Adventist Youth Honors Answer Book/Outreach/Community Improvement/R6
6. Spend at least four hours in one of the following field trips as a participant:
Get out there and serve.
a. Go out with a street ministry team that provides food, blankets or clothing to the homeless.
If you live anywhere near a city, you can organize this activity yourself or join an existing team. Collect the items at your church for about a month ahead of time. This can be done by placing a large box in the church foyer and having its purpose announced from the pulpit and in the church bulletin. Make a sign for the box as well, and decorate it (use gift wrap) to make an attractive, eye-catching display. This may also be done as a Sabbath School class project over the course of a quarter (three month period).
b. Go out with a health screening van.
The Adventist Church runs such programs across North America. You do not need to be a medical professional to help with a health-screening van. They often serve refreshments and need paperwork to be filled out. A youth group could assist with either of these aspects of the program. Health professionals will manage the medical aspects.
c. Go out with a Christian work team that is repairing or building housing for the poor.
Since Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, the concept of "voluntourism" has become popular. "Voluntourists" are people who spend their vacations volunteering in an area needing help, such as one that has been struck by a natural disaster. Often, the volunteers will take a day off during their visit to tour nearby, unaffected areas.
Other options including signing up with Habitat for Humanity, or Maranatha Volunteers International.
d. Go out with a Christian work team that is repairing homes in an area that has been devastated by a natural disaster.
e. Work in a soup kitchen or homeless shelter.
You can find local soup kitchens and shelters in your phone book. Call them and ask how you can help. Work with the staff to find a need they have that your group is able to fill. Then do it! The Salvation Army is very active in this area.
f. Volunteer with an Adventist Community Services or ADRA Canada community development program.
In the USA visit http://www.communityservices.org/ to find an ACS center near you. If there is not one near you, choose one of the other options in this requirement.
