Community Service

It's always a good time for community service! All students are invited and encouraged to participate in community service throughout the year. Community service helps our neighbors in need, builds character, increases empathy and creates meaningful connections. We will recognize students' community service participation and efforts at a school assembly in the spring.

Donation Drives

The Community Service Committee organizes several donation drives throughout the year to benefit local charities and support people in need in our community. We will announce donation drives in the Panther Press.

After-School Meetings

Students can sign up to attend after-school meetings in the library. During these meetings, students may make door decorations for senior care centers, cards for first responders, fleece blankets for children in foster care and other service projects. Meetings typically take place Wednesdays from 3:50 to 4:30 p.m.

2026-2027 Schedule

• Sept. 16
• Oct. 14
• Nov. 18
• Dec. 9
• Jan. 13
• Feb. 17
• March 24
• April 14
• May 11

Sign-up forms will be posted in the PTO Forms section of this website approximately two weeks before each meeting. Space is limited to 25 students per meeting, and registration is first come, first served.

Car/Bus Riders & Y-Care

Parents must update PickUp Patrol for their student on the day of the Community Service meeting. Select "Other" from the drop-down menu, then enter "Community Service" in the "More Info" field. Click "Submit" when you are finished. Please make these changes before 3 p.m.

• Students who attend Y-Care will be escorted to Y-Care staff after the meeting.
• Students who normally ride in a car or take the bus must be picked up from school at 4:30 p.m. There is no bus service for Community Service participants. A parent volunteer will walk students to the car loop to meet their parents or guardians at 4:30 p.m.

Recognition

We will celebrate the school's participation in community service during an assembly in the spring.

Students will receive certificates recognizing their participation in community service. To receive a certificate, students must complete at least one of the following:

• Attend an after-school Community Service meeting.
• Record community service hours using the Community Service Hours form. Submitted hours will appear on the certificate.
• Submit the Community Service Experience form, describing at least one experience serving in the community.

The deadline to submit Community Service hours and experiences is April 30, 2027.

Guidelines

Activities that qualify for community service should:

• Benefit others.
• Address an area of need.
• Not involve payment.

Community service generally does not include:

• Activities that are part of a student's normal academic day.
• Belonging to an organization or participating in school clubs or extracurricular activities. However, service projects completed with these groups qualify.
• Activities performed as part of a "family unit," such as babysitting siblings, grocery shopping, gardening or washing the car.
• Personal enrichment activities, such as dance lessons or cooking classes.
• Travel time.

Need help finding ideas? Check out this list of community service ideas.

Questions? Ideas?

Please contact enrichandengage@vpepto.org with questions or ideas about Community Service at VPE.