Pay It Forward Ideas...

Some of the best ideas come from students. Poll your class for ideas on how they can Pay it Forward as a group, or as individuals, and build a project around one or more of their ideas.

Check with local businesses for support. Many businesses will donate materials, expertise, and even employees to help with volunteer programs and projects.

Remember to get permission / permits where required and focus on safety when implementing any project.

Lower Grades: K-4 or 5

Cards:
Create cards to distribute to a retirement home, veterans center, children's hospital, geriatric wing at your local hospital, hospice, etc.
Use construction paper, glue, stickers, glitter, crayons, markers, scissors and/or any other suitable material. Cards do not need to be centered on a holiday. "Thinking of you" or "have a nice day" cards are a great alternative. Cards can be hand delivered by students when appropriate, mailed, or an educator or volunteer may deliver cards in bulk to the chosen institution.

Help a Friend or Family Member:
Students look for a way they can help a friend or family member.
They should pick something that they can complete safely by themselves or with supervision. Projects might include cleaning something, helping in the yard, washing the car, helping an adult in the kitchen etc. Students can then share what they did through drawing a picture or other presentation.

Flowers:
Deliver flowers to a retirement facility, hospice or hospital.
Use Carnations or other sturdy flower, Ribbon, Notepaper or small cards, markers etc.. Or make tissue paper or construction paper flowers for this project. Add a short note to make them more enjoyable. Check with the receiving institution to see how many flowers you will need. If you are using live flowers, check with local florists or growers for any available volume discounts or partial donations.

Local News:
Check the local news for an appropriate place to develop a "helping hand" project.
Projects could include collecting good condition used-goods for a family that lost a home, toy drives for needy children, and books, blankets, jackets or food for homeless shelters. Levels of participation can be arranged to fit individual age brackets.

Lunch Box and Trading Area:
Start a free lunch box at lunchtime.
Set up an area at lunch where kids can donate something from their lunch to help feed other kids at school. Donations should only be food items that the child is not going to eat and was not expected to bring back home. Students can also trade an item in their lunch for items in the box. Have an apple want an orange- trade for one at the lunch box.

Middle and Upper Grades: 6-12

Local Clean Up:
Pick a local environment and clean it up.
Parks, creeks, beaches, city streets, an individual home or yard, an area at your school or even a vacant lot can all work well for this project. This project can be tied in to science or history project easily.

Community Garden:
Start a community or school garden.
Focuses could include composting, organic gardening methods, beneficial vs. non-beneficial insects, environmentally friendly solutions to disease or pests, etc. Then share the fruits of your labor with local organizations, friends, or families. This project could include a tool drive, or support from local businesses to help with materials costs.

Living History Project:
Have students learn history through the eyes of someone who was there. Students interview an older person about a period in their life. Topics could include changes in technology, events in history, jobs, or the way life was in a specific time period. This project may be done through some one the student is familiar with or with the cooperation of a local retirement or veterans home.

Repair and Restore Day:
Pair up with parent volunteers or local businesses to repair and restore an appropriate site within your community.
This project could include parks, playgrounds, historical landmarks, private homes, or a number of other locations.

Volunteer Day:
Pair up with a local charity or service organization and help them achieve one of their goals.
This project is designed to give existing service organizations the extra help that they need. This is a great project to do once or twice a month. Choose one organization that needs lots of help or help a different organization every month.

Secret Angel:
Do something good for someone without taking credit.
This is an excellent challenge for students to do individually or in small groups. The goal is to help someone or do something nice for someone everyday without taking credit for it. Clean something up, hold open a door, or put the neighbor's garbage can back. Projects should be smaller and simple. Remember, these projects are supposed to be anonymous, but you can share them in class (unless you helped someone there). Have fun! This project is harder than it sounds!

High Schools and Beyond:

Special Talents / Services:
Special School programs can offer specific talents or services to their communities.
Schools with ROP programs or specific skills classes in Automotive Technology, Food Services, Welding, Computer Technologies, Sewing, Construction Skills, Agriculture, etc., can develop a Pay it Forward program based on their curriculum, taking their special skills and offering low or no cost services to segments of the community who need extra help. Projects could involve Computer repair or tutoring for the elderly, disabled or disadvantaged. Oil Changes or Safety Inspections, Soup Kitchens, restaurants, meals on wheels projects, repair and restoration projects, or any other suitable skill-sharing program.

Bring Sports and Special Interests to Others:
Share your Sport or other Special Interest with the community. Take what you love and share it with others who may not be exposed to it.
Athletic teams can pair up with the disabled, disadvantaged or other groups and teach, play or bring those groups to your favorite sport. Art and Music groups can do the same. Programs can range from field trips, starting classes or teams, or volunteering for existing organizations like the Special Olympics. Check with local businesses for support with materials and equipment.

Guardian Angel:
Do something good for someone without taking credit.
The goal is to help someone or do something nice for someone without taking credit for it. This project can be done individually or in groups. Projects may be as small as; holding open a door, helping someone carry groceries or putting the neighbor's garbage can back. Try paying the toll for the person behind you, or putting money in an expiring meter. Larger projects could include; cleaning up common or open space, or donate goods and services anonymously. Have fun! This project is harder than it sounds!

Remember to get permission / permits where required and focus on safety when implementing any project.

For additional project idaes please see the Existing Programs Page.