2024 Fall Service Toolkit (Final)

HUMILITY. GRATITUDE. KINDNESS. COMPASSION. HUMILITY. GRATITUDE.

FALL SERVICE TOOLKIT 2024

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HUMILITY. GRATITUDE. KINDNESS. COMPASSION. HUMILITY. GRATITUDE. KINDNESS.KIND. COMaSSION.

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#Serveforshane

“I have three lessons that guide me. First, service is not a hand out—it’s a helping hand. And everyone needs a helping hand at some point. Next, give with your heart. In an instant, your world could change and roles could be reversed. And finally, be thankful every day.”

Shane McColgan, Class of 2021, Carver 2024 Service Hero

With love, we dedicate Fall Service to Shane McColgan, Class of 2021, Carver, whom we lost in May 2023 following a valiant fight with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

Shane was 16-years-old and a cherished son, brother, grandson, friend, Alumnus, and change maker. At age seven, he found his life’s purpose -ending hunger in his hometown of Carver. Two years later, he and his family founded the “Shane Gives Thanks Food Pantry” to nourish families and strengthen the spirit of generosity and compassion. What began as a dream to feed hungry children now serves 1,300 neighbors each month.

It was a privilege to have known this remarkable young man. Shane exemplified your generation’s audacious hope and fervent activism in pursuit of what is good and just. We carry his indomitable spirit forward as we commit greater kindness, deeper humanity, and service leadership rooted in love.

Shane is forever 35ONE and forever in our hearts. Through your leadership of Fall Service and beyond, his legacy of love will endure.

AMBASSADOR COMMITMENT TO LEAD

Our community is led by a set of guiding principles — each of which is essential to our mission and important to our unity and well-being. Throughout this service year, we hope that you have gained knowledge and understanding of the Project 351 values and ethos that define our service, our community, and the world that we hope to build, together.

We are a youth-led movement for positive social change, defined by courage, compassion, and a spirit of unity that thrives with hope. We build from a foundation of gratitude for those who came before us — our families and communities, Alumni, and the long, rich history of Service Heroes, movement makers, and change agents.

As an Ambassador...

„ I begin—and end—in gratitude.

„ I commit to Project 351’s core values as my North Star: kindness, compassion, humility, and gratitude.

„ I serve with a deep understanding of my own motivations, enriched by self-reflection and a dedication to kaizen the idea of continuous improvement.

„ I believe in the power of audacious hope, the transformative impact of kindness, and the unlimited potential of 35ONE.

„ I lead with love, serve with compassion, and build bridges with respect for the dignity of all. I reject racism, bigotry, hatred, and bullying of any kind and in every form.

„ I embrace the knowledge and joy found in a diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, and lived experiences.

„ I use my voice to inspire, express appreciation, encourage friendship, and amplify the unheard.

„ I devote my gifts to the causes and issues that inspire my passion; and to the unifying vision of the Beloved Community.

„ I step up and stand up as an ally and champion for those in need of our partnership, advocacy, and friendship.

„ As I serve and support others, I prioritize my own wellness, care, and affirmation -- mindful that 35ONELove begins with self-love.

„ I will UNITE, ACT, LEAD with purpose, passion, and pride.

„ And, as a proud member of the Class of 2024 and 35ONE community, I will demonstrate that our generation is a mighty force for extraordinary change.

Our service ethos

The Four Core Values of Project 351

„ Kindness: The quality of being friendly, generous, considerate, and warm toward all others

„ Compassion: The instinct to care deeply about others through greater understanding of their life story and circumstances

„ Humility: The characteristic of being modest, recognizing that my experiences and perspectives are one of many

„ Gratitude: The quality of being thankful; demonstrating appreciation and kindness with joy

When we UNITE, ACT, LEAD in service, we express our core beliefs...

„ Begin in gratitude for the privilege of service and the opportunity to learn from those with whom we serve.

„ Enter into community with humility and respect.

„ Respect and value the dignity of all.

„ Serve “with” not “for” community. Communities are rich in wisdom, initiatives, and ideas, but often lack vital resources that allow them to achieve their vision. When we serve, we support their vision by mobilizing resources that may be lacking.

„ Together, we are stronger. Collaborative teamwork increases service excellence. Respect for the opinions, ideas, and perspectives of others is essential.

„ We are one team, one community, one family...35ONE!

„ Service is joy!

“When World Central Kitchen arrives in community after a natural disaster, we need to just get started, get into the kitchen and cook. This is the most effective decision we can make. One plate at a time added up to millions of meals because we just got going.”

Chef José Andrés, Service Hero

Introduction Welcome

We begin in gratitude for your devotion to nourish our communities and ensure every family has consistent access to nutritious food. We live in challenging times with sustained economic hardship and deepening divides. But, we know the power of service, the hope inspired by 35ONELove, and the impact we make when we unite in a shared mission. Our commitment to Fall Service is motivated by our respect for the dignity of all and belief that every child -- every individual -- deserves the resources they need to thrive.

The first step of leading change (after our ‘why,’ of course!) is to understand the scale and scope of the challenge:

„ According to Project Bread, 1 in 6 households, and 1 in 5 households with children, are currently food insecure. This amount has increased in recent years.

„ Over 20% of households with children in Massachusetts are food insecure.

Our response? To build bridges and unite our Commonwealth. The compassionate action and unified purpose of 35ONE. And, in your hands is the inspiration, information, and blueprint you need to help end hunger in your hometown. These pages include the knowledge and motivation to guide your development of Fall Service.

This Toolkit gains its strength from you. It will be your companion for training calls, resource for best practices, and canvas for your goals and vision. Please use it to guide your service journey, strengthen your confidence and courage as leader, and mobilize your hometown to end hunger.

At each stage of Fall Service, we “Learn, Act, and Reflect” to ensure our vision, action plan, and values reflect the best of us and respect for the dignity of those we serve. As always, let kindness, compassion, humility, and gratitude guide your path of service.

Thank you for your commitment to end hunger and nourish your community.

How to Use This Toolkit

Since Launch Day in January, the Class of 2024 has impacted nearly 75,000 neighbors through dedicated and compassionate action!

As we close out this service year, our most important leadership challenge and skillbuilding opportunity lies before us.

This Toolkit is your guide for this final chapter of your Ambassador year. In it, you’ll find guidance, inspiration, best practices, and plenty of room to reflect, plan, and execute. But, the Toolkit is only valuable if you invest in it. So, dive in and bring your voice and vision to the cause of hunger.

Each chapter will guide you through opportunities to LEARN, ACT, and REFLECT. And, each page turned will bring you closer to ending hunger in your community... and to developing the skills and values of a leader capable of extraordinary change.

Learn

You understand this by now: we can’t solve problems we don’t understand. And, to truly understand, we must seek knowledge, perspective, and wisdom from those most familiar, committed, and affected by the cause to which we are devoted. In this case, hunger.

ALUMNI INSPIRATION

Each chapter begins with Alumni Inspiration. The Class of 2024 stands on the shoulders of 4,891 Alumni who have worn the navy tee and served their community with excellence. Their reflections and lessons learned offer invaluable perspective.

THE WISDOM OF “FIVE”

Throughout this Toolkit, we’re going to pause and TAKE FIVE—an opportunity to reflect and learn from a Project 351 champion with expertise we value. Each will share five lessons of leadership to guide and inform your service. We’re very grateful to our TAKE FIVE team for sharing their wisdom and believing in YOU!

Act

Your leadership of Fall Service will take many forms including building an Action Plan, team management, civic engagement, creating partnerships, and—of course—service! Each action should reflect our values and thoughtful intention, and be executed with optimism and joy!

ART QUOTES

Every Toolkit chapter features an inspirational quote or statistic in graphic form that reflects or reinforces a key message. Weekly, you will be given the same graphic to share on Instagram, Facebook, and other social media channels to help you STW!

Reflect

Leadership is a continuous journey. The best leaders dedicate time and effort to learn from each experience—both roses and thorns. By reflecting on strengths and opportunities for further growth, we ensure our next service mission will have even greater success.

QUESTIONS

Guiding questions invite your reflections and insights, and provide documentation of your leadership-in-action.

ACTION STEPS

At the close of each chapter, this summary of important priorities will help focus your efforts and maximize your time.

TAKE FIVE Understanding hunger in Massachusetts—and how we can end it together

Erin McAleer, President & CEO, Project Bread

Project Bread is the statewide antihunger organization that connects people and communities in Massachusetts to reliable sources of food, while advocating for policies that make food more accessible—so that no one goes hungry. Food insecurity is disproportionately experienced by people of color, immigrant families, and those with fewer economic means. And, food insecurity correlates to lower levels of educational attainment, high levels of unemployment, and additional economic hardships. Project Bread promotes legislation that deconstructs historical racism and structural inequities, so that we can drive meaningful change to improve food security to address immediate need and long-term sustainability. We focus on solutions that provide Massachusetts residents with reliable sources of food and give them ongoing food security, so that they can reach their academic potential and live healthy lives.

How can YOU help in the fight against food insecurity?

1. Spread awareness and dispel myths. Prior to the pandemic, household food insecurity in Massachusetts was at 8.2%. The coronavirus pandemic fueled a hunger crisis unlike any other in our lifetime, at its peak rendering 19.6% of households food insecure. Hunger can affect anyone.

2. Work with your local food pantry, and ask them about the barriers to food access. For many people who are food-insecure, getting the help they need can be a challenge. Obstacles include lack of transportation, language barriers, physical mobility limitations, fear of stigma, or simply not knowing where to turn.

3. Schools are key partners in the work to end hunger. Massachusetts became the 8th state to make free school meals permanent. This is a starting point for ending childhood hunger. School meals are a major part of daily nutrition for children growing up in low-income households. Food served in schools makes up half the daily calories for many students in Massachusetts. Going forward, advocate for year-round access to nutritious and delicious food through school and summer meal programs. Support critical meals for students such

as implementing school breakfast, and supporting school nutrition staff with resources and training year-round. For more information, contact Project Bread at ActionTeam@Projectbread.org.

4. Your leadership matters, so raise your voice to help hungry people. Changing public policies can make a substantial impact in the lives of families who struggle to make ends meet. You can influence policies that protect people from hunger by engaging your elected officials. In Chapter 2, you’ll learn how to inspire your local elected representatives with your commitment to end hunger!

5. Visit www.projectbread.org to learn more. Promote our FoodSource Hotline, learn more about our programs, join the Project Bread Action Team, and sign up for next year’s Walk for Hunger. We have lots of tools that you can use to help Make Hunger History in Massachusetts!

Hunger Across Our State

This year, in the United States, the richest nation on earth, 34 million people and 9 million children, are projected to experience, or currently experience, food insecurity in 2024. While these statistics reflect progress from the crisis level caused by the pandemic, food insecurity remains significantly higher than pre-pandemic.

North, South, East, West. From North Adams to Cape Cod and the Islands, hunger is a persistent and debilitating challenge—affecting every one of our hometowns.

A hungry child—family member, senior, or veteran—is not acceptable at Project 351. We are moved to act because our neighbors, families, and friends need our care and support.

FOOD INSECURITY vs. HUNGER

The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.

While we all at times experience the personal sensation of hunger, food insecurity refers to “a lack of available financial resources for food at the household level.” Food insecurity is complex, and can affect people in any city or town, living above or below the poverty level.

Source: Feeding America

THE STATE’S FOUR REGIONAL FOOD BANKS OFFER COMPELLING STATISTICS:

EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND THE CAPE & ISLANDS

The Greater Boston Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. Last year, GBFB distributed 109 pounds of food, the equivalent of over 90 million meals.

NORTHERN MASSACHUSETTS

Each month, the Merrimack Valley Food Bank supplies 140 food pantry and meal programs, which impacts 30 communities and 80,000 people.

CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS

Last year, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts distributed 10.1 million meals total in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties—28% of which benefitted children aged 0-17.

Nearly 5,000 volunteer hours and 115 agencies help to distribute food in partnership with the Worcester County Food Bank—reaching 75,000 people each year.

Service Hero and Massachusetts State Rep. Andy Vargas of Haverhill co-sponsored the “School Meals for All” legislation, which was passed in 2023 and will provide permanent free school meals to all Masschusetts children, ending the practice of “meal shaming,” or placing restrictions on children whose families owe money for meals.

The Berkshire Food Project served over 82,000 meals throughout 2022.

Massachusetts

The 2022 projected food insecurity rate for children in Hampden County is 15.5%—the highest in the state.

