Community service involves performing acts for the benefit of the community without financial compensation. It can be done through social organizations or individually, and may be required for graduation or as punishment for an offence. It has been shown to improve academic performance and is a way for retirees and parents to stay active.
The term community service refers to any act done for the benefit of the community at large. The acts can range from a one-time effort to collect canned goods for the local food pantry to a weekly effort to serve meals to the homeless. People receive no financial compensation for their services, although a number of awards programs exist to recognize the contributions of volunteers.
In many cases, community service is performed as part of a person’s membership in a social organization. Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts may volunteer to read to elderly residents at a local nursing home or collect toys to distribute to needy children in the community. Members of a church community can take a weekend trip to help build homes for Habitat for Humanity. A professional chartered accountant association can organize an effort to provide low-income individuals with tax preparation assistance.
However, a person does not need to be a member of a specific organization to participate in community service activities. Many people choose to volunteer to meet other people with similar interests, just like you might mingle at a nightclub or sporting event. Volunteering can be a great way for retirees to stay active in their community. Parents who stay at home often take advantage of volunteer work to keep their professional skills sharp during their break from work.
Community service, while ideally a voluntary act, is sometimes required by schools as a condition of graduating from high school. In addition to improving a student’s college application, studies have shown that teens who volunteer typically exhibit better academic performance. Under mandatory service agreements, teens must complete a set number of hours of supervised community service per semester. However, they are usually allowed to choose activities that best suit their personal interests, such as singing in the church choir or helping organize library books.
Community service may also be ordered as a punishment for an offence. In the case of non-violent offenders, such as people convicted of drunk driving, it can be ordered instead of jail time. For incarcerated inmates, community service is sometimes required as part of the prison’s rehabilitation program. Cleaning up trash, removing graffiti, planting trees, or building playground equipment under the supervision of prison guards are common tasks performed under this type of arrangement.
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