tree recycling: Not only is this a fantastic service, it can also double as a fundraiser. All you need is a truck, some muscles, and maybe some hot cocoa to keep the day moving along!
Valentines for veterans: Make some cards for the VA hospital. You get to show that creative side you always knew you had, and you get to show the veterans that you appreciate them. It’s a win/win situation!
Children’s hospital Valentine’s Day party: Make cards in advance, then have a party at a children’s hospital and distribute them. Don’t forget the cookies and decorations!
Stress and Coping Workshop: I know what you’re thinking–AFROTC students don’t have stress! But, on the slim chance that someone in your Det is feeling just a wee bit close to the edge as the semester continues, offer a workshop on how to cope and calm down.

Spring

Memorial Day cemetery restoration: Many older and historic cemeteries get neglected as time passes. Mow the grass, clean up the headstones, and show respect for pioneers and founders of the area.
Field Day: I know it was my favorite day in elementary school! Even if you don’t get to compete (much), helping out will bring back memories of your youth. Contact your local school district for more information.
Camping: The sun is out, there’s a pack on your back, and everyone is singing corny fireside songs. Who could ask for more? Arrange a camping trip for local school kids, or even just your squadron.