Dear Educator, Thank you for your interest in the Catholic Charities Service in Schools program. We look forward to partnering with you. Service in Schools is an excellent way to connect your students with volunteering and social services when direct service is not possible. Catholic Charities serves over 350,000 New Yorkers in need, from the lonely senior, to the newly arrived refugee with no place to live. By participating in this project, your students will able to help us to provide much needed - and normally not donated items - to the vulnerable people we serve. They will also develop simple business skills, while discovering different ways to help individuals in the world around them. In this packet, you will find: 1. Overview information: Steps Q&A Project Plan Timeline 2. Project Catalog 3. Classroom Project Agreement Thank you and please don t hesitate to reach out to us for any assistance that would make this partnership more fruitful. In service and joy, Director of Volunteer Services
The Catholic Charities Service Learning project was created to: Help students live out school s student learning expectation, Empower students to be life-long learners and leaders, Teach students how to pay it forward by becoming personally engaged in their responses to social injustice, Give students a different point of view of how they can help their community, Support New Yorkers in need served by Catholic Charities, Develop students business skills in: marketing, fundraising, budgeting and more.
: 1. Research the issue area/program need 2. Choose a project 3. Class discusses project goals and outcomes 4. Student s earn start up money and money is matched by Catholic Charities 5. Items are purchased by students and delivered to Catholic Charities 6. Class reflects on their impact
& Q. How are projects chosen? A. Catholic Charities will work with its agencies to develop project descriptions. After a class discussion on the issues, (Step 1) each class will be able submit 3 top choices. If available, they will be given their first choice. Q. How can students earn start up money? A. Once the project is confirmed. Catholic Charities will work with each teacher to provide creative ways students can earn money. (Step 2 and 3). Past fundraisers have included: making and selling items or hosting a themed party. Q. How is the money raised by students matched? A. Catholic Charities will supply 10% matching funds to each participating classroom. (Step 4) Q. Where will I be able to find further information? A. Three ways: 1. Catholic Charities Volunteer Team will be available to walk you through the process. 2. Resources such as Fundraising and Reflection ideas are available online at catholiccharitiesnyvolunteer.org or 3. Staff members from each program may also be available to speak to your classroom about the program needs.
: August 1 st September 9 th Teacher sets up informational call with Catholic Charities September 9 th September 16th Classroom submits final 3 choices Catholic Charities approves project Classroom develops project plan September 16 th October 17th Student s earn start up money and money is matched by Catholic Charities Classroom develops project plan October 17 th - November 7 th Items are purchased by students and delivered to Catholic Charities Post Project Wrap Up: November 7 th December 2 nd Classroom reflection Catholic Charities follow up with teachers Catholic Charities will provide Certificates of Appreciation for students
: December 2016 January 13th Teacher sets up informational call with Catholic Charities January 2 nd January 16th Classroom submits final 3 choices Catholic Charities approves project Classroom develops project plan January16 th February 16th Student s earn start up money and money is matched by Catholic Charities Classroom develops project plan February 16 th - March 16 th Items are purchased by students and delivered to Catholic Charities Post Project Wrap Up: March 16 th April 7 th Classroom reflection Catholic Charities follow up with teachers Catholic Charities will provide Certificates of Appreciation for students
Once your classroom have researched and decided on a project, you may want to develop a project plan. Here are a few questions to get you started: 1. Determine Goal: For example We will purchase 100 soccer balls for the Foster Care program. 2. Budget: Research the best distributer to purchase these soccer balls. Consider wholesale warehouses. How much money will your classroom have to raise to reach your goal? How many soccer balls do you have to purchase? Do you want to deliver the items personally? Or will they be shipped? 3. Leadership: Do you want to identify certain students to take the lead? For example, if flyers are created, will one student be the designer? 4. Fundraising and Marketing: Research and discuss creative ways to raise the money. What will be the best method for your class? How will you reach out to others about your project? Bring Awareness? Think of contingency plans if you do not hit your financial goal. 5. Distribution: How and when will these items be delivered? 6. Reflection: Reflection can help at any time during the project and is a great way to tie the service to the learning in the classroom. Sample reflection questions are included on our website. An educator can choose any means of reflection that is appropriate for their classroom. One fun idea is to create a scrapbook as it is happening.
Project Location Issue Program # of Projects Available Field Trip Day (to the American Museum of Natural Manhattan and 1 History) Multiple locations Unaccompanied Minors Unaccompanied Minors 1 2 Supplies for Success (school supplies) Manhattan and Westchester Welcome the Stranger Refugee Resettlement 1 3 Welcoming Refugees (toiletry kits) Manhattan and Westchester Welcome the Stranger Refugee Resettlement 1 4 Providing Essential Products for Infant and Baby Care Bronx Newborn Babies Part of the Solution (POTS) 1 5 Priceless Prom Project Bronx Call to Family Casita Maria 1 6 Welcome Home Gift Baskets Bronx Disabilities Beacon of Hope 1 7 Game Day (pool table) Staten Island Caring for the elderly Senior Center 1 8 Welcome Home Gift Baskets Staten Island Disabilities Beacon of Hope 1 9 Senior Fitness Staten Island Caring for the elderly Senior Center 1 10 Busy Book Drive North Dutchess Waiting Room: Quiet Time Case Management 1 11 Baby Ready Westchester Affirming Life Pregnancy Care Center 1 12 Diaper Drive Orange Newborn Babies Newburgh Ministries 1 13 Toiletry Kits Rockland Peserving Dignity New Hope Manor 1 14 Birth Mother Support Ulster/Sullivan Affirming Life New Hope Manor 1 15 Homelessness Supplies Ulster/Sullivan Homeless Outreach Newburgh Ministries 1 16 New Life New School Manhattan and MultiplUnaccompanied Minors Unaccompanied Minors 1
Date: Teacher Name: Classroom Project Agreement School: Address: Preferred phone number: Email address: How many students in your classroom? Circle Grade: 5 th 6 th 7 th 8 th I am interested in completing the following Service in Schools project with Catholic Charities: (please mark 1 3, with 1 being your first pick) #1 Field Trip Day #9 Senior Fitness #2 Supplies for Success #10 Busy Book Drive #3 Welcoming Refugees #11 Baby Ready #4 Infants and Babies #12 Diaper Drive #5 Priceless Prom Project #13 Toiletry Kits #6 Welcome Home Gift Baskets #14 Birth Mother Support #7 Game Day #15 Homelessness Supplies #8 Welcome Home Gift Baskets #16 Unaccompanied Minors I am interested in completing the following Service In Schools project with Catholic Charities I understand that tracking the hours I spend on this project will help Catholic Charities with inkind hours and donations used for match grants and funding sources. I will submit my hours at the end of my project. (Thank you!) I understand that Catholic Charities would appreciate photos of my classroom during stages of the project. If I would like to provide photos, I will use the CC photo release form (provided). (Thank you!) Teacher Signature: Date: Done? Please email this form back to ccvolunteer@archny.org Thank you for choosing the mission of Catholic Charities for your Service in Schools project!