Community Service FAQs [25-26, staff use ONLY]

Community Service Requirement FAQs [staff use ONLY]

Community Service Requirement

Each Crosby Scholar must complete a minimum of two (2) hours of community service (requirement) each school year Class of 2026 seniors who completed four (4) or more hours of service in their junior year have also met their senior year service requirement. Service should be done at a not-for-profit organization or program, and students should submit the Community Service Form in CrosbyConnect to document their completed hours.

What is community service?

Community service must be performed with a nonprofit agency or be an activity that benefits a nonprofit agency. The volunteer commitment can be fulfilled through scouts, school clubs, civic organizations, and/or certain church activities. While membership in a club or organization does not count as service, volunteering in the community in a club-sponsored activity does. See below for examples of activities that Crosby Scholars Program does or does not accept as community service and why.

Community service may not be performed at for-profit organizations or businesses. Due to our nonprofit status, we are unable to accept volunteering on the political campaign of a specific candidate as community service. Crosby Scholars staff reserves the right to determine if an activity fulfills its Community Service requirement.

2025-26 Community Service Due Dates

Class of 2026

January 31, 2026

Activity

Regular participation in an extracurricular activity

Ex: Girl/Boy Scouts, school clubs or sports, etc.

Community service performed as part of an extracurricular activity

Ex: volunteering for a non-profit with Scouts or your school club/team

Regular religious service activities

Ex: singing in the coir, serving at the altar, ushering, etc.

Community service performed with a religious organization

Ex: volunteering at a non-profit with your youth group, singing at a nursing home with your church choir

Grades 6-11 April 1, 2026

Does it fulfill the requirement?

NO: Membership in a club or organization does not count as service. Regular participation (such as meetings or practices) in an extracurricular activity is not accepted as community service. Extracurricular activities do, however, make a great addition to your Activities Resume.

YES: Volunteering in the community in a club-sponsored activity is accepted as community service. Note in your community service form the organization that benefitted from your service (ex: Habitat for Humanity), not just the club or group you served with.

NO: Activities performed as a regular part of a religious service do not count as community service. These activities are considered "extracurricular activities" and will make a great addition to your Activities Resume.

YES: Activities performed with a religious organization that benefit a not-forprofit organization or individual in need are accepted as community service.

Activity Does it fulfill the requirement?

Babysitting

Crosby Cares for Kids

Volunteering for a specific political campaign or candidate

Volunteering as a poll worker

Household chores in your own home

Ex: taking out the trash, doing the dishes, etc.

Household chores for someone in need who is not part of your household

Ex: elderly neighbor, community member experiencing hardship

Working at a for-profit business without pay

Ex: working your job without pay, "volunteering" at a family business

Volunteering at a for-profit business as a fundraiser for a not-for-profit organization

Ex: Dewey's Bakery holiday sales for school band boosters

NO: General babysitting without pay is not accepted as community service. See Crosby Cares for Kids below.

YES: Crosby Cares for Kids is a structured community service activity that goes beyond babysitting and which helps in the early childhood development of children in our community. Click here for more information. In your community service form, make sure to note how your activity fulfills Crosby Cares for Kids.

NO: Due to our nonprofit status, we are unable to accept volunteering on the political campaign of a specific candidate as community service.

YES: Volunteering your time as a poll worker is accepted as community service. Volunteering as a poll worker is different from volunteering for a specific candidate at the polls. Poll workers are organized by the State Board of Elections are not permitted to advocate for a specific party or candidate while serving at the polls.

NO: Household chores in your own home do not count as community service. Your service should benefit an organization or individual in need outside of your own household or immediate family.

YES: Household chores for someone in need (such as an elderly neighbor or a community member experiencing hardship) who is not part of your household or immediate family are accepted as community service. You must explain in your community service form who this person is and why they need your help. LOOK INTO LITTER PICK UP

NO: Working at a for-profit business without pay is not accepted as community service. Crosby Scholars Program does not recommend or endorse the performance of unpaid labor at for-profit businesses.

YES: Volunteering at a for-profit business as part of a structured fundraising program that benefits a not-for-profit organization is accepted as community service. In your community service form, be sure to note the organization (Ex: Reagan Band Boosters) that benefitted from your service, not just the business that hosted the fundraiser.

Crosby Scholars Program staff reserves the right to determine if a community service activity fulfills our requirement. If you have questions about whether your community service idea meets the requirement for the Program, please contact Crosby Scholars at: