Service Through the Judicial System
Community service which is court-assigned is NOT applied toward the 40-hour requirement.
Organization-based Service
In general, service performed for profit-making organizations is NOT applicable, with the exception of hospitals, nursing homes, and newspapers. Unpaid work done at for-profit businesses such as most landscaping companies, dance, gymnastics, and martial arts schools, and daycares is not applicable. Service performed for individuals should be performed under the umbrella of an organization (e.g., tutoring a student through a school, helping the elderly through the Council on Aging). Activities such as babysitting, tutoring, or yard and housework to help a friend or neighbor typically do NOT count toward the requirement.
Service Through Religious Organizations
In order to be applicable, an activity may not be associated with the rituals, services, or ceremonies of any specific religion, proselytizing, or fundraising to support a specific religion or religious institution.
Thus, participation in religious services (e.g., choir membership, altar service, reading from the Torah), while a worthy endeavor, is NOT counted. However, educational activities and non-religious activities which benefit the religious community (in non-financial ways) or the community at large ARE applicable.
Examples of applicable religious-sponsored service activities include (but are not necessarily limited to):
- Teaching Sunday school or CCD
- Babysitting during religious services
- Painting church or temples and classrooms
- Clothing drives
- Work in shelters
- Participation in Belmont Religious Council or church mission trips to Habitat for Humanity or Community Volunteers
Selling Christmas trees/wreaths or helping with church or synagogue rummage sales is applicable only if the proceeds are used for charitable purposes and are not for the benefit of the sponsoring religious institution.
Participation (as members or officers) in religious youth groups is NOT generally applicable unless the groups are organizing and/or performing specific community service activities.
Traditional School-Sponsored Activities
Activities performed which are traditional after-school activities are NOT applicable. Thus, participation (as officers or as members) in student government, marching band, National Honor Society, and clubs and teams are NOT applicable unless the groups are organizing and/or performing specific community service activities. Fundraising for your own sport or team is NOT applicable.
Examples of applicable traditional school-sponsored activities include (but are not limited to):
- Belmontian Community Service Club activities
- PALS
- UNICEF Club
- Other clubs which include service
Summer Camps
If other community service guidelines are met (related to compensation, type of organization, religious practices) CIT hours spent in the actual organization and performance of specific community service activities ARE applicable. NOTE: Traditional counselor-in-training positions in for-profit camps are NOT applicable. Be sure to check with the camp director before you sign up to determine whether it will count
Activities Not Eligible for Service Credit (Recap)
- Service for which academic credit is earned
- Court-ordered service
- Service for individuals (e.g. friends, neighbors) without an umbrella organization (This includes, for example, tutoring, yard work, babysitting, etc)
- Service at for-profit businesses (e.g., law firms, landscape companies, dance & gymnastics, martial arts schools, daycares, even if you are not paid). However, there are some dance and gymnastic schools ARE non-profits, and the daycares in school (think about the before and after cares at the Belmont schools. Again, before you start, be sure to check them out!
- Participation in religious rites, services or ceremonies (e.g. , altar service, choir, Torah reading)
- Proselytizing
- Fundraising to support religious institutions (e.g., most rummage sales and carnivals)
- Traditional after-school activities, unless service activities are performed
- Fundraising for your athletic team or sport or to fund your group’s participation on a service trip
- CIT positions at for-profit camps
Charity Walks
Each charity walk is assigned a specific number of service hours for completing the walk, provided the student solicits pledges. Walking in solidarity without raising money for the cause will not earn hours. In addition, extra hours may be earned by fund-raising; for every 10 pledges or $100 (whichever works more to the student’s benefit) raised, a student earns an extra half-hour of service. Copies of the pledge sheets or pictures of your web page will serve as verification, and the regular forms must be completed.