Just one week before our youth mission trip to St. Louis—and right before a major holiday—our only scheduled service project completely fell through. With a group of teens ready to serve and no time to secure new partners, I had a choice: panic… or pivot.
So instead of “crashing out” (as the kids say), I reimagined the entire structure of our service day.
And while most of the projects weren’t uniquely tied to St. Louis, that almost made them more magical. The youth kept asking, “Can we do this at home too?”—which, of course, was the real win.
To add: some of these are… unique. Because we had originally planned to do a VBS, I had some crafts such as Wreaths and Flower Pots that I was wondering if I could repurpose a little for service projects. But I think that was part of our magic! Many of these were also inspired from my community at Women in Youth Ministry. Need some creative last-minute ideas? These women will help!
I put the service projects on cards and laid them out on a table. Each project had a clear summary, budget, supply list, scripture verse, and a reflection question—so they were ready to completely own it.
I read the projects to the group all at once, let them talk about it, and when they were ready they came up and chose a card to do the next day. They had a half hour to plan during our evening gathering time, then the next morning had three hours to execute. I put the cash in a pencil pouch, handed it over to a youth in charge, and told them to tell our group where to go. They had full autonomy and did a phenomenal job!
Park Cleanup
Summary: Help care for God’s creation by cleaning up litter and beautifying a local park.
Budget Guide: Low ($0–$20 for gloves, trash bags, optional snacks)
Supplies Needed: Trash bags, gloves, hand sanitizer, optional sidewalk chalk
Spiritual Goal / Verse: Genesis 2:15 – ‘The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.’
Reflection Question: What does it mean to take responsibility for a space we don’t own?
Little Libraries / Little Food Pantries
Summary: Stock and decorate neighborhood mini-libraries and food pantries with books, canned goods, and kind notes.
Budget Guide: $25–$100 for books, food staples, and decorating supplies
Supplies Needed: Books, canned goods, markers, notes, stickers
Spiritual Goal / Verse: Matthew 25:35 – ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.’
Reflection Question: How does sharing anonymously still help us feel connected?
Cards & Treats for Local Police, Fire Stations, Emergency Room Workers, Etc.
Summary: Show gratitude to local first responders with handwritten cards and treats.
Budget Guide: $25–$75 for treats and card supplies
Supplies Needed: Thank-you cards, markers, store-bought snacks or baked goods
Spiritual Goal / Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – ‘Encourage one another and build each other up.’
Reflection Question: Why is it important to acknowledge people who serve in hard jobs?
Laundry Love
Summary: Leave quarters and detergent at laundromats for neighbors doing laundry.
Budget Guide: $25–$100 in quarters and supplies
Supplies Needed: Quarters, detergent pods, ziplock bags, tape, printed notes
Spiritual Goal / Verse: Galatians 6:2 – ‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.’
Reflection Question: How does meeting a basic need reflect God’s love?
Hygiene Kits for Shelters
Summary: Assemble and donate hygiene kits for people experiencing homelessness.
Budget Guide: $50–$100 for bulk hygiene supplies
Supplies Needed: Toothbrushes, toothpaste, wipes, soap, socks, ziplock bags. You could also make menstrual supplies kits (tampons, pads, wipes, even reusable cups/discs).
Spiritual Goal / Verse: Proverbs 19:17 – ‘Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord.’
Reflection Question: Why does dignity matter when helping others?
Water + Snack Giveaway
Summary: Hand out water bottles and snacks at parks or bus stops with affirming notes.
Budget Guide: $25–$100 for snacks and bottled water
Supplies Needed: Water bottles, snacks, handwritten notes or stickers
Spiritual Goal / Verse:: Mark 9:41 – ‘Anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name… will certainly not lose their reward.’
Reflection Question: What does it feel like to give without expecting anything in return?
Lemonade & Listening
Summary: Offer free lemonade and kind conversation in a local park or busy street corner.
Budget Guide: $20–$40 for lemonade supplies and signage
Supplies Needed: Cooler, cups, lemonade mix, poster board, markers, chairs
Spiritual Goal / Verse: Hebrews 13:2 – ‘Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers.’
Reflection Question: What can we learn when we stop to really listen to others?
“Ray of Sunshine” Baskets for the Homebound
Summary: Create cheerful baskets filled with all yellow items and handmade cards to brighten the day of members of the church who are currently homebound. Coordinate with (insert church’s name) contact list.
