December 2017 meeting for GEMS-Girls Empowered and Motivated to Serve at Portage High School, Portage WI.

1. GEMS
Girls
Empowered and
Motivated to
Serve
DECEMBER:
Involvement, community
service, leadership

2. Upcoming Events
● Next meeting is FRIDAY, JANUARY 19
● Portage Sharing Supper
○ Monday, December 18th - 5:00PM-6:30PM - Bartels Middle School
○ Need volunteers for “Kid’s Corner”
● Bingo with Portage Seniors
○ Wednesday, December 27th - 10:15AM-11:15AM - City Hall Basement
● Family Fun Event at the Library
○ Saturday, January 6th - 10:00AM-11:00AM - Portage Public Library
○ Contact 608-742-4959

3. Discussion
BENEFITS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE
● Volunteering develops social responsibility, sense of accomplishment, boosts
self confidence
● Improves your community
● Builds relationships with other like-minded people
● Helps you STAND OUT among other college applicants
○ Service work is a leading decision-making factor after GPA and ACT
scores
● Helps you find your passions and interests
● May lead to a career choice you haven’t considered

4. Activity
Service project… time to create something meaningful for our community!

5. Other Ways to Get Involved
● Go grocery shopping for an elderly neighbor or grandparent
● Babysit for free
● Volunteer your time at the Humane Society
● Ring bells for the Salvation Army
● Shovel a neighbor’s sidewalk
● Clean out your closet and donate warm items to shelters
● Deliver with Meals on Wheels
● Visit assisted living communities
● Check out other opportunities at your church
● Set up a collection bin at school for donations to the food pantry
● Write letters or make care packages for the military overseas
● Gather children’s books and take them to a shelter or hospital
● Donate blood
● https://blog.prepscholar.com/129-examples-of-community-service-projects

6. Discussion
THINK OF YOUR PASSIONS, THINGS YOU
ARE GOOD AT, OR TOPICS YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN … HOW CAN YOU USE
THOSE PASSIONS TO GIVE SOMETHING
TO OTHERS?

7. Discussion
I’M HAPPY TO PROVIDE IDEAS AND
RESOURCES, BUT IT’S UP TO YOU TO
TAKE THE INITIATIVE AND DO
SOMETHING GREAT.

8. Closing Announcements
● Next meeting is FRIDAY, JANUARY 19
○ TOPIC: Motivation, goal setting, preparing for the future
● LIKE and TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS for GEMS Facebook page!!!
○ Updates, surveys, meeting changes, announcements