As many as 55% of the nearly 18,000 students enrolled at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston qualify as food insecure—and in response, the school opened its own food pantry in 2019, which has already distributed more than 75,000 pounds of food.

1 in 6 children on Cape Cod are food insecure. Often, these children participate in free food programs at their schools, but weekends can be very difficult for their families. The organization Cape Kid Meals was created to provide food for the weekend for all children in need, and currently serves 37+ schools across the Cape and over 1,000 children.

During Fall Service, through service and community engagement—and by raising your voice in support of a cause you believe in, you will help ensure that thousands of neighbors, family, friends, and classmates across Massachusetts will have access to nutritious food this holiday season.

Hunger IN MASSACHUSETTS

As we learn and serve, it is important to understand the connection between poverty and hunger; as well as between race, ethnicity and hunger. Greater knowledge fuels our urgent responsibility to work to eradicate food insecurity and the underlying inequalities in our society that perpetuate hunger and poverty.

These statistics reflect the unjust and disproportionate impact of the intersection of hunger, race, class, and sexual orientation on some of our neighbors, families, and friends:

In March-August 2022, 1 in 5 white households with children compared to nearly 1 in 3 Black and Latino households with children were food insecure.

(Source: US Census Household Pulse Survey)

18.4%

The percentage of all households in Massachusetts who reported food insecurity in August 2023. This is reaching the level of food insecuity at the height of the pandemic of 19.6%

(Source: U.S. Household Pulse Survey)

Food insecuity is an intersectional issue.

LGBTQ+ and People of Color households experience food insecuirty at higher rates than the households of straight white families.

45-47%

The percentage of Black or Latino LGBTQ+ households with child who experienced food insecurity in MA as of May 2022.

(Source: Project Bread)

The federal nutrition program, SNAP, has increased substantially since the onset of the pandemic. As of August 2023, there are 1,054,215 people & 638,602 households in Massachusetts receiving SNAP.

(Source: Project Bread)

October 2024

November 2024

SLA

SLA

December 2024

Post, Like, & Share to Change the World

Social media is a powerful platform for changing the world. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is just one example of the global scale and life saving impact of a viral social media phenomenon. Inspired by Service Hero Pete Frates, millions of people around the world dumped a bucket of ice over the head, posted an image, and donated to ALS research.

According to The CPA Journal, the first year of the Ice Bucket Challenge (2014), 17 million people posted their challenge videos, which were watched by 440 million people a total of 10 billion times! And, an astonishing $115 million was raised in just eight weeks! That investment tripled the research budget of the ALS Association, yielding breakthrough scientific discovery and greater hope for those affected by ALS.

To set a strong foundation for your social media/end hunger efforts, let’s cover some basics.

You can find Project 351 at:

Facebook: @TeamProject351

X: @TeamProject351

Instagram: @project351

Hashtags we’ll highlight for use throughout Fall Service:

#ServeForShane

#p351FallService

#MotivationMonday

#WhyIServeWednesday

#UniteActLead

#readysetserve

#endhunger

#NoKidHungry

Tips

Spread the Word. Social media is a megaphone for service. Post details (time, date, location, wish list) to encourage donations.

Tag our Project 351 accounts in your posts!

Educate. Build awareness of the challenge of hunger with infographics, inspirational quotes, facts, and statistics.

Celebrate unsung heroes. On #ServiceHeroSunday, celebrate and appreciate your Food Pantry partner, Cornerstone Partners, LT, and volunteers who make your service possible.

A picture is worth 1,000 words. We’ve all heard that before! In service, that’s especially true. Snaps of your Food Pantry, your LT in action, and overflowing donation bins builds the interest and support of your followers.

Express gratitude. Use social media to appreciate your Cornerstone Partners, Leadership Team, community partners, and other stakeholders. Tag them in your posts.

Ambassador Voice: Why I Fight Hunger

“My why is that no child should go hungry.

Food is essential in order to survive and thrive. All children should have equal opportunities to succeed, and without proper nourishment, they can’t do that.

I believe that food is a human right. The fact that some people in this country don’t have enough food to eat is saddening and frustrating. We’re all so privileged to be in a position where we can help others, so we should take our power and do good.”

YOUMA, CLASS OF 2024, WESTON

“No one deserves to be hungry. Serving as Ambassador has been my biggest accomplishment & truly made me feel part of something valuable & a movement for change.”

CONNER, CLASS OF 2024, WALTHAM

“I believe that everyone should have access to basic human needs such as food, especially now that the winter season is coming up.”

GIANNA, CLASS OF 2024, MELROSE

MY VOICE

3 words to change the world “BE KIND NOW”

tsai,

Ming

2017 Service Hero

HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN EXPERIENCE

FOOD INSECURITY

Source: Project Bread

At Blue Cross, we’ve proudly supported Project 351 for 14

YEARS

because we believe in their unique approach to which centers the ideas and energy of YOUNG PEOPLE. When communities, nonprofits, and companies work together, we can solve tough problems.”

food justice,

Lucy Darragh Strategy and Social Impact Director Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

ACHIEVING FOOD JUSTICE

Our Partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (bluecrossma.org) is a communityfocused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. They are committed to showing up for everyone like they’re the only one and guiding their members to the exceptional health care they deserve. In keeping with that commitment, they are rated among the nation’s best health plans for member satisfaction and quality.

OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD of MASSACHUSETTS

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has a special place in Project 351’s heart and history. They’ve been “true blue” believers since our founding in 2011, inspired by your leadership, compassion, and unlimited potential to create the positive change we wish to see in the world. And, in 351 cities and towns across the Commonwealth!

We are deeply grateful to our friends at Blue Cross for their leadership and investment in your Fall Service. Their generosity and faith powers our mission foward as we “Make Hunger History!” We draw inspiration from their leadership on issues of Health Justice and food insecurity. Let’s dive in to learn how Blue Cross and their partners are nourishing communities across our state.

MISSION AND VALUES

Blue Cross’ 4,000 employees are inspired by five core values:

1. Be the example. Do what’s right, not what’s easy.

2. Be kind. Act with humility and heart.

3. Be curious. Ask questions. Seek diverse perspectives.

4. Be courageous. Bring bold ideas and make them happen.

5. Be community focused. Always.

“EMPATHY,

AUTHENTICITY, PASSION.”

Jeff Bellows’ Three Words to Change the World

YOUR VOICE: What partner (or partners) will you rely on during your Fall Service campaign?

Jeff Bellows Vice President

Corporate Citizenship & Public Affairs Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

FOOD JUSTICE is health justice

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is deeply committed to helping all Massachusetts community members lead healthy lives and ensuring equitable access to the environments, experiences, and education needed for good health.

Blue Cross understands that health isn’t just about what happens in a doctor’s office, it also involves the social and economic conditions that affect people’s well-being. Its Health Justice strategy aims to eliminate health inequalities by understanding the root causes of health disparities – like access to nutritious food.

Healthy lives require healthy food, and healthy food is a human right. Promoting access to healthy food has long been a pillar of Blue Cross’ work in the community. Individuals and families across the Commonwealth, particularly in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, struggle to access affordable, healthy food options. In Massachusetts, 1.8 million adults, or 33% of the state’s population, reported chronic food insecurity with one in three individuals reporting running out of food or not having enough money to purchase food every month (source: Feeding America 2020).

To overcome these challenges, Blue Cross works to promote “Food Justice” so that everyone can have access to healthy food and a sustainable food system.

Food justice requires:

• Food security. Ensuring all community members have reliable access to healthy, culturally relevant food.

• Food systems transformation. Reimagining the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food to make the system fair and just.

• Community participation. Giving all community members a voice in shaping the food system.

• Environmental sustainability. Ensuring food production, processing, and distribution does not harm the environment and the local ecosystem.

• YOU. Your leadership, service, advocacy, and compassion.

The importance of a sustainable food system cannot be overstated. A sustainable food system not only provides access to healthy food but also supports local economies and protects the environment. Prioritizing sustainability, a focus of many Food Justice organizations, is an investment in the long-term health of Massachusetts communities, making sure that future generations, like yours, have access to the resources they need to thrive.

A Call-to-Lead with Love and Serve-with-Compassion

Food is not just about nutrition; it’s a crucial part of our culture, health, and community. When people have access to healthy food, they lead healthier lives, which means they can attend school, work, and contribute positively to their communities.

But as you’ve learned and read in the Introduction, millions of our neighbors experience food insecurity and struggle to access fresh and nutritious food. Food insecurity can lead to serious health issues, such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, which are often exacerbated by a lack of access to nutritional options. Achieving food justice is crucial in addressing these disparities and ensuring that all communities, regardless of their socioeconomic status, have equal access to healthy food.

For 14 years, Blue Cross has proudly invested in your leadership as bridge builders, change makers, and a statewide force for good. This Fall, they’re by your side in our common mission to Make Hunger History. Whether organizing food drives, raising awareness about food insecurity, or advocating for policies and organizations that nourish community, every act of service, compassion, and 35ONE Love counts.

Food Justice is Health Justice.

Your leadership of Fall Service will help us achieve both!

CONVERSATIONS WITH CHANGEMAKERS

[At Project 351, we draw inspiration from dreamers and doers who use their gifts to uplift their communities. Leaders like Jeff Bellows, Blue Cross’ Vice President of Corporate Citizenship, and Addario Miranda, ALC, Lowell, and Youth Advocate, Project Bread. Recently, Jeff and Addario bonded over their shared passion to end hunger and hopeful vision for changing the world.

Addario: At Project 351, we begin with our why. So, I’d like to ask, “what is your why?”

Jeff: My why is rooted in an inherent need to be involved. I want to help people be their best selves. Ever since I was young, I’d see a problem and want to solve it. Throughout my career, I’ve been the happiest and most fulfilled when I’m working on a team to create greater equity and opportunity for every member of our community.

Addario: What are your three words to change the world?

Jeff: Empathy, authenticity, passion. Empathy is essential to understanding other people’s perspective and their why. Authenticity is being the real you and never wavering from your values and beliefs. And passion – I believe passion can change the world!

Addario: Every day, you’re leading positive change as the Vice President of Corporate Citizenship. What’s corporate citizenship?

Jeff: Corporate citizenship is a company’s values coming to life. It’s the investment, policies, and employee engagement that reflect our priorities and beliefs in the communities where we live and work. Blue Cross’ values are the reason I’m here.

Addario: How would you define Health Justice?

Jeff: If we achieve Health Justice, every member of the community will have healthy lifestyles and equitable access to the environments, experiences, and education needed for good health. To reach our goal, we partner with community to eliminate structural barriers that prevent us from achieving wellness and work to dismantle their root causes. Ending food insecurity is one of our Health Justice promises.

Second, we’re inspired by your commitment to Health Justice, especially through work to promote mental health and wellness and to end food insecurity. The third factor is Project 351’s leadership team, whom we admire for their excellence and spirit of gratitude.

Finally, Project 351 gives me hope. I get energized by your Ambassadors and Alumni. You’re brilliant and passionate and are changing the world!

Addario: My final question: Our country is really divided, with too much anger and fear. What advice do you have as we work to build a more united and compassionate Commonwealth and country?

Jeff: We’ve learned so much from our community partners. To solve complex challenges, we must find common ground and that process – if done well – builds unity.

[Class of 2021, Lowell

The first step is listening with compassion and hearing to understand. No matter what the topic, there’s always at least two sides. It’s important to learn other perspectives and try to walk in their shoes. You may not change their opinion, but you can show grace and give space for them to express their feelings. That greater knowledge helps you discover things you share in common. You begin to solve the challenge as you build bridges of understanding. At this challenging time in our country, I have faith Project 351 will help us find the way forward.

Addario: Thank you, Jeff!

Jeff: Thank you, Addario. You’re an amazing young man. I want you and every Ambassador to know that Blue Cross is proud to be your partner. We admire your courage to stand up for what you believe in and your leadership to make hunger history!

MAKE. HUNGER. HISTORY.

Addario Miranda

Senior Legacy Fellow

MAKE HUNGER HISTORY

Leading Change in the 35ONE

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is more than a health care company, they’re a force for powerful change. We are honored to serve with and learn from these visionary leaders to achieve equitable and just communities, where every child and family has the resources they need to thrive.

1 5

We have special appreciation for Blue Cross’ commitment to local communities – the 351 cities and towns you proudly represent. They know that the people most affected by food insecurity often have the best understanding of their community’s challenges and solutions:

• 1.8 million adults in MA, or 33% of the state’s population, reported chronic food insecurity with one in three individuals reporting running out of food or not having enough money to purchase food every month.