Budget Guide: $100 total
Supplies Needed: Yellow baskets/bags, yellow items (lemon drops, socks, journals, teas, candles, pens, etc), list from the church, handmade cards, tags for bags
Spiritual Goal / Verse: Philippians 1:3–5 – “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.”
Reflection Question: How can we reflect God’s light to those who may feel forgotten or isolated?
Unhoused Showers Ministry
Summary: Collect items for a local church or shelter’s Showers Ministry, which helps people who are unhoused.
Budget Guide: $100
Supplies Needed: Shower supplies – or check with the ministry’s list of needed supplies
Spiritual Goal / Verse:Isaiah 58:7 (NRSV) – “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?”
Reflection Question: What does it mean to see someone experiencing homelessness not as a stranger, but as kin?
Our group chose to donate these items to St. Charles UMC’s Shower Ministry, but any shelter or street outreach program would be blessed by this.
Diaper Blessings
Summary: Shop for diapers in a variety of sizes and donate them to a local diaper bank or shelter that serves families in need. Create handwritten cards or notes of blessing to include with the donation—something simple to encourage and uplift parents or caregivers.
Budget Guide: $100 total
Supplies Needed: Diapers, card-making supplies
Spiritual Goal / Verse: Psalm 127:3 – “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”
Reflection Question: What does it mean to support someone you’ll never meet? How does this kind of giving reflect God’s trust in us to care for each other?
Bandanas for Pet Shelters
Summary: Create cheerful pet bandanas for animals in shelters to wear during adoption events. These small accessories can make pets more approachable and increase their chances of finding a forever home.
Budget Guide: $25–$75 for fabric, pinking shears, and optional fabric markers
Supplies Needed: Fabric from a craft stores, sharp scissors or pinking shears
Spiritual Goal / Verse: Proverbs 12:10 – “The righteous care for the needs of their animals.”
Reflection Question: How can simple acts of kindness toward animals reflect God’s love for all creation?
Dollar Tree Dinners
Summary: Create shelf-stable, low-cost meal kits. Each kit should fit in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag and include a simple recipe card. Drop off at a local food pantry to help people prepare a full meal with ease. Dollar Tree Dinners on TikTok has a examples.
Budget Guide: $100 total
Supplies Needed: Gallon-sized Ziploc bags, shelf-stable meal ingredients, index cards, markers/pens
Spiritual Goal / Verse: James 2:15–16 – “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?”
Reflection Question: How can meeting someone’s basic needs also help them feel seen, valued, and loved?
Food Pantry Restock
Summary: Many food pantries are facing shortages and budget cuts. This project invites you to research a local pantry, discover their most-needed items, and use your group’s budget to shop thoughtfully. Your donations will help restock their shelves and ensure families have access to what they need.
Budget Guide: $100 total
Supplies Needed:
Spiritual Goal / Verse: Matthew 25:35 – “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.”
Reflection Question: How does feeding someone—whether you know them or not—connect us more deeply to God’s love?
Because St. Louis experienced a tornado, we did a collective Tornado Relief drive. We dropped bags off on Monday and got them on Thursday – taking two days of our week!
Joy Wreaths for Nursing Homes
Summary: Research local food pantries and look up what they are in most need of right now. Many food pantries have lost funding.
Budget Guide: $100 total
Supplies Needed: Wreaths (we have cardboard wreaths), items from a craft store/dollar tree. Use cord/string for hanging.
Spiritual Goal / Verse: Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Reflection Question: How can a simple, handmade gift become a reminder of God’s joy and presence in someone’s life?
Flower Pots for First Responders, Nursing Homes, etc.
Summary: Decorate flower pots and plant seeds as a symbol of gratitude, growth, and care. Pair each pot with a handwritten thank-you card and deliver to people who serve or may feel forgotten—such as first responders, healthcare workers, nursing home residents, or long-time church members.
Budget Guide: N/A – items in stock!
Supplies Needed: Thank-you cards, markers, flower pots, peats, seeds, paint markers
Spiritual Goal / Verse: 1 Corinthians 3:6–7 – “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”
Reflection Question: How can small, thoughtful actions plant seeds of gratitude and hope in someone else’s life?
Create Your Own!
Summary: Come up with your own service project! Stay within budget and submit your plan to a leader.
Budget Guide: Up to $100
Supplies Needed: Whatever your group dreams up!
Spiritual Goal / Verse: Ephesians 2:10 – ‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.’
Reflection Question: What needs are you noticing that others might miss?
Heather Lea Campbell 