- Assist or visit children at a hospital or a school for the blind, deaf or developmentally disabled
- Run a youth carnival or crafts fair and consider having a special theme like safety, literacy or science
- Hold an Easter egg hunt for children at a local school or children’s home
- Playground building, repair and litter control
- Hold a teen dance, talent show or game night
- Cleanup projects at community centers, summer camps, and local parks, etc. Get children involved and teach them about important environmental issues
- Hold a children’s story time in conjunction with a local library, elementary school, etc.
- Teach younger children of the values of proper hand washing techniques and staying clean
- Hold an educational seminar for teens. Topics can include issues such as violence, drugs, fitness, etc.
- Organize a field day or sporting event to get children exercising
september, 2020
IMPORTANT UPDATE – SPRING YOUTH SERVICE DAY 2020
Spring Youth Service Day is coming up April 17th-19th. In light of current events, the Fraternity chose a virtual project that all chapters can do across the country. Chapters are encouraged to use this opportunity to add to their service programs while operating virtually this spring. Nothing brings brothers closer than joining together in service of others.
The virtual service project is through Charity Miles. Anyone who wants to participate can simply download the app, choose a charity, open the app and move! For every mile walked, run completed or dance done, you help earn money for the charity of choice, which is funded by a corporate sponsorship pool. In the midst of this self-isolation period, brothers across the country can enjoy the outdoors while raising money together.
The Fraternity recommends selecting Special Olympics (National APO Partner), St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or Operation Smile as the charity of choice.
On the app, each chapter can create a “team”. Brothers can join their chapter’s team and see how many miles the team has walked. Join our National Charity Miles Team “Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity”. Create your chapter’s team name, for example, Alpha Phi Omega Delta Kappa.
Steps to Charity Miles
- Step 1: Sign up for Charity Miles and download the app.
- Step 2: Pick a charity and SVP create a Chapter Team on the App.
- Step 3: Let your Brothers know of the App and the Team Name to join.
- Step 4: Start walking and raising money!
- Step 5: Collect all hours from your brothers and submit a chapter report for SYSD in OP by May 1.
Encourage participating in SYSD and use the hashtag #SYSD2020 on social media posts!
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to SYSD Chair, Ava Raddatz at [email protected], or the team at the National Office.
Alpha Phi Omega first made a commitment to become a part of Youth Service America’s National Youth Service Day in 2001 (now Global Youth Service Day). Our involvement helps us meet part of the commitment we make to America’s Promise, the “Network for Youth” founded by General Colin Powell (Ret).
Spring Youth Service Day is one of Alpha Phi Omega’s largest service events and is scheduled in conjunction with Global Youth Service Day, which is the world’s largest service event organized by Youth Service America. It’s an opportunity to provide service to the youth of all nations through projects for and with them.
Global Youth Service Day includes more than 100 countries and millions of young people worldwide. Projects are organized by communities, schools, and local organizations. Youth Service America’s Global Youth Service Day has given us a renewed resolve to fulfill Frank Reed Horton’s dream that Alpha Phi Omega would make the world a better place, particularly through service to “the youth of all nations.”
The next Spring Youth Service Day & Global Youth Service Day is April 17-19, 2020.
Though Spring Youth Service Day is optional, each chapter must submit a project report, whether a project was completed or not, by May 1 in order to meet the minimum reporting requirements of the Fraternity. To learn more about Spring Youth Service Day and how to plan, implement, and report a project, download the handbook below.
Project Ideas
- Coach or sponsor a youth athletic team (as permitted by your university and risk management plans)
- Create an after-school program for local children where they can get help with their studies or learn a new activity
- Collect diapers, toys or other baby essentials for needy families
- Sponsor a toy drive for a local organization or youth charity
- Make blankets, stuffed animals, etc., for seriously ill or needy children
- Help to provide leadership for a youth organization such as Scouting, 4-H, Campfire, etc.
- Collect food and funds and provide assistance for local food pantries and soup kitchens
- Sponsor a book drive for a local library, school or community center
- Help with child-care services at a shelter or day care center
- Record books for blind children
- Raise money for an organization that serves youth through walk-a-thons, rock-a-thons, etc.
- Organize a Merit Badge University or advancement event for Boy or Girl Scouts
- Work with Child Rescue Network or local police departments to create photo/fingerprint ID cards for children
- Hold a career/college fair at a local high school
- Develop or staff an event for a youth related organization, such as Ronald McDonald House, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boys/Girls Clubs, YMCA, child abuse centers, etc.
- Do a joint service project with a high school service club such as the JROTC, Key Club, etc.
- Volunteer to help at a Special Olympics event