Service Project Ideas for Children's Group at My Church

They could do a lemonade stand or something fun to raise money for children on the Christmas angel tree or gather items for a donation to a homeless shelter.

One of the projects at our daughters elementary for one grade level was to make "fun Packs" for children at the local Children's hospital.

They did them for all ages..
They were to keep in mind, some children cannot leave their beds or cannot use all of their limbs.. They were very creative.

Colors, markers, pencils, word games, glue sticks, safety scissors, books, jokes, small cars, stickers, word games.

Then they sent craft making instructions to make..
finger puppets, mobiles to hang above their beds, crazy straw tabs, funny hats, masks, paper airplanes, thank you notes.. We were very impressed with their idea.

They put these kits in small brown bags and filled them, then placed them in boxes marked by suggested ages.. They sent 300 of them to the hospital..

Now is the time to do Operation Christmas Child. Fill a shoebox with items from the dollar store, toothbrushes, toothpaste, washcloths, soap, some toys, candy, small games,
Go here http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Pack_A_Shoe_...

Last year we picked a family from church and bought gifts for the children, to include clothes. I took my kids to Walmart. Wrapped all the gifts, put them in a huge black sack. Late at night on Christmas Eve we went to the house, dressed in Santa hats and black. My kids ding dong ditched the house and ran back to the van. The children in the house did not know that it was us, the mom figured it out after others in the church told her.
I didn't want reconition, I wanted her to have a good Christmas. We also bought them stuff to make a Christmas dinner.
My kids still talk about what we did and have asked if we will do it again this year.

Every year when the Marines stand outside Toys-R-Us we go in and buy a toy from each of our children to add to the Toys for Tots box.

We have gone ot the animal shelter gotten one of their angels from their angel tree. Ours was Mittens the kitten and we got her cat food, litter, and toys. The shelter had a list of what each animal wanted to help fill their need.

In addition to the ideas you listed they could clean up yards for the elderly or shut-ins. If you are in an area where numbers are painted on the curbs, they could paint the curbs.

Hi, here is something that might work. Ask the members of your congregation to bring in their leftover Christmas cards with envelopes. Most people have 2 or more form every Christmas season that they are just holding onto. The cards can be collected and given to a local homeless shelter. Ask for congregants to put stamps on the envelopes if they are able. Make collection boxes for the cards. You will be suprised how many cards you can get. To add to this project, kids can raise money for stamps, , write cards to go with the blank cards they will bring to the shelter, or figure out a way to package or distribute the cards, maybe decorate some boxes to be placed around the shelter.

This site has some great ideas to get your creative mind going!

http://www.doinggoodtogether.org/index.php/dgt/kitchen-ta...

I had to do one for my Child Development college course a few years ago. I got a few small business owner pals to donate some money (I ended up with $350) and I created birthday bags for a place that gives them to foodshelfs and other similar places to give to disadvantaged and homeless children on their birthdays, so even in their situations, they too can have a fun little gift bag for their birthday to acknowledge the day. The items needed to be portable (many lived in shelters), not require continual battery upkeep (costly when you cant even buy food), etc. I went to the dollar store for most of the items (coloring books, flashcards, figurines, then got one "bigger" item for about $5 for each bag as that was my budget (these guidelines were on the site I had). I was able to make alot of bags and really fill them.
( http://www.cheerfulgivers.org/)

Hope something in there helps you!

I work in a long term care facility and we love it when the kids come in. We usually schedule a simple craft for them to do with our residents-it is great to get the different generations together. During the holidays there are many things the kids can come in and do-helping with decorating-even the younger ones can put ornaments on a tree with a residents help....kids can assist at bingo etc...look for a local skilled nursing facility in your area and ask for the Dir of Activities....

I was reading the replies hoping to find some good ideas. I'm quite disappointed in many of your answers as they involve money, or asking for handouts and donations. I'm so disappointed, in general, that so many think that having a "drive" is a great way to help. Yes, I agree it helps, but I'm just so tired on people asking for donations.

My suggestion would be...
Make cards for soldiers or veternans.
Visit older members or shut ins from your congregation.
Have a "fall cleanup" at your church, rake leaves and clean the grounds, do some inside clean up as well.

we did a drive for snack items, water bottles, white socks, toiletries, and gallon size ziplocks. the little kids stuffed the baggies and the youth group hands them out to the homeless.