Having reached an agreement, make sure that you deliver! Preparing and communicating well are key.

The site should be able to provide an overview of the services it provides and why they matter for up to 15 minutes before painting begins. A return visit, when the paint is dry will be a great encouragement and an additional opportunity to reflect. Certainly, at least one team member should do this, take photos and share the story in Sunday worship or at another corporate event.

If the local Salvation Army sites provide hot meals, then this could be an opportunity for a different group to pitch in and help. If not, then this is an opportunity to see what groups in the community provide this service and if they are equipped to take one-time group volunteers. (Or if they seek a regular commitment, then it’s a chance to seriously consider that option.)

Each local community group will have a very different set-up for volunteer opportunities. After you’ve made your inquiries, give consideration to what the group can do.

There is a fairly good chance that such an outing will not have the time or space to share extensively about the program right before you start to serve. Consider what will work best for your team after you have learned what the protocols and expectations are. You may provide everyone something to read in advance, meet in the parking lot early to share some details and meet there again afterward to reflect briefly and pray. It’s important to figure out how to help, without getting in the way!

Local services and ministries would appreciate a variety of kits, which provides an opportunity to address a variety of issues (on different days). If you only have one issue, people who haven’t managed to get passionate about that one thing won’t participate in service. If you have a variety of issues, people will learn that they can help and learn about something before becoming passionate. They may even become concerned about something in a way that changes a lot about how they live—and, in turn, makes a big impact.

When you conduct a packing event, it is a great opportunity for a more complete learning experience. It is easy to extend the presentation time while the group shares a meal before beginning the packing. Sometimes, a lot can be packed in just 30 minutes. (Pre-sorting matters!) Make sure that the presentation will have some depth, emotional resonance—and, if possible, time for questions and answers.

A packing event can easily be coordinated on your site and sticking to a 1.5 hour limit is a terrific idea!

Some of the possibilities include:

• Gender-specific kits for prisoners, commercially sexually exploited persons, “homebound” individuals, people experiencing homelessness, trafficking survivors, etc.
• New home baskets for refugees resettling, families moving out of shelters, graduates of foster care, etc.
• New baby bags for parents, family care packages for families in which a family member has a significant medical challenge (cancer, catastrophic accident, etc.)

  There are already a lot of community partners doing great work in relationship with people experiencing these challenges. By learning what is out there, you can coordinate with them what items should be included in your drive and the details for your packing event, including presenter details.

  When you conduct a drive for goods, encourage wide participation (work colleagues, neighbors, etc.). Be specific about what you can and cannot accept. Space out and diversify the drives, so that you don’t in- duce generosity fatigue.

  Since packing events can go faster than you thought they would, be sure to be ready for a time of reflection and prayer. Anything that can go faster than planned can also go slower than planned! Pay attention to the time. Try to re-estimate if things are going slower. Your options always include— giving everyone the opportunity to leave at the scheduled conclusion time without a guilt trip. Then you may allow a different group to complete the packing (scouts, seniors, etc.) Other options include having the group finish at another time (scheduled right then) or giving the group the opportunity to stay later to finish (for those who are willing and able). Use your good judgment about what is feasible, wise and a good precedent.

Even if your corps has a community garden, a special once-off event can be a great way to share information and let people try their hand at it without having to commit to a consistent gardening practice.

If your corps doesn’t have a garden, find out if there is one in your community and what its opportunities for short service projects are. Be clear about the type of group you expect to have (number, age, skill, etc.). Be clear that an orientation to the purpose is a highly valued part of the experience.

As always, ensure that you have time to learn, act, and reflect together and that you have a solid timeline for the whole process.

Communicate well with participants about attire, physical demands, etc. If you have anybody who may need accommodations to participate, communicate well with your host about it. Your participant with needs and your host may be aware of lots of adaptations that will work very well.

Clean up, fix, and/or add something of value to a public space.

The Salvation Army property may have a space that functions as public space and could add value for the neighborhood if made more attractive. The same might be true of other areas with owners, who are currently unable to tend to them or who invite the public to participate in their care. Many non-profit sites will do so. If you decide to beautify a public space under the government’s or an organization’s care, make sure you learn the procedures for obtaining permission and follow them. Having secured permission, make sure you deliver what was agreed upon.

These projects can vary considerably in the amount of time and resources required to execute them well. Set achievable goals, communicate information clearly and stick to the plan, so that participants will have a successful experience they want to repeat and the public will be appreciative.

A rain date or contingency plan is important. As always, include a learning and reflecting process.

There are specific items that are often in high demand for various service providers. These include: socks, bras, diapers, feminine hygiene products. Organizations that provide services to people experiencing homelessness, crisis and trauma and/or living on low incomes consistently find that these items are often needed by clients, but donations are rare or unacceptable.

Conducting a significant drive for just one item in all sizes, colors, formats, etc. can make a big difference for several providers, including The Salvation Army.

Disposable diapers are required by virtually all child care providers, so parents who work, but have limited income, have to buy them. They aren’t just a luxury for parents who don’t want to launder cloth diapers. (Try taking your dirty cloth diapers to the laundromat and see what people say!!!) All sizes.

Service providers note that finding affordable bras, particularly for larger women, is a real challenge. Many clients wear old, shoddy bras or none because of the absence of a better, affordable choice. New bras of all sizes, particularly large sizes, would be a great encouragement. Like-new bras should be held to a strict review before being donated or sorted into a “like-new” bin.

Socks are rarely donated because it’s clear they should be donated new and/or they tend to be worn until they’re unwearable. Donate brand new socks for men, women, teens, boys and girls.

Women in crisis often seek assistance with procuring pads and/or tampons. Most centers that serve them would be happy to have a supply on hand for emergency distribution.

Part 1— Choose an item for your first drive after careful consideration and collaboration with your corps community and the larger community. Launch the drive by explaining the purpose and goals of the drive to as wide a group as possible, providing clear guidelines for action and engaging the whole corps. Implement the plan (the scale of which can vary considerably).

Part 2— Conduct the learn and serve sorting event. Separate the collection service from the packing service, so all can give as they are able. For some it will be money and goods, for some it will be time, for some it will be all of the above. Not everybody has a lot of money, but everyone has resources to share. Ensure that the presentation for this event is strong. Then have a plan for sorting items as needed (size, gender, color, etc.). After the sorting is complete (or the time devoted to this activity has elapsed), be sure to spend time in reflection and prayer. These reflections, as well as those available from delivery and distribution, should be shared with the larger community.

Stuff envelopes, put on labels, inflate balloons, etc. for a local fundraiser or charity with great values.

Some of your corps folks and employees participate in great causes, so they can give the faith community a chance to support them by sharing needs for once-off activities. Encourage it!

Let local community partners know about your Go Serve initiative and that all you ask for is a great presentation about their work and an immediate hands-on experience. If they can explain why the envelope stuffing matters, people will be willing to give an hour and a half to the cause. (For a task like this, people can start the task during the presentation.)