Service Projects



Click here for a file of ideas that has been used to help with Hurricane relief efforts.

Please note that some of the information may become outdated.
Contact any relief agency before starting a project to be sure the need is still there.
(Also includes information about hurricanes and how they form.)
NOTE: GSUSA has issued rules for soliciting funds for Hurricane relief efforts.
For more details return to the home page (link at the bottom of this page) and click on the Leader News flash.

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Service projects are a traditional and integral part of the Girl Scout experience. Service projects can be done individually, as a troop or as part of a larger group. The purpose of this page is to provide information about SU 155's Community Outreach projects and to list some ideas for troop service projects.

Contents - click on the topic to go directly there
Strength in Sharing patch program Choosing a Service Project Service Project Ideas


Strength in Sharing patch program

GSUSA has a patch that can be earned by girls at all levels. The "Strength in Sharing" program is designed to "provide girls and adults with information, ideas and activities that will encourage philanthropy at every age level and in a wide range of settings." The progam book can be purchased at the Tejas Shop or borrowed from our SU library.


Choosing a Service Project
Before deciding on a service project:
- Discuss with the girls what they would like to do. Would they like to do something for younger children? for animals? for older chldren? for the elderly? for the disabled? Would they like to visit the place they are benefitting? Would they like to help people in a distaster area? etc.
- Contact agencies which help the group they have chosen and find out what kind of help is needed.
- With the girls, decide on a specific project to fill one of these needs and help them plan how they will carry it out.

Progression: As the girls get older they can begin to take more responsibility for this process. Daisies may chose one project from two presented by their leaders. Cadettes and Seniors may run the entire process themselves.

Remember: "Be sure to adhere to SafetyWise Program Standards that apply to money-earning and troop financing (see Standards 28, 29 and 33). Troops may earn money that will become a donation, of their own free will, to another organization (Program Standard 28, subsection G). Troops may not solicit funds on behalf of another organization as a part of that organization's fund-raising efforts. Be sure to check your local Girl Scout Council's policies on troop fund-raising activities." Quoted from Strength in Sharing: Philanthropy in Girl Scouting.


Service Project Ideas

Book About Service Projects in Service Unit Library
The book The Kid's Guide to Service Projects by Barbara A. Lewis is now available in the Service Unit 155 library. The book has lots of project ideas which are organized into chapters by topic.

Color A Smile
Here's a nice project for Daisies and young Brownies. Just click on the link for full information.
Color A Smile

Places to Send Used Postage Stamps
Stamps for Children
27 Pine Street
Lincroft, NJ 07738

Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind
4120 Rideau Valley Drive North
P.O. Box 280
Manotick, Ontario K4M 1A3 (613-692-7777)

To save on postage, cut the stamps off the envelopes leaving a 1/4 inch border around the stamp(s). Do not soak the stamps off the paper.

In the United States, you can send them to MOST VA Medical Centers. Check with your local facility. If all else fails, here is an address in Arizona:
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center #135
Veteran's National Stamp and Coin Club
3601 South 6th Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85723
telephone: 520-792-1450
The Club accepts donation of stamps and/or, coins or, other philatelic or numismatic materials in support of disabled, handicapped or wounded veterans for their "Operation Outreach". Donations are distributed to those disabled, handicapped or wounded veterans undergoing treatment and rehabilitation. The hobbies of stamp and coin collecting have long been recognized as an effective therapy vehicle in rehabilitating handicapped, wounded and hospitalized veterans. Commemorative, Express and Priority United States and Foreign stamps, both mint and used, are especially needed.

The Lions International Stamp Club sponsors a program known as "Stamps for the Wounded" to help hospitalized military personnel. The intent is to provide them with the necessary tools to engage in stamp collecting - a successful recreational therapy which productively occupies their time, their eyes, their hands and, above all, their minds.
Those of you who are stamp collectors are urged to contribute stamps, covers, albums and other useful items to this cause. Of course, others can contribute funds to help purchase these items, too. Both the American Red Cross and the VA have programs to distribute these philatelic materials.
For additional information about this unsung program, write to Stamps for the Wounded, P.O. Box 1126 Falls Church VA 22041.

Where To Send Used All Occasion Greeting Cards
St. Judes Ranch for Children
P.O. Box 60100
100 St. Jude's Street
Boulder City, NV 89006-0100
1-702-294-7100 Fax # is 1-702-294-7171
St. Judes is a ranch/residential facility for homeless, abused, abandoned and troubled children and teens from across the U.S. These children have experienced neglect, homelessness or abandonment as well as mental, sexual and physical abuse. The children recycle greeting cards into new cards, using only the fronts or picture part of the card. They earn money and learn the value of work while providing income for the Ranch. These recycled cards are resold in their gift shop. If you are interested in this project think about only sending the front of cards, because they discard the backs. This will also save postage costs. To go to their site, click below:
St. Judes Ranch for Children


Valentines for Vets.
The veterans in VA hospitals love to get mail. It's nice to remember them at the festive times of the year. There is a VA hospital here in Dallas. The address is in the phone book.