• One in three households in MA experienced child-level food insecurity, meaning that a child was hungry, skipped a meal, or did not eat for a whole day because there was not enough money for food. Children from LGBTQIA+, Black, or Hispanic households had higher rates of food insecurity than rates overall.

• Regionally, food insecurity varied greatly across MA, with 29% of households in Eastern Massachusetts – the largest population in the state – experiencing food insecurity.

• Among households with children, the prevalence of child-level food insecurity is 43% in Western Massachusetts, 41% in Central Massachusetts, and 32% in Eastern Massachusetts.

Our state’s regional diversity requires strategies that are uniquely their own. That’s why Blue Cross collaborates with nonprofits that involve historically excluded groups to create a blueprint for change.

This week of Thanksgiving, we give thanks for Blue Cross’ leadership and partnership. We draw inspiration from eight of their regional Food Justice partners, and their example of innovation, collaboration, and respect for the dignity of all.

Take a look at page 25 to learn more about eight of Blue Cross’ partner organizations across the Commonwealth. Scan the QR code for detailed information about each organization.

1 2 3 4

All Farmers

Springfield and surrounding area

Greater Boston and beyond 2 3 4 6 7 8

5

Boston Area Gleaners

Acton and Eastern Massachusetts

Cape Cod Council of Churches

Cape and Islands

Commonwealth Kitchen

FOOD JUSTICE CATEGORIES

Food Security

Food Systems Transformation

Community Participation

Environmental Sustainability

6

7

8

Grow Food Northampton

Northampton and surrounding area

Marion Institute

Marion and South Coast

ROOT

North Shore and Essex County

Southeastern Massachusetts

Agricultural Partnership

Southeastern Massachusetts

Scan this QR code for more information on Blue Cross’ partner profiles.

3-5-1 Reflections

Three leadership traits of which you are most proud and why. Identify and reflect on the leadership skills/values you’ve developed through Launch, Spring Service, and 9.11 Tribute Service.

1. 2.

3. Five things you have learned about the local fight to end hunger from your Food Pantry partner. How will you use this newfound knowledge to strengthen your service?

One new skill you hope to gain through Fall Service.

Ambassador Voice:

Why We Serve

“As long as there is hope, anything can be accomplished, including ending hunger.”

REMI, CLASS OF 2024, CHATHAM

“I know that there are a lot of kids in my town who have food insecurity. My school has a backpack program for kids who need food over weekends. I’ve seen the cart with the backpacks and have been shocked at the number. I feel lucky that I’m not food insecure and want to help my friends and neighbors who are. No one should go hungry.”

TOMMY, CLASS OF 2024, MAYNARD

“As someone who lives in a town where some people seem to not realize the need for a food pantry, I feel even more motivated to support our pantry as it is heavily relied on.”

CATE, CLASS OF 2024, MARBLEHEAD

Community Engagement

Leadership Goals

> Gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the people, organizations, and resources that make your hometown special.

> Develop skills of civic engagement to unite your community in the fight to end hunger.

> Learn how to build effective relationships with the media, elected officials, and local businesses and recruit them in support of your service.

Let’s Community Map!

Massachusetts is comprised of 351 cities and towns. Each one is rich with unique history, assets, and resources that give it strength and define its identity. Last Fall, your educators selected you to represent one of those communities as Ambassador. This Fall, you have the opportunity to showcase all that is good and kind and generous about your hometown.

Spring Service engaged your school and organizations you know well. With your greater confidence and skill, it’s time to explore beyond the walls of your classroom as you Unite. Act. Lead.

Community Mapping focuses on identifying new resources and partners in your fight to end hunger. As you do, you’ll learn about some well-known assets and hidden jewels in your hometown. Our cities and towns are filled with amazing people and institutions. Imagine tapping all of that wisdom, experience, and energy to creating change? All it takes is a leader with a big heart, clear vision, and commitment to make the world a better place. All it takes is YOU!

Let’s explore your community, discover its unique assets, and identify how you can partner to fight hunger.

Hometown Assets:

„ Youth groups

„ Public and private schools, & their school communities

„ Government offices—city manager/Mayor, state senator, state representative, city council, etc.

„ Libraries & bookstores

„ Parks and public areas

„ Nonprofit & community organizations

„ Faith-based institutions & organizations

„ Veterans & military groups

„ Civic organizations (e.g. Elks & Rotary)

„ Arts & culture organizations

„ Senior Citizen Councils & volunteer groups

„ Businesses & stores

„ Historical & cultural sites

„ Community events & celebrations

„ Landmarks & tourism

„ Newspaper, radio, & cable outlets

„ Community websites & social media platforms

In partnership with your LT, identify what makes each of these community assets special and a potential resource for your fight to end hunger. For example:

A YOUTH GROUP convenes ENERGETIC YOUNG PEOPLE

Your LOCAL BOOKSTORE has a COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

The FALL HARVEST CELEBRATION is jam packed with RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORS.

Community Resources

Work with your Leadership Team to brainstorm a list of YOUR community’s resources and how you can partner to end hunger. Recruit a team member for outreach and set a deadline for action.

Youth Group

ex. Resource:

Opportunities to Partner:

Unique Asset:

Young people!

Host a collection site; recruit volunteers

Juan Week of December 3

Team Member: Deadline:

ex. Resource:

Opportunities to Partner:

Local Bookstore Community bulletin board Hang a STW flyer Autumn November 13

Unique Asset:

Team Member: Deadline:

ex. Resource: Unique Asset:

Opportunities to Partner:

Team Member: Deadline:

1. Resource: Unique Asset:

Opportunities to Partner:

Team Member: Deadline:

2. Resource: Unique Asset:

Opportunities to Partner:

Team Member: Deadline:

3. Resource: Unique Asset:

Opportunities to Partner:

Team Member: Deadline:

1. Media

Everybody welcomes good news—including opportunities to make their community and our world better! Local and regional press provide a megaphone for our service. Their engagement helps elevate the issue of hunger, recruit support, and spark community engagement long after Fall Service is done. The holidays are an especially wonderful time for media outreach, as news outlets seek positive stories that convey the spirit of giving.

There are three outcomes of media coverage:

„ Sharing your story of service will inspire others to ACT.

„ Elevating the issue of hunger will compel your neighbors to CARE.

„ Demonstrating the positive difference that young people can make will build PRIDE AND UNITY in your hometown.

Engaging the media strengthens your skills of communication and your confidence as a source of inspiration. The process of our engagement must be thoughtful, strategic, and respectful. Please engage a caring adult to support these important efforts.

Leadership Lesson

Build your media outreach plan into your Action Plan and STW efforts. A unified plan will allow you to resource and prepare appropriately for each milestone.

Service Hero Wisdom

“People want to volunteer like crazy. In the fires in Ventura, we got more than 2,000 volunteers in less than a week. People love to activate themselves to the betterment of the lives of others—they really have that call to help others. So, activating volunteers with (awareness) through media and different social media platforms, that’s very important.”

CHEF JOSÉ ANDRÉS, SERVICE HERO & FOUNDER, WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN

TAKE FIVE

How to Successfully Pitch the Media

Lisa Hughes, News Anchor, WBZ-TV

We live in an era of innovation, inspiration, and immediate access to news. It is a privilege to report to you on historic events, community newsmakers, and the best of our humanity. As the mom of a Project 351 alumna and Board Member of Big Sister of Greater Boston, I take pride in stories that highlight the remarkable difference that young leaders make through service.

1. Research & Discover. Read your local newspaper, listen to radio stations, and watch local cable. Make a list of the reporters, editors, and news outlets that may be interested in your project. If you attend an event where you have an opportunity to introduce yourself to a reporter—take it! You won’t be able to do this if a reporter is on a stressful assignment or breaking news. But, if you see that the journalist is having a moment of “down time,” say hello!

2. Develop your pitch. Be concise, but add a dose of your inspiration and passion. Economic challenge has increased the crisis of hunger across the state. Your efforts to support those facing food insecurity is news that we care about. Prepare and practice your key messages -- important facts and your “WHY”. Start with the problem you seek to solve: “1 in 5 households with children experience food insecurity. Young people in _______ (insert your city/town) are working to change that.”

3. Personalize—and proofread! Customize your “pitch” for each journalist. Make a personal connection by complimenting them on a recent story that interested you. And be sure to carefully proofread anything you share or send to your media contact.

4. What’s the hook? Offer a compelling visual or event to draw interest. For example, include the time and location for your delivery of donations. That moment represents the fulfillment of your goal—providing support to your hometown food pantry. Help the reporter tell their story by sharing opportunities that bring your service to life.

5. Start early…be persistent and polite. Send your initial pitch two to three weeks before your Food Drive. Project 351 will provide you with a sample Media Advisory and Press Release for you to customize. Follow up by phone to confirm the information has been received. Send polite emails leading up to your event to confirm their coverage. The week of your event, send an updated Media Advisory to finalize details. Good luck!

Target List for Media Engagement

Key takeaways to engage media:

Engage a caring adult and/or Project 351 to guide and support you.

Personalize the media release template from Project 351 to tell YOUR service story.

Define YOUR pitch. Why does the fight to end hunger matter? How can the viewers/readers support your team’s service?

Be sure to include an inspiring and interesting “visual”—your LT in action, images from the Food Pantry, etc.

Identify spokespeople, who—in addition to you—can best share your story of service and impact. Cornerstone Partners can be great in this role!

Brainstorm a list of your top media targets. Focus on those that have a high likelihood of interest in your service.

Gratitude, always! Be sure to appreciate your Cornerstone Partners, LT, and other key contributors to Fall Service. Follow-up with the reporter with a note of gratitude for their interest and consideration.

MEDIA ENGAGEMENT MATRIX

Name:

Title:

Media Outlet:

Contact Info:

STW Goal:

The pitch:

The compelling visual:

Name:

Title: Media Outlet:

Contact Info:

STW Goal:

The pitch:

The compelling visual:

Name:

Title: Media Outlet:

Contact Info:

STW Goal:

The pitch:

The compelling visual:

Name:

Title: Media Outlet:

Contact Info:

STW Goal:

The pitch:

The compelling visual:

2. Elected Officials

The individuals who serve your communities and our Commonwealth as elected officials may have different ideologies, but they share a common passion—to make our state the best it can be. These leaders enter public life with the noble purpose of improving opportunity and the quality of life for every citizen. They consider you and your peers important constituents. Your voice matters, as do the issues you care about.

Engaging elected officials in your Food Drive will help build visibility for the issue of hunger and the important leadership of your Food Pantry. Our elected officials have the opportunity to advocate for policies and funding that can positively impact hunger, and your outreach will help encourage their support. Let’s “Take Five” to learn how to recruit an elected leader to serve with you.

Service Hero Wisdom

“We’ve learned to shout our anger and whisper our kindness. We need to flip that around and shout our kindness and whisper our anger.”

GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK, FOUNDING HONORARY CHAIR, PROJECT 351

TAKE FIVE Engaging Elected Officials in Service

State Representative Smitty Pignatelli, 4th Berkshire District, Chair, Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture

I love serving my constituents in the beautiful Berkshires, and especially value time with young people. Full of ideas and fresh perspective, youth challenge and motivate me. Here are five tips for engaging your elected officials.

1. Research and confirm your elected officials. Make sure you have the correct name, title, and contact information.

2. Plan ahead. Provide enough time to engage. Fall is a busy season, so reach out early.

3. Prepare well and establish contact. By phone call, letter or email, be sure your outreach is polite, informed, and specific.

4. Identify specific opportunities to engage. Ask your elected official to help in one or all of these ways:

„ Promote your Food Drive in the elected official’s constituent newsletter or on their web site. The reach of both is in the tens of thousands.

„ Donate time & food. Visit your Host Site to meet you and donate to your Food Drive. Elected’s team can also help with media engagement.

„ Issue a Proclamation. For State Senators and Representatives, request a proclamation from the Commonwealth that recognizes the efforts of your LT and school in the fight to end hunger.

„ Co-write a letter to the editor with your local elected to raise awareness on the issue of hunger and the leadership of your local Food Pantry.

„ Deliver. Ask your elected and their staff to help your LT pack and deliver donations. As we serve together, I can hear your ideas, which ensures your voice is heard...and helps make me a better leader.

„ Advocate. Share statistics and stories about hunger in your community with your elected. Ask them to advocate and to remember the issue of hunger when passing laws or allocating budget resources.

5. Follow-up! Stay in touch. Let your elected know about the success of your Food Drive and how they can be of further help. Thank the elected and their team for their hard work on behalf of your cause.

