Community Service Ideas for Small Groups

If your small group is ready to serve, there is no better way than starting together with a shared project. You can start small with a one-time act of service or go big and commit to serving together monthly. Be sure to leverage the interests and passions of your group members, then keep it simple, get out there and begin serving!

Serve Your Church

Care Packages for Graduates - Ask your youth pastor for a current list of high school graduates and send each a care package with an encouraging message, a devotional book and a gift card for necessities (even upperclassmen from your congregation will love this one). Genius Tip: Check out these college care package tips and ideas for inspiration.
Gather Your Community - Invite other small groups for a Saturday afternoon outreach to the neighborhood around your church. Advertise ahead of time with fliers put on front doors with washi tape. Have small group members bring games, set up tables around the gym or large meeting space, and invite families from the neighborhood.
Letters to Missionaries - Who doesn't love mail? Have your small group take an evening once a month to write letters of encouragement to missionaries your church supports.
Christmas Cards for Missionaries - Round up holiday photo cards or Christmas letters from anyone in your congregation who plans to send them out and mail copies to the missionaries in your church. Get enough for all those living overseas (families and singles) and save on postage by mailing them in one large bunch. What a meaningful gift for those living far away from home at the holidays!
Summer Outreach - If your small group takes a break for the summer, consider a once-a-season outreach to the community. Cover water bottles with promotional sleeves for your church's VBS or service times and hand them out at your local baseball field or swim meet.

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Easter Egg Hunt - Coordinate with the community center in a subsidized housing area to host an Easter egg hunt for children. Distribute fliers inviting everyone to your church's VBS or upcoming outreach event.
Special Skills Outreach - Does someone in your small group have a helpful skill such as art, music, cooking or maintenance skills (car or house upkeep)? Host a free pop-up class for the community. Have small group members help with organizing, hosting and welcoming participants from the community. Genius Tip: Post fliers with a link for registration to a SignUpGenius page so that you can put a cap on class attendance.
House Helpers - Find ways to help foster families in your community by offering Saturday house helpers (the foster parents are home, but you are there to entertain kids so they can nap, shower or take a break). Plan to assemble gift baskets that are ready for delivery when they get a call for a new foster child (diapers and baby supplies or toiletry needs and games for older children) or surprise them with a front porch drop off of kid-friendly snacks (individual popcorn bags, juice boxes, fruit).
Resources for Refugees - If your small group is passionate about helping underserved communities, look for ongoing serving opportunities with local refugees and offer to provide meals and transportation on an ongoing basis. Alternatively, share conversation over coffee to help refugees practice speaking English while you learn about their culture as well.
Free Childcare - Your small group can provide Saturday morning childcare free-of-charge (ask your church if you can use the nursery or large rooms for play) once a month for single parents in your community for shopping or catching up on their to-do list.
Compile Ideas - Create a "Let's Go Serve!" binder for your small group and start collecting service ideas. You can even list the needs in a sign up for people to choose. Talk to the senior pastor or member care staff at your church for ideas of congregants or community organizations who might appreciate help with one-time projects or have ongoing needs. This binder can be your jumping-off point for serving and is great to share with other small groups who are inspired by your generosity.