Sending Messages of Support to Troops on Active Duty
Via the Internet
Questions of security have caused programs, such as Operation Dear Abby, aimed at sending deployed troops letters of encouragement addressed to "Any Serviceman" or "Any Servicewoman" to a halt. Stars and Stripes, in response to an inundation of requests and suggestions from Americans looking for a new way to show their support and send their love, has created Messages of Support. Americans can now send messages of up to 30 words via email to troops. Messages can be e-mailed to Stars and Stripes 24 hours a day at supportmessages@estripes.com.
Cards and Letters
Agencies have been set up that will take cards and letters and distribute them to servicemen and women on active duty. Here are two:
- Operation Military Pride - As a direct result of 9-11, you can no longer address letters to "any service person", you now need a contact inside the military. You then send your letters and cards to this contact to hand them out. You can get the contact through a group called Operation Military Pride. To send an email: click here. There are several campaign programs available through them. There is the Community Campaign where groups send letters and cards. There is the Care Package Campaign where you can send stuff like food, coffee, snacks, even one geared to women's needs. (I bet Girl Scout Cookies would be a great hit at that time of year.) And naturally, they have a money donation campaign. If you send an email to the address above, they will send you flyers for all of their campaigns. Then you go from there. This information from Katie Baron's Scouting Links Email Newsletter #138, March 18, 2002
- Also, you can check with the local Red Cross.

Tray Favors for Shut-ins
Contact your local nursing home, hospital or Meals on Wheels to see if they would like tray favors. These are small festive doodads that can be placed on a meal tray to brighten the shut-in's day. Doing something at an "off" time is especially appreciated--St. Patricks, Flag Day, birthdays, first day of spring, etc. A tray favor might be
- a napkin ring made from a piece cut from paper towel roll and wrapped with yarn or tissue paper or decorated some other way.
- a small amount of candy in a decorated bag, or for example: mice made out of Hershey's kisses - the nose is the point, ears and a tail are glued on or a little train engine made out of life savers with peppermint wheels and a starburst engine house. (Make sure that candy is okay with the nursing home, etc. before doing this.)
- small, seasonal craft - turkeys at Thanksgiving, snowmen in the winter, hearts at Valentines, etc.
- decorated placemats
- handmade greeting cards
- tissue paper flowers or origami
- paint peg clothespins to look like snowmen, add an acorn cap hat and fringed fabric scarf.

Pet treat recipes from American Girl Magazine
Check with the animal shelter to make sure they will accept home-made treats.
Dog Biscuits
2 c. wheat flour, 1/2 c. corn meal, 1 egg, 1/2 c. parmesan cheese, 1 c. water
Stir until mixed. Shape into small dog-bone shapes with your hands. (If using a cookie cutter or mold, it says to freeze them for about 20 mins. to make them easier to pop out). Place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 20 mins. at 350. Let cool. Store in a plastic zipper bag in the refrigerator.

Doggie Bites
2 6oz. jars beef and vegetable baby food, 1 cup wheat germ, 2 cups nonfat dry milk
Measure all ingredients into a large bowl. Mix together with a fork. Drop by small spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet and flatten slightly. Bake for 12 to 15 mins. at 350 until slightly browned at the edges. Let cool. Store in a plastic zipper bag in the refrigerator.

Cat Crackers
1 6oz. can of tuna in oil (don't drain), 1 cup cornmeal, 1 cup flour, 1/3 cup water
Measure all ingredients into a large bowl. Use your hands to mix thoroughly. Use a rolling pin to roll out to a 1/4 inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut into small squares. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 20 mins. at 350 until just golden. Let cool. Store in a plastic zipper bag in the refrigerator.

Dog Biscuits II
1 tsp instant beef bouillon, 1/2 cup hot water, 3/4 cup white flour, 1 1/2 cup wheat flour, 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk, 1/3 cup olive oil, 3 1/4 ounces bacon flavored pieces, 1 tbs packed brown sugar, 1 egg
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. combine bouillon and water in a bowl and stir until bouillon dissolves. Stir in the remaining ingred and mix well. Using a lightly floured rolling pin and flat surface, roll out dough to 1/8" thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out dog biscuits. Place cut-outs on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 30-35 mins until dog biscuits are firm. Cool completely on a wire rack.. Serve to DOG.