3. Local Businesses

We are lucky to live in a Commonwealth where businesses embrace the dual objectives of “doing well and doing good.” Companies of all sizes play an instrumental role in making our communities strong and vibrant. Through investment, expertise, volunteer engagement, and partnerships that innovate and transform, the private sector stands with us on the frontline for creating change.

Project 351 is only possible because of the investment and partnership of the business community. And, on the local level, Ambassadors and Alumni have creatively engaged stores, restaurants, and other businesses to support their service. This “Take Five” offers guidance on how to recruit the private sector in support of your service mission.

TAKE FIVE Partnering with Businesses to Fight Hunger

Kanna Kunchala, Senior Vice President & Chief of Staff, City Year

At City Year, our AmeriCorps members build close relationships with students, provide academic support, serve as “near-peer” mentors, and partner with educators to help students succeed. Our work would not be possible without private sector partners who dedicate financial resources, time, energy, and wisdom to support our Corps Members and the students they serve.

1. Think about values alignment. Your work as a Project 351 Ambassador is guided by a core set of values. So, identify businesses whose values align with yours and whose priorities align with your goals. A number of companies will be more inclined to support a Food Drive—grocery stores and restaurants are two examples. Prioritize those who share your interests. Companies that share a deep commitment to community are most likely to support your project.

2. Find the right person to contact. Use the company’s website. There’s usually a section called “About Us”, where you can find information about the company’s community commitment. This section often includes the appropriate staff leader and the process for submitting donation requests. This may be by letter, online form, or phone call.

3. Be bold, be brave, be polite. Be specific about your request (e.g. donation of goods for a raffle, financial support for the Food Pantry), the impact it will make, and how you will recognize the company’s generosity. Don’t be afraid to dream big about the company’s engagement, you never know where a polite and inspirational request may lead!

4. Engage your partners in your Food Drive. The best way of building support for the long-term is to engage executives and employees in service. You can start by inviting your contacts to attend an LT meeting. Listen and learn about your partner, their business, and their priorities. Together, you’ll strengthen your bond through service.

5. Creative gratitude is the most memorable. Distinguish yourself with a creative thank you. Make sure to share gratitude at the conclusion of your project. Ask your partners for feedback and encourage them to stay engaged with Project 351. Let them know how you will continue your service with Project 351 as Alumni. Let them know about your continued service Project 351 as Alumni. Tell them a 2025 Ambassador will begin their service year in January!

Engaging Elected Officials

Develop a target list of elected officials you hope to engage, identify your request (e.g. “Please come serve with my Leadership Team!”), and determine the most effective process for contact. Be sure to include your outreach dates in your Action Plan and to ask a caring adult for additional guidance.

Name:

Title:

Phone:

How I Hope to Engage Them:

Email:

Name:

Title:

Phone:

How I Hope to Engage Them:

Email:

Name:

Title:

Phone:

How I Hope to Engage Them:

Email:

What leadership lessons do you hope to learn from partnering with an elected official?

What issues and ideas do you wish to share with your elected official(s)?

Partnering With Local Businesses

Identify areas of need where local businesses can add strength. Focus on their expertise and assets. For example, a local pizza shop could contribute a pizza party to the homeroom that collects the most donations. A moving company could transport your donations to the Food Pantry. A bank could advertise your Food Drive on their ATM screens. During training, we will share examples of “donation request” letters for your use.

1. Fall Service needs:

Potential business partner:

Name, title, and contact information:

Process/deadline for request:

2. Fall Service needs:

Potential business partner:

Name, title, and contact information:

Process/deadline for request:

3. Fall Service needs:

Potential business partner:

Name, title, and contact information:

Process/deadline for request:

4.

Potential business partner:

Name, title, and contact information:

Process/deadline for request:

Fall Service needs:

3-5-1 Reflection

THREE leaders you connected with in your community. Engaging with the media, local businesses, and elected officials requires courage, confidence, and a plan for success. Please share the impact of your outreach and the leadership skill you developed through engagement.

MEDIA:

Impact:

LOCAL BUSINESSES:

Impact:

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Impact:

5

FIVE things you learned by community mapping.

What surprised you most?

What challenged you?

Favorite part of your hometown

Most interesting aspect

In your opinion, what is your community’s greatest asset?

ONE way you are excited to engage your community in Fall Service.

Ambassador Voice: Service Inspiration

“What motivates my leadership is the unrealized effects of hunger on so many people, including their physical and mental wellbeing. I know it is much harder for me to focus in school when hungry and can only imagine how difficult it is for someone who experiences food insecurity on a regular basis.”

NICOLAS, CLASS OF 2024, MARSHFIELD

“I believe that one person can make a change and I want to help all the people that I can.”

SOPHIA, CLASS OF 2024, ANDOVER

“Hunger in my hometown is not yet a major problem. I feel so fortunate & know it’s my duty to give back to families and neighbors. My service will support the Longmeadow Food Pantry, which serves everyoneincluding elderly & veterans.”

ANNA, CLASS OF 2024, LONGMEADOW

ACTION STEPS

MAP your Community. Brainstorm a list of your community’s resources and make a plan for outreach.

RESEARCH your local media outlets, elected officials, and businesses. Decide which of these you will reach out to.

ENGAGE your Community! Once you have mapped your community, done your research, and identified potential partners, it is time to reach out.

USE this week’s social media graphic (on the next page) to celebrate & encourage your community partners (media outlets, elected officials, business leaders). Tag your community partners in your posts and celebrate their contributions to your team and project.

“

“ Leadership requires an unwavering commitment to real outcomes. Leadership is reaL outcomes for real people.

Rep. Andy Vargas

State Representative, 3rd Essex District

ALUMNI INSPIRATION

NAME

Michaela Campbell

CLASS 2014 TOWN

Holliston

IN 8TH GRADE, I WAS: Empowered

Restoring Dignity & Fighting Hunger

Just like compassion, food security is a direct line to restoring dignity. At a time in our Commonwealth when too many families face economic challenge, the fight you are about to engage in will not only restock your neighbors’ cabinets and refrigerators, but also directly restore a sense of dignity in the communities who need it most right now.

Throughout my time organizing Fall Service drives, I wanted to simultaneously fight hunger and inspire a love of service in local young people who hadn’t yet been introduced to the power of their voice and unity. To do this, I worked with Holliston’s Fifth Grade Leadership Team to teach students about food insecurity, walk them through the process of a food drive, and ultimately empower them to continue the fight against hunger long after I graduated high school. After four years of service and over 8,000 pounds of food were collected, students headed to middle school sharing their aspirations to join Project 351 and lead service projects of their own. Hunger was fought, a love of service was fostered, and some of those fifth grade student leaders have gone on to become Project 351 Ambassadors themselves!

Chapter 3

Elementary Engagement

Leadership Goals

> Untap the potential of the next generation of Ambassadors to increase service impact.

> Build skills as mentor, motivator, and mobilizer!

> Learn how to use storytelling and arts & crafts to inspire elementary students to build the knowledge, awareness, and ability to help end hunger.

> Create an Action Plan and strong educator partnerships that enable service success.

ENGAGING YOUNG STUDENTS

Community mapping and engagement are the bedrock of Fall Service. You’re discovering how to identify unique assets in your hometown and recruit their support to nourish families and neighbors. Now, we begin with the most joyful and fun community members in your hometown: elementary school students!

This chapter will teach you how to:

„ Work alongside principals, administrators, and educators to create partnerships of mutual benefit and important impact

„ Adapt or create an exciting lesson plan

„ Bring your passion for service to the next generation of your hometown’s Ambassadors

„ Invite K-5 students to use their skills and energy to support a successful Food Drive. If this special opportunity appeals to you, we encourage you to focus your time and energy on your elementary school as your only Host Site. You’ll build new leadership skills, deepen impact for your Food Pantry, and generate lots of Service Joy!

Leadership Lesson

Elementary engagement is a key strategy for building a community-wide ethic of service. It provides you with an opportunity to learn new skills and build important knowledge.

As you partner with elementary educators, you may hear the terms: “service learning” and “Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)”. Don’t be intimidated, both refer to the process of educating students about issues, building skills and motivation, and co-creating—as a school community—opportunities to make a difference.

“Service learning” is something you do every day with Project 351—combine learning with leading. Elementary engagement invites you to make those “wow” moments possible for K-5 students.

And, here’s the bonus! As your educator partner and you develop a service leadership and learning project for elementary students, you’ll benefit, too! Elementary engagement will increase YOUR leadership and communication skills; knowledge and confidence; AND impact for your hometown Food Pantry.

Alumni Inspiration

“I’m so excited to engage elementary-aged children for Fall Service! When my little brother Benjamin assists me in service projects, he experiences pride, joy, compassion, and confidence. He knows that he did a good deed and supported his community. I want to make sure that every child has the opportunity to learn about the goodness and importance of community service.”

YVETTE ESTEVEZ, CLASS OF 2019, WEST NEWBURY

Representing 351

As a member of our blue and orange community, it’s important to represent our core values of kindness, compassion, humility and gratitude in every interaction. At your elementary school, this includes conversations with educators, planning sessions with your team, and the behaviors you model in the classroom.

A teacher’s classroom is their special space. It serves as the expression of their passion for teaching, values of their student community, and the standards and behaviors they want their young scholars to emulate. It is our privilege and honor to be invited to enter a classroom. The educators are investing in YOU as a leader and demonstrating their belief that YOU will positively impact their educational goals. Pretty cool, right?

As a guest and role model, you hold special status in these classes—which you can maximize to get students excited about service! Imagine if this partnership continues yearto-year? With Fall Service, you have the opportunity to spark a service movement in your hometown!

Inspiring the Next Generation of Ambassadors

Over this service year, you have demonstrated the service impact made possible through partnerships, collaboration, and the spirit of 35ONE.

Partnering with an Elementary School will require the knowledge and skills you’ve developed as an Ambassador. The privilege of investing in a school’s culture of service will empower future leaders. There are two key educators and one group of individuals—with whom you will build partnerships for success. With each, it’s important to:

„ BUILD trust and express gratitude.

„ LISTEN & LEARN about the school community, their values and vision, and how Fall Service can help strengthen their school pride, unity, and impact.

„ SHARE the mission of Fall Service and your vision of classroom engagement.

„ ESTABLISH shared goals and a united plan—including timeline, communication, and roles and responsibilities.

Alumni Inspiration

“Always remember—a future Ambassador or two could be in your classroom! When I served with my Fifth Grade Leadership Team, I was mindful of my responsibility to model kindness, inclusion, and enthusiasm for service. My goal was to inspire them to “unite, act, lead” in ways that exceeded their expectations and encouraged them to keep leading!”

MICHAELA CAMPBELL CLASS OF 2014, HOLLISTON SENIOR MANAGER, OPERATIONS PROJECT 351

Key Partners

1. School Administration

Typically, your first contact with the school will likely be an administrator (such as the principal or a guidance counselor).

2. Educator

Your classroom teacher and other engaged educators will be wonderful role models and your best resources for learning about your students. They’re experts at managing the classroom and bringing out the best in their students, and can advise on successful engagement.

3. Classroom—the students and Good Troublemakers!

Leading classroom-based service and engagement may feel daunting, so we’ve created some tools to help you get started! SLA Training and our Community Call will also focus on tips and tricks for success.

Let’s Learn What Makes Each Partner Important & Unique!

PARTNERSHIP 1: SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION

GOAL: A “YES! WE’D LOVE TO SERVE WITH YOU!”

To get started, you need confirmation of their belief and support! The school principal—or their appointed colleague—will provide guidance on the expectations of partnership and process required to get to YES!

Contact Elementary School

„ Explore your school’s—or school district’s website—to find contact information.

„ If possible, partner with YOUR elementary school so you can leverage existing relationships and your knowledge of the school community

„ Build a communication plan!

„ Begin! You can email, call, or visit.

PARTNER

Lead with Purpose

Schools often have a mascot or values statement. Is there common ground between Project 351 and the school? For example, you both share a commitment to kindness. If so, highlight your common values and vision, and articulate the alignment between Fall Service and their school community.

To prepare for the meeting:

„ Are you a graduate of that elementary school? Highlight your loyalty and gratitude for the school community. And, commitment to “pay it forward.”

„ Include an article, photo, or impact numbers from your Project 351 service to inspire the educators’ confidence.

„ Explore the school calendar, which you can often find online. Are there upcoming service projects, performances, fundraisers, or assemblies that Fall Service could support and strengthen?

Checklist for Meeting with School Administration

Goals, vision, and timeline for partnership in support of Fall Service.

