Collection Drive Service Projects For Small Churches

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Thinking Outside The (Shoe) Box

written by Stacey Meyer

Many churches enjoy participating in various “collection” type service projects. If you and your small church are looking for ideas to share the gospel and bless others without additional administrative/overhead expenses, consider doing a collection drive for items needed by organizations and charities right in your neighborhood or region.

Before beginning service projects for small churches, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Collection Drives To Impact Your Community

Consider WHY you want to begin such a project. Pray for direction and guidance on whom to bless and how. Consider if the project meets an actual need of the recipients or if it simply makes those contributing feel good (not bad in itself, but not a good enough reason alone).

Service Project Ideas: Veterans, Homeless, Widows, Foster Families, Refugees

Consider WHO to bless: Everyone, nearby and far away, needs to hear the good news of Jesus! There are many groups and individuals who could use encouragement, and a care package might be just the right avenue to make a connection:

• hospitalized children and their families
• veterans
• domestic abuse victims
• homeless families/individuals
• foster children/families
• refugees
• frazzled families
• widows/widowers
• so many more options

Connect With Community Organizations Before You Collect

Consider HOW to go about making the connection. Before beginning any kind of collection, check with the people who would know best what the needs might be.

Sometimes donation information can be found on an organization’s website, but it’s often helpful to talk to an individual to confirm current and actual needs:

• Many children’s hospitals have child life specialists. Inquire of them or someone else at the hospital about what might be most needed. Confirm if they would like items packaged like gifts, or just collected for the hospital to distribute.
• Contact a local veterans’ home or hospital and talk to a social worker or administrator who can tell you what the vets might appreciate receiving.
• Family Promise and other organizations that assist families with securing stable housing often have needs for cleaning kits, bedding sets, etc.
• Bethany Christian Services and other organizations could let you know if there is a need for certain sizes of clothing, school supplies, grooming kits, etc.
• The local homeless shelter or service center can confirm if there is a need for specific items like blankets, reading material, wallets for ID, etc.
• Crisis Pregnancy Centers often gladly accept donations of diapers, formula, and other baby essentials, and could possibly help you organize a “Baby Shower” for the organization to distribute.

Checking with someone in the know before you begin will ensure that you are collecting items they can actually accept and distribute.

Your Small Church Can Help Children’s Hospitals, Veterans, Frazzled Families, And More

Consider WHAT to collect and package up for recipients. Here are some ideas if the contact person doesn’t indicate specific needs:

Children’s Hospital

Joke books, games, art supplies, stickers, cards of encouragement, stuffed animals, books, children’s Bibles, Bible storybooks, fun blankets, socks, etc. Include personalized notes of encouragement and assurances of prayer.

Family member care packs: pocket-size tissues, hand sanitizer and lotions, chewing gum, playing cards, stationery, mints, cozy socks, a gift card to the hospital cafeteria or nearby restaurant, a small Bible, encouraging verses written on small cards, etc.

Gifts for siblings who are sometimes overshadowed during a family health crisis may be appreciated.

Veteran’s Home Or Hospital

Cards with a message like “You sacrificed much so our country could be free. Thank you! Have you heard about the One who sacrificed everything for you?”, warm socks, stress balls, playing cards, cozy blankets, reading material, word search and sudoku books, handmade cards, Bibles, devotionals, etc.

Frazzled Families

Put together “Dinner’s On Us” baskets. Package up the non-perishable items for a simple meal, such as pasta, marinara, parmesan cheese, applesauce, canned vegetable, and a dessert item. Include a short family devotional printout or book.

Unhoused Families

“Blessing Bags” containing wet wipes, tissues, protein bars, and other individually packaged snacks, bandages, deodorant, hand sanitizer, etc. Consider distributing these items in small backpacks or fanny packs or a reusable water bottle.

Crisis Pregnancy Center

Bible-based board books, formula, diapers, layettes, scripture cards with verses to encourage new mamas, etc.

For more ideas to serve veterans in your community, check out this Veteran’s Day Service Project: a church outreach idea from Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley!

Share The Good News Of Christ

What else?

Include some way of communicating the gospel message. It could be a pre-published tract, or if someone in your church is good at graphic design or publishing, consider designing something custom for this project. For adults, consider including a business or postcard from your church, inviting them to reach out to you with prayer needs or to join you in-person or online for worship.

PRAY! Before you decide on the project, throughout the collection time, as they are distributed and afterward, pray that God will open your eyes to the needs right in your own area or region; that God will bless those who minister to or care for individuals in crises or stressful situations; that recipients may feel the love of both God and their neighbors through the gifts.

Collection Drive Service Projects Are Perfect Any Time Of The Year

WHEN might be a good time to do one of these collection-based service projects? ANY time is good. We don’t need to limit ourselves to only Christmas as a time to bless others.

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