Boo-boo Bunnies
These are a nice project for any age to make to give to children under the age of about 7 years old. A washcloth is rolled, folded and tied to make a bunny shape that will hold an ice-cube. The directions are given in the Terrific Tips section of this website under
Terrific Tips for Service Projects


A Big Bunch of Ideas from the WAGGGS-L Email List!
-Food Pantry Collections; Assist at Food Pantry (food sorting, etc.) idea: Christmas Carol or Trick-or-Treat for Donations
-Prepare and/or serve food at a shelter
-Toiletry Item Collections (women's shelter, teen shelter) ideas: Deliver as May Day baskets, Request donations from dentists (toothcare products), dermatologists (skin care products), manufacturers, etc.
-Clothing Collections (shelters)
-School Supplies Collections
-Baby Supply Collections (child crisis center, shelters) idea: Hold a "shower" to collect items
-Adopt a Family/Adopt a Child (Christmas Tree Angels)
-Donate Birthday Boxes -- cake mix, frosting, candles, a toy, paper plates and hats, napkins, and a birthday card
-Child Crisis Center - activity packets, book donations, wish list donations
-Book/Game Donations (public/school library, headstart programs, shelters) idea: Make a book for donation (i.e. ABC Book)
-Organize a magazine collection drive. Donate to local VA, hospitals, shelter, or libraries (school or public)
-Gently Used Toys donations (shelters, firemen/policemen, daycare centers) idea: Make a toy for donation (i.e. puppets)
-Animal Shelters - weed pulling, walk dogs, donate food (homemade cat/dog biscuits), donate towels/blankets. Share information with the public about healthy pets, sterilization.
-Library - donate books, clean-up books, story reading, make bookmarks for school library
-Read books/Record on tape - Donate the books and tapes to the local pediatric unit, shelter, or school for the blind.
-Hospital - adopt/decorate waiting rooms for holidays, tray favors, emergency room activity packets (coloring books, crayons, puzzles), make tic-tac-toe games
-Premature babies - make/donate blankets, sleepers
-Physically/Mentally Challenged - organize a special event; help with special Olympics
-Senior Centers, Hospice Centers - sing songs, play bingo, make/deliver cards, decorate for holidays, tray favors, decorated placemats, perform a play; provide manicures (contact local salons/beauty schools for donations)
-Collect items to make "care kits" for seniors in assisted living or nursing homes (include items such as lotions, toiletry items, nail clippers, comb, brush, etc.)
-Meals on Wheels - make tray favors, decorate bags/placemats
-Quilt Projects (for homeless, AIDs, etc.)
-American Red Cross activities (i.e. health kits for crisis victims, Friendship Boxes)
-Packages for servicemen overseas. Include items such as G.S. Cookies, books, videos, hot chocolate, hard candy, greeting cards they can send home, small games, magazines, etc. (may be able to arrangement shipment through a local Army/Navy surplus store; else contact Red Cross)note: National Armed Forces Day is May 15
-Tree Planting (contact: Utility companies, Mining companies, local parks)note: Earth Day is April 22
-Planting a Butterfly Garden, Blue Bird Garden, See/Touch/Smell Garden, Flower Planting
-Make Birdhouses/birdfeeders
-Hiking Trail/Park Clean-up/Yard Clean-Up for Elderly or Disabled
-Habitat for Humanity - bring lunches to workers, etc.
-Recycle
-Set up an educational display for the general public on a local matter (environmental, etc.)
-Make an educational video on proper display, care, and disposal of the American flag
-Safety - Host a Safe Kids Day - fingerprinting, etc.; Host a Crime Prevention Workshop; Host an Emergency Preparedness Event
-Help with local non-profit organizations (e.g. help hand out info for MADD, help the local school with events or projects, etc)
-Susan G. Komen - Race for the Cure - (funds go to breast cancer resarch) hand out water to participants, etc. (Remember that Girl Scouts may not take part in the actual fund-raising run, but may help out at the event.)
-Girl Scout Council - envelope stuffing, make thank-you cards for use by Council
-Plan and implement an event for other Girl Scouts (i.e. Try-it Event for Brownies, Themed Event)
-Girl Scout Camp improvements (i.e. trail building) or "Wish List" donations
-Girl Scout Baby Sprinkle baskets -- Donate baby basket(s) to local hospital. The 1st baby girl born each day of Girl Scout Week or on Juliette Low's birthday receives a present "for a future Girl Scout" from troop _______.
-Collect pennies throughout the year for a special charity�use pennies to purchase an item for donation to the charity.

Page last updated 8/20/07



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