A copy of “Stone Soup” — and your ideas for student engagement/classroom activity. (Project 351 will provide you with detailed lesson plans for your use!)

Your passion, belief, and Project 351 pride.

The

result? They say: YES, We’d love to serve with you!

What’s Next?

Ask the Principal to reach out to the recommended classroom educator to encourage their partnership.

Listen and learn from the Principal’s guidance on that educator; their students—goals, culture, values; and insights on successfully engaging that grade level.

Send a follow-up note of gratitude and restate your agreed upon goals.

Prepare to inspire your Classroom Educator!

PARTNERSHIP 2: CLASSROOM EDUCATOR

GOAL: SHARED VISION, PASSION, & GOALS!

Your principal has said YES! And, has recommended a classroom teacher for collaboration. They’re excited to meet/speak with you! Let’s go!

Educators are the best resource for learning about a particular grade level and classroom. They’re the experts at classroom management and helping a lesson run smoothly.

MEETING GOALS

„ Build excitement for the fight to end hunger and the positive impact you will have with students.

„ Create a partnership based on shared values and common goals.

„ Listen and learn about the classroom—academic/values/ community goals and the standards and protocols to support the educator’s expectations.

„ Share information about Project 351, Fall Service, your WHY?, and your plan for classroom engagement.

USE YOUR TIME TOGETHER TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND:

„ Are there particular activities that work best for their class?

„ What are classroom “rules” and expectations? For example: do students have to raise their hand to answer questions?

„ What motivated the educator to say “yes” to your engagement?

„ How are classroom materials used? Do students need permission to use supplies? Do they each have their own? What will you need to supply?

„ What are the school’s guidelines on the use of student photos on social media/with local media? Would you be allowed to share photos of your service together?

PARTNER

#2 CLASSROOM EDUCATOR (continued)

Congratulations! The educator says: I’M IN! Let’s partner to inspire my students to devote their special gifts for fighting hunger!

What’s Next?

Express appreciation and excitement!

Clarify educator’s goals, expectations.

Create a timeline for action and a vision for your classroom engagement

Confirm date(s) and time(s) or your classroom visit.

Send a follow-up note of gratitude and restate your agreed upon goals and timeline.

Prepare and get excited to meet the students!

Tips for Facilitating with Students

„ Praise students for their good work and responses! Being kind and positive helps maintain a good classroom environment. Model the Project 351 values in your interactions with the students.

„ Icebreakers are good! Relate them to your lesson, look back to your team builders for inspiration. The students will look up to you and want to know who you are, too!

„ Students may be chatty with the excitement of a classroom guest! The teacher will likely help you with classroom management. There are many strategies, such as pausing and waiting, “hands up”, and counting down to refocus students.

„ Be flexible! Your lesson will not go exactly how you planned and that is okay! Adapt to the needs of the class. Remember, the students haven’t read your lesson plan, so only you will know if something doesn’t work perfectly!

PARTNERSHIP 3: STUDENTS!

GOALS: INSPIRE SERVICE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF AMBASSADORS

Elementary students grow and learn in bursts of inspiration and discovery. Your educator can provide guidance as to how your leadership in their classroom can reflect the different stages of growth.

This grade-by-grade overview provides broad student enrichment priorities. Don’t worry—you’re not their educator or responsible for these important objectives! But, it’s helpful to have an understanding of each grade level’s focus:

KINDERGARTEN: Self Control Skills, listening and following directions, counting, alphabet and basic spelling, cutting/pasting

GRADE 1: Group activities, learning words, writing basic sentences, handwriting, reading at a basic level (so it’s better to read stories aloud to them!)

GRADE 2: Improving concentration, independent reading, basic writing to form short paragraphs, basic computer skills

GRADE 3: Friendships and group activities are well-established, begin reading basic chapter books, responding to more inference based questions, writing good sentences to form short stories or paragraphs

GRADE 4: Improved organizational skills, can understand themes and genres, building vocabulary, able to conduct research

GRADE 5: Students more self-aware, can analyze characters/plots, can present information to classmates, basic understanding of societal issues

In your meeting(s), your educator will provide important guidance on your students, their grade level, and what approaches work best in their classroom.

STONE SOUP

Adapted from a Swedish Folktale

There once was a traveler who came to a small village, tired and weary from his long journey. The traveler did not have anything to eat and hoped that a friendly villager would be able to feed him. He came to the first house and knocked on the door. He asked the woman who answered if she could spare just a small bit of food as he had traveled a long journey and was very hungry. The woman replied, “I’m sorry, I have nothing to give you. I can barely feed my own family.”

So the traveler went to another door and asked again. The answer was the same: “I have nothing to give you.” He went from door to door and each time was turned away.

Undaunted, the traveler went to the village square, took a small tin cooking pot from his bag, filled it with water, started a fire and dropped a stone in the pot. As he boiled the water, a passing villager stopped and asked him what he was doing. The traveler replied, “I’m making stone soup. Would you like to join me?” The villager said yes, and asked if carrots were good in stone soup. “Yes, thank you!” said the traveler. The villager went home and returned with carrots from his garden to add to the boiling water.

Soon, another curious villager came by and was invited to join them. She went home and returned with some potatoes. A young boy soon joined the group, with his mother and dinner plates from their home.

In time, a crowd gathered with each offering their own favorite ingredient: mushrooms, onions, salt, black pepper, acorn, squash. Every villager wanted to contribute to the stone soup!

Soon, the air was filled with the delicious aroma of stone soup. And, the traveler declared, “our dinner is ready!” The community gathered for a joyful feast -- all thanks to a single stone.

TAKE FIVE

Engaging Elementary Schools in Service

Maura Reilly, Grade 5 Teacher

Cole Elementary School, Norwell

I love being in the classroom with my students, especially in these challenging times. Their fresh ideas and perspective on our world and their sense of wonder keep me smiling each day. My students will be our future leaders and I love to watch them grow. I encourage you to inspire your hometown’s next generation of Ambassadors! Your service and example will teach them the power of their potential to change the world. Here’s my “Take Five” on engaging elementary school educators and students in your fight to end hunger:

1. Work with the school administration. A supportive school principal should be your primary goal! They have their own “toolkit” to help ensure success, including STW, recruiting district administrators, and their personal engagement. Set up a meeting to let them know what you’re trying to accomplish and the importance of ending hunger. Ask for their guidance and support.

2. Engage the community. Find out if you can present at a School Committee meeting. Most often, elected officials are thrilled to support initiatives that are cross-district. They just need to be informed, understand your vision, and feel your enthusiasm! The School Committee will help amplify your call-to-serve.

3. Engage younger leaders. Your elementary schools may have a student council, service club, or ambassador program. Work with their staff liaison to mobilize their leadership of STW, homeroom announcements, or as your elementary LT.

4. Prepare and have fun! If your plans include a classroom project, like Stone Soup, prepare for success in three important ways:

„ Create a shared vision with the classroom instructor.

„ Develop a plan, including the materials you will need.

„ Relax, smile, make eye contact, use first names when you can, demonstrate your passion for ending hunger (it’s infectious!).

5. Always follow up! Be sure to let the students know the impact of their service. And, as every Project 351 Ambassador knows by now – gratitude is essential. Personal thankyou’s to the principal, educator, and students is always a nice touch! Notes, posters, banners – create your own “thank you” art! Or, engage the school newsletter to thank the community for their commitment to help others.

3-5-1 Reflections

THREE goals you have for engaging elementary school students

FIVE ideas you have to inspire and motivate the next generation of Ambassadors to serve and lead.

ONE thing you are most excited for when engaging elementary school students.

Ambassador Voice: Our Hopes for Service

“My final ‘why’ is unity. When we come together to serve, we break down barriers, build trust, and create a community where everyone feels they belong. This sense of unity drives me to fight hunger-knowing that each small act of service strengthens our bonds and brings us closer to a world where no one goes without a meal. I envision a Fall Service where we serve as one and fight hunger as one.”

ELIF, CLASS OF 2024, SHERBORN

“As Ambassadors, we have the power to support those in need. If we all contribute a little part of the best of us, we can create something remarkable.”

ARSHIYA, CLASS OF 2024, FOXBORO

“I see the inequality in my community and want to help those struggling to put food on the table.”

KYLER, CLASS OF 2024, WEYMOUTH

ACTION STEPS

ENGAGE YOUR SCHOOL PARTNER. Reaching out to the principal, guidance counselor, or other administrator.

ENGAGE YOUR EDUCATOR PARTNER. Develop goals that will be mutually beneficial, and ask for your educator partner’s feedback and suggestions on your lesson plan.

PREPARE YOUR LESSON PLAN. Review the lesson plans offered by Project 351, adapt them according to your school’s needs, and practice!

EXECUTE YOUR LESSON PLAN! Be flexible and ready to adapt on your feet in the classroom with the students.

EXPRESS GRATITUDE. Over the last three years, the dedication and devotion of educators has been heroic. Please be sure to express gratitude for their example of excellence, and their support and expertise in support of elementary engagement.

Sometimes you don’t even know you made a difference. Be Kind. be compassionate. You may just change a person’s life.

Cherylann Gengel Co-Founder, Be Like Brit 2015 Service Hero

Alexis Earp

ALUMNI INSPIRATION

IN 8TH GRADE, I WAS: Motivated

Building Unity & Purpose with Your LT

Fall Service is a great opportunity to serve those in your hometown. Whether working with Project 351 Ambassadors and Alumni or with friends from your hometown, having a Leadership Team (LT) to help you coordinate service can make your project even more successful! Here are some tips to create a strong and successful LT:

„ Delegate Tasks: Distributing responsibility for action items will demonstrate your trust and appreciation for your LT. While ensuring you’re not overwhelmed with “to do’s”. Do your best to give them tasks that relate to their interests. For example, if someone on your LT loves drawing, ask them to design some posters!

„ Communication is Key: Set up a weekly LT check-in meeting to ensure members knows their roles, action items, and deadlines. And, group chats are a great way to send quick reminders or ask for help with an aspect of your Service Project!

„ Gratitude: Make sure to let members of your LT know how much you appreciate their hard work and dedication to service! You can even plan a fun group activity, such as a movie night, to show gratitude while also building unity among your LT.

One Team. One Community.

Leadership Goals

> Build a strong, united, and motivated team with gratitude and by inspiring others with your knowledge of the issue of hunger.

> Define roles and engage teammates in your Action Plan.

> Don’t forget to have fun! Service is joy!

One team. One community.

Leading change in your community is not an individual pursuit.

Everything worthy in our lives is achieved with others. Each goal and every dream are only possible because of the belief and support of friends, family, and community.

The same is true when creating positive change. As you strengthen your leadership through Fall Service, you will also gain confidence in team management and community engagement.

First up, teamwork.

1. Recruit

Recruit a motivated and dedicated Leadership Team (LT).

As you learned through Spring Service and Tribute Service, LTs are essential to service success. They bring big ideas and important skills, help STW, and ensure that all elements of your Action Plan are completed with excellence.

During SLA, you will have the opportunity to assess your own leadership style on the Leadership Compass You will discover your strengths as well as opportunities for greater development. And, learn tips for working with LT members with differing approaches to leading—recognizing that the best teams are those that balance every point on the Compass.

LEADERSHIP COMPASS

The Leadership Compass is based on the Native American Medicine Wheel, or Four-Fold Way, in which each direction has a main “human attribute” from which to draw for support and strength.

WEST

Analytical thinkers who value organization

NORTH

Action-takers with an “I’ll do it” attitude

EAST

Visionaries with creative imaginations

SOUTH

Empathetic individuals who are receptive to others’ needs and ideas

Service Hero Wisdom

“The best leaders give up complete ownership to allow others to become invested in the journey. Strong leaders provide space and opportunity for their team to make their own decisions and develop their own ideas.”

BILLY SHORE, 2018 SERVICE HERO & FOUNDER, SHARE OUR STRENGTH

Best of all, LTs create a new community of friends that share the belief that everyone can— and should—make a difference.

Build the best team possible by:

„ Identifying the skills and talents required for service success.

„ Identifying potential LT members who have these abilities— and share your love for service.

„ Recruiting with respect and enthusiasm by sharing your Action Plan and goals, timeline, and your hope for their role. Be sure to listen and learn about what they would value most from this experience. Understand and appreciate the positive impact of their skills and leadership style.

„ Hosting an inspirational kick-off meeting in person or virtually by featuring your Food Pantry partner, defining clear goals, assigning roles and responsibilities, and expressing gratitude.

