Service Plan

What is Service?
Service describes a wide range of activities performed by an individual, or a group of individuals, for the public good. Service broadly refers to the work done by those who pursue a career in government or at nonprofit organizations, or who dedicate a year of their lives to a national service program. Volunteering is also service and refers to a variety of activities performed freely in support of local organizations and individuals. Military service is often considered the highest expression of public self–sacrifice, as individuals put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms and interests of their fellow Americans.

Service–learning, according to the National Service–Learning Clearinghouse, is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. In the past several years, service–learning has become more popular in both K–12 institutions and at colleges and universities. It teaches the next generation of Americans the importance of participating in civic life.

While most volunteering occurs through an organization, it can also be less formal. This “self–directed service” is instigated by an individual outside of an event or program managed by a nonprofit organization or public agency. These are the good deeds people do in their every day lives, from helping an elderly neighbor bring home a bag of groceries to shoveling snow from a neighbor’s sidewalk.