Service Learning Program

Yes. There are great ways to serve that do not necessarily fit into the CC Service Learning Program. Our program focuses on serving the poor as directed by Jesus. While there can always be poor and needy people around us, we determine the type of service based on the nature of the event, not the chance of a poor or needy individual being present.

• Students may not volunteer for relatives to fulfill SERVICE TO THE POOR & NEEDY (DIRECT & INDIRECT) service requirements with the exception of extraordinary circumstances and only with the prior approval of the Service Learning Coordinator.
• Students may not do a service project that benefits a commercial (for-profit) business.
• Caring for animals.
• Community / local events (County Fair, Riverfest, Taste of Tippecanoe, etc)
• Civic organizations (library, zoo, etc)
• School Fundraisers (apple dumplings, etc)
• Most Babysitting (for family friends, etc. – especially if you are paid) There are a few exceptions to this – single mothers, foster children, in an emergent situation, etc. Any babysitting service aside from those listed should be pre-approved by the Service Learning Coordinator
• Boy/Girl Scout Events-camps, fundraisers, etc (unless it is a service project that falls under one of the approved categories)

Blue Knight Auction – Indirect Service to the Poor AND/OR School Hours: because this benefits tuition assistance and our school system, the BKA benefits the poor indirectly and also serves the school.
CC Sports Camps – School Hours: if Central Catholic or any school in the LCSS is running the camp, then it would benefit the school.
Outreach Sports Camps: camps that are specifically geared towards outreach; serving the poor or disabled would be “Direct Service to the Poor”-Ex: Tippy All-Stars.
German Fest – Church: this event benefits St. Boniface Parish. You do not need to be a member of St. Boniface to serve at this event.
Jubilee Christmas – Indirect or Direct Service to the Poor and/or service to Church.
Elderly Neighbor Assistance – Direct or Indirect Service to the Poor.
Vacation Bible School/Camp – Church.

Check the Service Hours Submitted Form

Students submit service hours on the Mobile Serve Platform.  Students can access Mobile Serve on their laptops, or by downloading the Mobile Serve App to their phone.  Students sign in to Mobile Serve using their School (LCSS email) account.  Students can submit hours by checking into an event they have signed up for or by manually inputting hours.  Students must provide the name and email address of the event’s supervisor, or obtain an electronic signature from their supervisor.  Hours will be verified by the event supervisor, but will ultimately be approved by the Service Learning Coordinator.  Students must select which category their service falls under, and the Service Learning Coordinator will review and correct as needed.

Check the Opportunities to Serve document.

One Theology class at the end of each month will be devoted to Service Learning and our Service Learning Coordinator will guide the students through questions, submissions, and lessons on service.

We divide service into three categories: direct service to the poor, indirect service to the poor, and Church/LCSS School hours. The key question is: “who benefits from this work?” That will help you to determine what type of service this is.

Ultimately, students MUST talk to the Service Learning Coordinator to confirm what type of service an activity is. Parents, event organizers, or other teachers DO NOT determine what type of service an act is.

Seniors & Juniors – 25 hours
10+ hours of Direct Service to the Poor & Needy
10+ hours of Direct or Indirect Service to the Poor and Needy
5+ hours of Service to the Church or LCSS Schools

Sophomores & Freshmen – 21 hours
8+ hours of Direct Service to the Poor & Needy
8+ hours of Direct or Indirect Service to the Poor & Needy
5+ hours of Service to benefit the Church or LCSS Schools

7th & 8th Grade – 17 hours
6+ hours of Direct Service to the Poor & Needy
6+ hours of Direct or Indirect Service to the Poor & Needy
5+ hours of Service to benefit the Church or LCSS Schools

ALL service hours will be completed by April 30. However, from now on, hours will be turned in by the last day of the month they were completed. All Theology classes will provide one working day in the last week of the month for students to work on their submissions.

• All hours completed during May, June, July and August will be due August 31.
• All hours completed during the month of September will be due September 28.
• All hours completed during the month of October will be due October 31.
• All hours completed during the month of November will be due November 30
• All hours completed during December & January will be due January 31.
• All hours completed during the month of February will be due February 29.
• All hours completed during the month of March will be due March 31.
• All hours completed during the month of April will be due April 30 (ALL HOURS DUE).

You may begin on May 1st and should complete your hours by April 30. The Blue Knight Auction is the only “flex” opportunity which you can use for the current or the next year.

You’re really getting the hang of this whole service thing when you look around you and see a need. But there are plenty of places in town that have regular and consistent needs: nursing homes (we love St. Anthony’s), food banks (we usually go to Food Finders and the Tippecanoe County Food Bank)

Here is a list of places we love to serve:

• St. Anthony’s Nursing Home
• Food Finders Food Bank
• Lafayette Transitional Housing
• Caregiver Companion
• LUM Homeless Shelter
• Bravely Women’s Health
• Millie’s Thrift Shop
• St. Ann’s Matthew 25 Soup Kitchen
• American Red Cross

There are many types of poverty in our world today. In Matthew 25, Jesus asks us to serve the hungry, thirsty, naked, displaced, sick and imprisoned. Jesus told us, “Whenever you gave to the least of my people, you gave to me.” We want you to serve God by serving others, the least of His people, and so we challenge ourselves to find those in real need.