2. Mobilize

Mobilize your team through I D E A S

Identify roles/committees

I

D

What kind of work needs to be done? How can you break up the work evenly among team members?

Determine team size

How many people do you need on your team to be successful? How many team members will it take to perform each task? Can one person work on multiple committees/tasks?

Engage

E

A

Who has the necessary skills to complete each task? What is the most effective and efficient way to delegate responsibilities?

Appreciate

What strategies can you use to sustain a high level of motivation? What are some creative ways to demonstrate gratitude throughout service?

Summarize

S

What is the most effective way to communicate your Action Plan and weekly progress? How can you ensure LT members successfully execute their tasks/assignments? How can you communicate clearly and concisely?

3. Delegate

Build teams based on interest, skill and talent, and greatest needs. Fall Service will require at least three subcommittees or teams: Spread the Word, Operations/Logistics, and Celebrate & Appreciate. You will have the chance to fill in information for each subcommittee later in this chapter.

Leadership lesson

Host your Food Pantry partner as a guest speaker for your Leadership Team and/or school. Their frontline experience and expertise will offer important perspective on the scope and impact of hunger in your community. A virtual meeting may be easier to coordinate!

4. Communicate

Use your passion and commitment to end hunger to inspire others to join the fight. Utilize statistics and key messages from your Food Pantry and Introduction to motivate your team. Ensuring that your team understands the “why” (need) of service is your first step to success.

Establish weekly meeting times for the Leadership Team, and additional meetings for your subcommittees. Summarize meeting notes, action steps, and deadlines at each. Circulate weekly updates to the team to keep everyone focused and on task. As inspiration, begin each meeting by asking a team member to briefly share their commitment to end hunger. You’ll thoughtfully demonstrate inclusion, and build the confidence and commitment of your teammates.

Share victories and milestones. Take time to celebrate the progress you’ve made!

5. Impact

The stronger your team, the greater the impact in the fight to end hunger. And, an extra bonus—you’ll have fun creating change with friends and teammates.

As you’ve learned this year, “impact” goes beyond numbers or quantitative measures— pounds of food donated or total financial donations of financial donations. “Of equal importance are qualitative outcomes including the development of skills and confidence and increased awareness of hunger. (Chapter 6 details quantitative and qualitative measures.)

Recruit your LT!

The fight to end hunger requires all of us! Unite a team of friends and family to learn, serve, and lead Fall Service!

Friends/Classmates

Family/Neighbors

Clubs/Student Council/Teams

Educators/Caring Adults

LT Roles & Responsibilities

FOCUS AREA

RESPONSIBILITIES

You

Operations & Logistics

1. Build and manage relationships with Cornerstone Partners.

2. Recruit and manage Leadership Team.

3. Develop and track Action Plan to ensure success.

4. Build awareness for the issue of hunger; recruit support for hometown Food Pantry.

5. Inspire others to embrace service.

6. Communicate impact; appreciate the support of school and community.

1. Secure “wish list” and collection bins for food donations.

2. Identify and confirm “high traffic” locations for collection bins.

3. Track and record donations on a daily basis.

4. Prepare and transport donations to Food Pantry.

Spread the Word

1. Develop creative strategies to advertise and build excitement for service.

2. Share mission and inspiration of your Food Pantry.

3. Build school spirit through friendly competitions.

4. Maximize Spirit Week, the Thanksgiving holiday, and other community events to promote service.

5. “Community Map” and engage media, elected leaders and others to build awareness. (See Chapter 2.)

6. Get creative with social media and other communication tools.

1. Demonstrate gratitude to volunteers, Leadership Team, Cornerstone Partners, caring adults (educators, family members, Regional Coach) school, and community.

2. Report and celebrate impact of service—local efforts and your impact as part of Project 351’s statewide team.

TEAM MEMBERS REQUIRED RESOURCES GOALS/DEADLINES

Team Management: Strong Teams = Great Service

Our friends from City Year offer tips for effective management of your Leadership Team, including Power Tools and Team Building activities. So, dive in, build your team, and have fun! We hope these Team Management tools build your confidence and inspire you to lead your best service yet!

Rules to Lead By

Guiding Principles Expectations

Be Respectful

Treat others well. Encourage one another. Listen and value opinions and ideas.

Be Cooperative

Support one another. Go the extra mile for a teammate.

Be Aware

Speak, act, and engage with others in the manner that you wish to be treated.

Be Responsible

Follow through on your actions. Be accountable and reliable.

Be Humble

Remain curious and eager for wisdom and advice from others. Embrace every task from largest to smallest with pride and best effort.

Be Grateful

Express sincere appreciation. Build a culture of gratitude.

Power Tools to Build Community

Power Tools are inclusive structures for building team and community. These techniques help build leadership skills, instill confidence and empower your Leadership Team. Below, we’ve suggested ways you can think about adapting these Power Tools to accommodate virtual meetings and socially distant service gatherings.

Hands up: A tool for quieting a large, loud group, in order to begin a meeting or event, or to mobilize for action. Raise your hand, signaling all group members to respond with their hands raised and voices silent.

Strong Circles: A tool for mobilizing large and small groups, a “Strong Circle” is formed when participants stand in a tight circle—shoulder to shoulder—with “everybody in, and nobody out.” Strong Circles build unity by ensuring that each team member can see, hear, and acknowledge the contributions and ideas shared in the circle.

Virtual Execution To create a virtual Strong Circle, ask team members to place their hands—palms out—on the sides of their video screen. This creates the illusion that the team is connected palm to palm. And, captures the spirit of a unifying Strong Circle! Use this tool to begin and end your virtual meetings.

Spirit Break: A simple tool that connects people through a symbolic gesture and focused thought of inspiration. Form a Strong Circle and place one hand in the middle, piling one hand on top of another. Select one team member to select a “power word” to break on. The word should reflect your team, the task ahead, or a positive feeling. Count “1, 2, 3” and state your power word in unison. Now, let’s go serve!

Virtual Execution At meeting close, encourage a final call-to-serve for your Spirit Break. Invite your team to enter a word of inspiration in the chat. Choose one with your team, countdown—3,2,1—and say the word in unison and with enthusiasm!

Ripples & Joys: Inspired by the famous words of Robert F. Kennedy:

“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

Open each LT meeting with “Ripples & Joy” to ground your service mission in inspiration and perspective. Invite LT members to share a “ripple” -- an act of courage or belief that inspired others to act. (For example, a financial donation to your Food Pantry motivated by an LT’s outreach.) And, a “joy” inspired by Fall Service. (“My younger brother is recruiting his 6th grade Class to support Fall Service!”) Service is joy! Take time to reflect and celebrate!

Virtual Execution Encourage participation by “passing” the ripple or joy. As one LT concludes their ripple/joy, they invite the next team by name. Have fun! Use wave hand motions, high fives, and shout-outs to energize your team as the meeting begins.

Team Building

Team building activities are interactive exercises to strengthen relationships. By building trust, communication, and friendship, your team gains unity and greater purpose.

These team building exercises can be adapted for virtual formats. It is important to create a process for inclusive participation. You can assign each LT with a number to determine the order of engagement. Or ask LT members to invite the next member’s participation by calling out their name.

What’s in a Name?: A lot, you’ll discover! In this exercise, each person shares their middle name (if they have one) and the meaning, origin, or history of their name. If someone doesn’t have a middle name or doesn’t want to share it, they may use their first name, a nickname, or their chosen name instead.

Adjective Name Game: While sitting in a circle, the team leader explains that each person in the group should think of an adjective that describes an aspect of their personality. The adjective must begin with the same letter as their first initial. (Energetic Ella!) Go around until everyone has said his or her name. Movements may be used instead of adjectives (“Jeff,” he says, as he jumps!).

Two Truths and a Lie: Sit in a circle. This requires some imagination and a straight face! Each member introduces themself with their name, role on the Leadership Team, and two truths and one less-than-true thing about themself. To be successful, the “truths” should be unique and special, and the lie should be clever but believable. For example,

“I am a triplet, I met the President of the United States, I’ve skydived.” The “lie” is skydiving! After the “two truths and a lie” are shared, the group discusses and guesses the lie.

Best Friend Introductions: Ask each team member to answer the following questions—but to do so from the perspective of their best friend. How would their BFF describe them?

Their biggest talent is: They greatly value: Their biggest pet peeve is:

In ten years, they would like to be:

TAKE FIVE Leading a Team

James Donohue, Class of 2015, Duxbury

The privilege of leading a team in service can be challenging. Your ability to motivate and respectfully manage the members of your LT will ensure Fall Service success. I offer these “A, B, C’s” in support of your team leadership alphabet, and the leadership values that correspond!

A: Appreciate your team’s efforts. It always feels good to be appreciated. Build a team culture of gratitude by consistently recognizing the contributions of others. Your LT will be happier, more motivated, and united!

B: Be the hardest working member of your team. Your role as a leader is to support your team, rather than expect the team to support you. Demonstrate your dedication to the group’s goals, and set an example by investing your best effort in Fall Service.

C: Communicate with consistency & clarity. Regular communication with your team is essential. As team leader, you must articulate the Action Plan, clarify roles, and motivate excellence. As a leader, communication works in both directions. Always encourage input from your LT and be an active listener.

D: Devise a plan as a team so that every member has a job and knows their role. Your Action Plan is the foundation of your service success. Engage your team to finalize your vision, including milestones and the tasks required for greatest impact. Confirm LT roles and responsibilities, and ensure they have the information they need to succeed.

E: Empower your team. Let them know that their work is meaningful and will make a difference. At Project 351, we believe that kindness and service can change a community. Help your team realize that they are a part of this positive impact. Share the “Why?” of Fall Service. Let them know that they are making an impact in your community. You’ll empower them to work hard and, hopefully, continue to serve long after Fall Service!

Ambassador Voice: #ServeForShane

“I would like Shane’s family to know that he is not forgotten and that Weymouth will strive to continue his legacy.”

KYLER, CLASS OF 2024, WEYMOUTH

“The impact and legacy Shane has left behind is remarkable. Shane will continue to inspire Ambassadors year after year, showing them true hope for a better world.”

HOLLY, CLASS OF 2024, MANSFIELD

“We #ServeforShane to create love for all.”

EVA, CLASS OF 2024, TRURO

“Thank you to Shane’s family for raising such an incredible and inspiring child. He was taken far too young, but shall forever be remembered. I dedicate my Fall Service in honor of his kind heart.

ANNABELLA, CLASS OF 2024, STONEHAM

3-5-1 Reflection

No matter the size, your Leadership Team is critical to your success.

THREE goals you have for your LT

FIVE values and skills you hope you and your LT embody and learn

ONE way you will promote fun and friendship as you serve.

ACTION STEPS

BUILD your best LT, yet!

MOBILIZE your team through IDEAS.

FORM committees and delegate responsibilities to each committee. Match skills and interests with roles. Be sure to listen and learn from how each LT wants to contribute—you’ll make their service more meaningful and joyful.

SCHEDULE weekly meetings for your Leadership Team and Committees.

USE Power Tools and Team Building exercises to build community during your team meetings.

POST this week’s social media graphic (on the next page).Tag your LT members with a message of gratitude and motivation.

“ “ If we merge mercy with might, might with right, then love becomes our legacy.

Amanda GorMan

Poet & Author

2023 Service Hero

ALUMNI INSPIRATION

NAME Lily Blank CLASS 2019 TOWN Attleboro IN 8TH GRADE, I WAS: Ambitious

Effective ways to Spread the Word

There are so many fun and effective ways to Spread the Word (STW)! My favorite way to STW is social media. Through my Fall Service, I have become very involved with my local pantry, Our Open Umbrella in North Attleboro, where I serve as a youth board member and volunteer to support the pantry’s social media efforts.

I enjoy making eye-catching and creative graphics on Canva, which is a free online design tool. I like to STW using Instagram because it reaches my intended audience and my peers. Facebook can also be really helpful because many towns or communities have active Facebook Group pages where you can post flyers or announcements about your drive.

The goal of each post is to ensure that key information is accurate and easy to understand. And, to do so in a colorful, inspiring way! Don’t forget to share and repost your graphics so that it can reach as many people as possible!

Chapter 5

Spread The Word!

Leadership Goals

> Partner with your STW team to develop a communication strategy that is inspirational, informative, and creative.

> Strengthen your confidence as speaker, motivator, and source of inspiration to others.

> Increase donations through effective and consistent deployment of STW tools.

> Build pride and unity through positive messages.

Why We Spread the Word

One of Project 351’s most important truisms is: It’s never too early to STW!

Promoting service and raising awareness of your passion cause — in this case, hunger -- is key to your success. And, a lot of fun, too! STW is a great way to engage friends, unleash creative talent, and generate support.

This chapter will review a number of best practices from Spring Service. In Chapter Two we focused on Media Engagement. The combination of these communication platforms will help spread the word beyond your school walls and across your community.

So, let’s do this! Our Fall Service STW will:

1 Serve as a call-to-action to create positive change.

2 Build awareness of hunger in YOUR hometown and about a LOCAL organization making a big impact.

3

Celebrate & appreciate an unsung hero (or two!) who lead the local fight to end hunger.

4

Promote kindness, compassion, and generosity during the holiday season.

“No one person can end hunger. But, if we all try, if we all contribute, if we all teach others, we—as a team—can end hunger.”

JUSTIN CROSBY, CLASS OF 2017, MIDDLETON

Leadership Lesson

Use Your Voice to Change the World

One thing we know for sure—a successful STW campaign leads to successful service! So, review this section for inspiration, as you build your Fall Service STW plan.

Recruit LT members for STW support. Reflect on best practices and lessons learned from Spring Service, Hope & Gratitude, and 9.11 Tribute Service. Ideas include: homeroom announcements, email newsletters, and posters/flyers in high traffic locations at your Host Site.

And—as soon as you’ve confirmed dates, Food Pantry, and Host Site(s)—start STW! We can’t wait to be inspired by all the ways you’ll inspire and engage your community to #EndHungerNow!

THE POWER & INSPIRATION OF YOUR VOICE

At a school assembly, Student Government meeting, house of worship, School Committee or City Council meeting, or other gathering—virtually or in person. Frame your message, practice with family and your LT, share your passion. Your commitment will inspire others!

CREATIVE SELF-EXPRESSION

Spoken word, a poem, a song, art installment, or video! Use your special talents to generate attention and support for your service.

“The good news, good news, good news generation You and me

Until all you ever see on TV Is lots and lots of stories, Talking about how my generation made Love and peace Out of divisions that used to be.”

SOPHIA GUSTAFSON, CLASS OF 2016, MEDFIELD

ENGAGE MEDIA TO AMPLIFY YOUR CALL-TO-SERVE

You’ve learned that the media can be a strong ally in leading change. A “Letter to the Editor” of your school and/or hometown newspaper is a great forum for inspiring and engaging your community.

Preparation is key to the successful placement of your letter. Research the following: Guidelines for length of letter, proper salutation (in almost all cases it is: “To the Editor”), and process for submission (email, form submission, etc). Instructions for submitting a “Letter to the Editor” are usually included on the newspaper’s website or on the editorial page of the print edition.

Construct a concise & informative letter that focuses on:

1. Inspiration

„ Brief introduction: “I am the 2024 Project 351 Ambassador for Dracut and attend Dracut High School. Project 351 unites an Ambassador from every city and town in the Commonwealth for a year of service and leadership development. Our Fall Service focuses on the fight to end hunger in our communities.”

„ Share your passion, and why the pandemic has made this cause especially urgent today: “I am committed to end hunger in Dracut because…”

2. Information

„ Define the problem in a straightforward, relatable manner: include statistics about hunger in your hometown.

„ Highlight the solution: build awareness for the leadership and impact of your local Food Pantry.

3. Engagement

„ Invite others to support your drive and/or the Food Pantry with food or financial donations. Be specific & concise: where, when, how can neighbors join your fight to end hunger?

4. Appreciate

„ Elevate the leadership of others: “Please join the efforts of the Dracut Student Council, the Dracut Swim Team, and our Principal, Ms. Smith, at our Food Drive on November 30th–December 11th at (insert locations)”

„ Close with inspiration and a final call to serve: “I’m so proud to be from a caring community like Dracut. I hope you’ll join the students at Dracut High in our efforts to provide food and care for neighbors throughout our town.”

TAKE FIVE Channeling your Inner Designer

Kieler Langemo, Class of 2016, Uxbridge ELA Teacher, Sutton Middle School Owner, Axxon Design

Before you read any further, stop and take a moment to look around you. Almost everything in the world has been designed with purpose, from the chair in your dining room to the binding of this book. Each day, you make important design decisions that you don’t realize. While making your bed in the morning you decide to place the pillows a particular way. Why? Is it for aesthetic reasons? Does it allow for more comfort while sleeping? Did you even make your bed at all? Everything we do has an intended purpose. As a designer, it is my job to analyze a variety of audiences and cater to their specific needs through different media, whether it be invitations, flyers, or websites. It is my hope that my Take Five will open your eyes to the world of design and communications. Use these tips to strengthen your service endeavors, but remember: designers are not born overnight, so don’t feel intimidated if this seems overwhelming, it takes practice!

1. Who is your audience? Before going into any of the design work, it is important to think about who you are designing for. Who are you intending for your design to speak to? The answer to this question will ultimately determine your approach. Is your audience students in an elementary school or high school? Content will differ for each! Colorful pictures will appeal to children, while more advanced language is appropriate for teenagers.

2. Designing for the virtual world. Once you’ve determined your audience, you can begin developing the most effective communication tools. Over the last two years, virtual communication tools have become both necessary and impactful. Digital flyers is one great example! Not a pro designer? No problem! There are plenty of online resources to help you. One of my favorites is Canva.com. Or, you could opt to use a Google Docs or Microsoft Word document to type out your message and add a few enticing graphics. Still prefer working with your hands? You can always design your posters with paper and writing utensils, take a photo of your creation, and upload it to online platforms.

3. Plan and organize your content. Your design should emphasize the most important Fall Service information you want to convey: dates, donation locations, a call-to-serve (“Join the fight to end hunger!”), and the name of the food pantry you’re serving. Be sure to include the Project 351 logo! Sketch out the order and placement of your information. Get feedback from your LT or mentor...and then create your STW masterpiece!

4. Advertising in the virtual world. Social media pages are the perfect place for advertising your efforts. Does your town have a local Facebook page where you can post a digital flyer? Perhaps your local school teachers will allow you to post your flyers to their virtual learning spaces, such as Google Classroom. Some schools have monthly or even weekly email newsletters where your digital flyer can be sent to parents across your town! Either way, with a bit of online research and communication with your local officials, you will be able to “Spread the Word” in no time!

5. Ensure your design reflects excellence! Use the following “pro tips” to enhance the appearance of your design.

„ Color science and font selection. Select a color palette of 1-3 colors. Don’t overdo it! Too many colors can make the design overwhelming to look at. This is the same for font selection: stick to one or two. Creative or bold fonts may be used for large titles, while easier-to-read fonts (like Arial or Calibri) should be used for large bodies of text.

„ Emphasize the important information. What is your call-to-action? Maybe it is “End Hunger Now!” or “Donate Today.” Emphasize your message with font that is large, colorful, and bold.

„ Don’t forget to leave space! Make sure to leave a margin between the edge of your page and your content. Content that is “crashing” into the edge of the page creates a design that is uncomfortable to look at.Similarly, use proper spacing throughout your design so your information can be clearly read.

„ Proofread. Proofread. Proofread. Even if your design looks good, it is only effective if it is professional. Make sure that all text has been reviewed for spelling and grammatical errors. This is a small (but very important) step!

Get Ready to Spread the Word

Spread the Word checklist

Host a STW team meeting to brainstorm, plan, and organize.

Create a timeline and assign responsibilities.

Clarify your key messages about service. See checklist on the next page.

Identify the top sources of information for your school and community as platforms for your message (e.g. school website, morning announcements, local radio).

Finalize list of tools you will use to inspire and motivate others to act: flyers, social media, media, events, and announcements.

Gather pictures, statistics, and impact facts to bring substance and meaning to your invitation to serve. Engage your Food Pantry partner for video and brochures.

Execute with consistency and excellence.

Start immediately & continue through the last day of your food drive. Dedicate your final two weeks to high visibility efforts. Inspire, inform, and engage your peers and community with creativity, enthusiasm, and excellence.

What?

Framing your message: Make your message simple, actionable, and compelling. And remember, accuracy of information is important!

Compelling statistics on hunger in Massachusetts and your hometown. (Check out page 8 for info you can use.)

The impact and importance of your local Food Pantry and the wonderful team who serves there.

Specific “call to action” — your Food Pantry’s wish list of donations.

Date and time of your service; locations of collection bins.

Invitation to serve — “Join us to end hunger in our community!”

If needed, guidance on the “how to’s” of your contactless drive.

Contact person for more information (this is YOU!).

Appreciation.

Logos or names for Food Pantry, Host Site, and Project 351.

How?

Communication tools (you know these well from Spring Service and Tribute Service!):

Flyers & posters in highly visible locations.

School blogs, e-newsletters, classroom websites

Video, film a “commercial” at your Food Pantry—share inspiration and information.

Create a webpage, use creative skills to create a hub for information, pictures, and impact numbers.

Morning announcement/connect-ED calls.

Engage your community on social media. Use Facebook events, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat. Use the tools and hashtags throughout this toolkit!

LT through word of mouth, social media, email to friends and family.

Your Cornerstone Partners, their website, newsletter, email list.

Calendar listings in newspapers, school newsletter, church & temple bulletins.

Where?

Online: Advocate for your cause on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

House of worship, community center: If you are involved in faith based or community organizations, invite them to support your drive by hosting a collection.

Around town: Ask local businesses, such as coffee shops or retail stores if you can hang your posters or flyers inside.

Your neighborhood: Engage family and friends with colorful flyers in their mailboxes. Make your appeal personal and donating convenient by hosting a drop-off location at your home on a specific time/date.

School & community celebrations: First, identify upcoming events where people with gather -- Farmer’s Market, community celebration, and Harvest Festival. Then, confirm the format -- virtual or in-person. Build your plan from there, starting with outreach to the organizers. In person? Can you set up an info table for STW and collect donations and/or distribute flyers. Virtual? Perhaps the event host will allow you to share Fall Service info on their event website. In either case, use social media to amplify your efforts!

When?

“It’s never too early to STW!”

Begin as soon as you confirm service dates and your Cornerstone Partners.

Use the calendar on pages 9-11 to outline your STW plan with start and end dates. Use a pencil, so you can make revisions! When your team has committed to a final plan, add final dates to your planning calendar.

Brainstorm Ideas to Spread the Word:

3-5-1 Reflection

You know this best. Thoughtfully developed and well-timed “Spread the Word” strategies are key to service success. This Fall, we focus on two STW goals—recruiting support in the fight to end hunger and raising awareness of your hunger in your hometown.

THREE tools and messages to best convey the cause and extent of hunger in your community

5

FIVE STW ideas that will contribute to the success of your food drive:

ONE “call to action” that most appeals to the heart and head of potential supporters?

Ambassador Voice: Leading with Values

“I am so excited to be that change that this world needs. I love helping out my local food pantries so they can spread love and kindness to our community!

PAULA, CLASS OF 2024, LEICESTER

“I serve for children, adults & everyone in between who struggle from food insecurity. No one should go to sleep wondering when their next meal will be.”

KILEY, CLASS OF 2024, STERLING

“My first ever volunteer opportunity was on Launch Day when I got the opportunity to help La Colaborativa distribute food to their residents. It was an amazing experience and I was overwhelmed by the amount of people who needed this precious resource. I am now an advocate for the homeless and food insecurity. To be able to help make change is empowering and meaningful.”

HAYES, CLASS OF 2024, SCITUATE

MY VOICE

ACTION STEPS

HOST a STW Team Meeting.

FRAME your message to build AWARENESS & inspire ACTION

REVIEW AND PRIORITIZE STW best practices with your team and determine timeline for action

IDENTIFY your megaphones for STW—influential individuals, organizations, partners, and platforms—and turn up the volume!

THINK VISUALLY: Fall Service infographics, video, photography, and other creative self-expression will enrich, inspire, and activate generosity and support.

START Spreading The Word!

USE this week’s social media graphic as part of your STW efforts. Celebrate someone who is using their voice to fight hunger (LT Member, Food Pantry partner, Service Hero).

“

“ When the whole world is silent , even one voice becomes powerful.

Malala Yousafzai

ALUMNI INSPIRATION

NAME Faleehah Dam

CLASS 2020

TOWN

Foxborough

IN 8TH GRADE, I WAS: Determined

Creative Ways to Serve

„ Use an Amazon Wishlist: With only a click of a button, a person can donate multiple items to your drive. When setting up your Wishlist try to select products that have multiple items in one package to support sustainability.

„ Use QR Codes! QR codes are popular and easy to create for free. You can connect your QR code to an Amazon Wishlist or Venmo for financial donations. Supporting your service becomes hassle-free and quick!

„ Ask, Ask, Ask! Don’t be afraid of donation reminders, both in person and/or on social media. This will keep your drive current and in people’s minds. Give a progress report as inspiration for people to donate.

An important key to service success was collaborating with my hometown Ambassador -a shout out to Alvin Pham, Class of 2021! Our partnership meant double the outreach and double the impact!

Leadership Goals

> Prepare and energize your team for successful project execution.

> Manage project execution with a clear vision, assigned roles, detailed Action Plan, and kind encouragement.

> Measure and evaluate the impact your team has made.

Ready, Set...SERVE!

Your Food Drive is approaching and your hard work is about to pay off in the successful engagement of family, friends, classmates, and community members. No matter the size of your team’s donations, the effort you have invested to raise awareness of hunger in your community is admirable and impactful.

The week leading up to service is an important time of preparation, energy, team alignment, and effort. Use the following checklists to ensure you’re prepared to get READY, SET…SERVE!

ONE Week prior to Service kick-off

UNITE

Your Leadership Team for a READY, SET, SERVE meeting.

ACT

Finalize checklist and confirm schedule, supplies, Leadership Team roles, and other details to ensure success.

Ready, Set, Serve Meeting

WHO?

Leadership Team, Host Site contact(s) and other caring adults

WHEN? Week prior to the start of service

LEAD

Express gratitude. Build unity. Reflect kindness, compassion, and humility. Energize your team to do their best to fight hunger.

WHY? To express gratitude, build team, and review final details, logistics, and STW strategies.

Service Hero Wisdom

“If we believe in the change we seek, then it is easy to commit to doing all we can, because the responsibility is ours alone to build a better society and a better world.”

CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS, CIVIL RIGHTS HERO

Leadership Lesson

For 2016 Tribute Service, Madison Walsh and Natalie Turkington of Sudbury, created one of our all-time favorite processes for encouraging donations. With the permission of the Store Manager, they assembled a cart brimming with wish list items. One greeter stood outside the door to inspire shoppers with the mission of Tribute Service and ask for support. A second greeter stood right inside the store with the basket of wish list items. Shoppers eagerly added one, two, or more to their cart and then dropped them in Natalie and Madison’s collection boxes on the way out! This service model is ideal for Fall Service!

One Week Until Service Kick-off

Express gratitude. Before the Food Drive begins, it’s important to thank your team and partners for their efforts. Surprise them with cupcakes or cookies, or handwritten notes of thanks.

Re-confirm dates of your drive and the location of your collection bins.

Call to serve: Amy Porter of Holliston Food Pantry offers this tip for final preparations:

„ For neighborhood/school collection: provide grocery bags with a flyer featuring your Food Pantry’s wish list and dates/location of your collection. Providing bags gives donors the option of hanging the bag from their front door for pick-up at the home (if home pick-up is an option for your team).

„ For supermarket collections: use social media and email to encourage people to shop at your store partner on designated days. On collection days, have smiling volunteers greet shoppers with a flyer of wish list items and ask for their support. As they shop, individuals can purchase items and donate on their way out. Be sure to confirm permission from the Grocery Store Manager, use sturdy collection bins, and have a plan for transporting donations to your storage area.

Light up social media. Plan something creative for each day of the week. Engage your team and partners in a coordinated effort to encourage support. Use photos, hunger statistics in your hometown, the social media art we’ve provided in this Toolkit, daily updates, location/time for collection, and other information to inspire service.

Assign team members for daily collection bin progress reports and to transfer donations to your secure storage area. Use the tracking chart in this chapter.

Schedule team check-ins at the halfway point of your drive and the day before your drive ends. Use the meetings to track progress, identify challenges, and redeploy team members as needed.

Confirm date and location to sort, pack, & transport your donations to your Food Pantry. This is a great opportunity to have fun and measure your impact as a team.

Begin your Gratitude List. Engage the team for names of people and organizations who have contributed to your service. From large donations to small acts of kindness, be inclusive of everyone who played a part. (Use chart on page 140.)

48 Hours Until Service Kick-off

If you have a school based project: ask your Principal if you can do any of the following: school-wide email, text, or call to families, morning announcements, and/or a website announcement.

Create and post new signs and/or digital graphics that request “High Priority” food items. Use neon colored paper to attract attention.

Email “Mobilization Memo” to Leadership Team. Review final assignments:

„ daily monitoring of collection bins;

„ daily transfer of donations to storage room;

„ sort/pack/deliver team;

„ STW efforts, and;

„ “celebrate and appreciate” team.

Prepare your collections bins & decorate the surrounding location to encourage generosity. Include a hand sanitizing station along with your bin, if possible! Make sure to replenish the hand sanitizer regularly.

Send an email to Host Site contact and your ALC Service Hero team leader to thank them. Let them know your team is ready to serve

Reach out to your Project 351 friends, Service Hero teammates, and Alumni friends and wish them luck. You’re one team in service—celebrate and support one another!

Throughout Service

Document everything—take pictures, use video, and flood Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and other social media with images of service, collection bins filling up, and “behind-the-scenes” snapshots. And, please tag #p351fallservice.

Daily check-ins at your collection bins. Add a new bin if necessary and safely transfer food donations to storage location.

IMPORTANT: Please assign a team member(s) to Track Results daily.

(Use the chart in this chapter.)

STW! Be creative and have fun through service. Share updates, post photos of your growing pile of donations, share statistics and images from your Food Pantry partner, report on friendly competitions, recognize and appreciate those who have contributed to your drive.

48 Hours Until the End of Service

Send Final “call to serve” message to everyone you know—and make sure the Leadership Team and your Cornerstone Partners are doing the same. “Only 48 hours to help us end hunger in our community. Join us!”

Send Leadership Team email/text confirming sort/pack/deliver date, time, and location.

Confirm the transportation plan for donation delivery to your Food Pantry.

“Leave it Better than Your Found It.” Make sure your collection locations, storage room, and meeting room are cleaned and organized.

Sort & Pack & Deliver!

Your drive is complete, your donations have been tracked and weighed, and your team feels great about the impact you’ve made on hunger! The final—and best—step of service is before you: the delivery of donations.

This is a meaningful and fun service opportunity for your Leadership Team and other committed volunteers. A reminder, before you begin Fall Service, confirm the date and time of pick-up or delivery with your Food Pantry and your transportation plan, including adequate storage space for your donations.

Step 1: Sort & Pack

Confirm any requirements or preferences from your Food Pantry Partner. They may ask for the separation of canned goods and dry goods; or request that donations are double bagged for sturdiness.

Set up your sorting room to allow for team-based activity. Utilize long tables without chairs, so volunteers can have easy access to the donations. Position donation bins at one end of the table and necessary supplies on or adjacent to the table. Supplies include:

„ Paper bags or boxes for packing

„ Sharpies to mark bags/boxes with the contents (e.g. canned vegetables, pasta)

„ Trash bag for discarding “past due date” items

Convene your team and kick-off your Sort & Pack. Express gratitude, review objectives, and deploy volunteers effectively.

Important tip: Instruct each table to appoint a volunteer or two to check all expiration dates of donated items. Discard items past date. Remember: “quality = dignity!”

Divide into teams, play music, and have a friendly competition for which team can pack fastest!

Take photos—including a team photo with a sign indicating total pounds of donations and the name of your Food Pantry—and post to social media as a means to appreciate donors, volunteers, and Cornerstone Partners.

Use the “Sort & Pack” to create thank you cards/banners for Cornerstone Partners and other key supporters.

Summarize impact, ask for reflections (e.g. Roses & Thorns), express appreciation, and encourage continued support of your Food Pantry.

Step Two: Donation Delivery!

After the investment of time, care, and teamwork…it’s time for impact! On the confirmed date and time for delivery, transport donations with your Leadership Team. If you have invited media or elected officials, be sure to confirm all details with these individuals.

Greet Food Pantry contact and follow their instruction for storage of donations.

Present thank you card/banner and express appreciation for the privilege of partnership.

Invite your Food Pantry partner to share their reflections on the positive effect of your donations on the families served. This will make the important connection between the “act of service” and the “impact of service” for your Leadership Team. Understanding the scope and scale of your impact builds pride and motivation for the continued fight to end hunger.

Take photos—including team photo with your Food Pantry partner—and post to social media.

Measuring Impact

The impact of your service far exceeds the number of pounds collected for your Food Pantry. Yes, this is the primary goal and critically important in our fight to end hunger. But, you have also achieved other notable and important goals. These may include:

„ Developed strong Cornerstone Partnerships

„ United and managed a Leadership Team

„ Built awareness for the issue of hunger

„ Engaged your school and community in critically-needed service

„ Developed communication skills

„ Mapped your community and created important relationships

„ Executed the “nuts and bolts” of service—from start to finish

„ Had fun, made friends, and strengthened your ability and commitment to lead

Reflecting on impact—quantitative (pounds of food, number of Leadership Team members) and qualitative (knowledge gained, awareness built)—provides a full scope of your impact. It’s important to capture and reflect upon both.

Use the next pages to track and calculate your quantitative impact. You will record and submit your totals in your Fall Service Impact Report. When all totals are in, we will report the collective impact of the 2024 Fall Service team!

Daily Tracking: Measuring Impact

Please use this chart to track your daily progress of donations. These impact numbers will be shared in your Project 351 Impact Report (post-service); and with your Cornerstone Partners, school, and community as you celebrate the difference you have made.

DATE

# POUNDS OF FOOD $ COLLECTED EST # DONORS

Total # pounds of food

Total financial donations

TEAM COMMENTARY/FEEDBACK

Outcomes: Assessing Long-term Impact

Project outcomes are the changes you hope to see by leading a Food Drive. A primary goal is raising community awareness of the local challenge of hunger and causing others to act.

Sample Project Outcomes

By engaging community in service, our team promoted unity and inspired future service.

By hosting collection bins at our elementary schools, our team inspired younger children to act with kindness and give back.

By sharing my story with local media, we educated others about the issue of hunger.

By engaging my State Senator and Mayor, we helped ensure hunger and our Food Pantry has the attention of decision makers on policy and budgets.

TAKE FIVE Leading Your Team Through The Finish Line

Molly Kent, Class of 2016, Sandwich

Jack Burgess, Class of 2017, Sandwich

The execution of your service project can seem overwhelming. You have been organizing, planning, delegating, and suddenly... it’s time to serve! Follow these tips to overcome the challenges that may arise and finish strong!

1. Remember “Why We Serve”. When things don’t go as planned or when an idea doesn’t work as well as you’d like, stop and take a moment to remember “why” you serve. What is your passion, your drive, and your inspiration for your project? Think about your food pantry, your Leadership Team, or why you joined the fight to end hunger. Regaining your vision for a project will push you to work even harder than before.

2. Checklists can be your best friend. Make checklists for everything! Take the time to sit down and brainstorm everything that needs to get done. Make a concise list of every action step—no detail is too small! Use the checklists in this Toolkit! Our LT uses daily, weekly, and monthly checklists to ensure our action plan stays on track.

3. Flexibility is key. You want to be the best—and most flexible—partner to your Food Pantry and Host Site. Be especially mindful that this is the busiest time of year for your Food Pantry. Send an email or a call the day before an important service date or meeting to remind them. Despite all your best efforts, plans can change at the last minute. When that happens, be patient, be flexible, and work through it with your partners! Together, you’ll turn challenge into success!

4. Community map! Use “Ready, Set, Serve” to increase community engagement. Amplify STW, recruit your elected officials and local businesses, flood social media. Use these megaphone to increase awareness and donations will follow!

5. Gratitude is essential. Expressing gratitude throughout your project makes it a better experience for your team. Celebrate small victories and appreciate all of the people who have helped or inspired you. Giving back to your team is just as important as giving back to your food pantry.

Outputs: Reporting the Numbers

Project outputs are tangible things that can be counted. For example, the number of pounds of food collected or the number of people who donated food or financial support to the Food Pantry. Let’s record your team success! (You’ll use this to complete your Fall Service Impact Report at the conclusion of service.)

My Project Outputs

I spent hours planning and executing my product drive. volunteers donated to our Food Drive.

I had a Leadership Team of members.

We collected: pounds of food. in financial donations.

We impacted: number of families for week(s). (Work with your Food Pantry to identify this number or another statistic that conveys the personal impact of your service.)

We engaged these members of our community

Type includes Media, Businesses, Elected Officials, Schools, Community Organizations

Type:

Who/How:

Impact:

What I learned:

Type:

Who/How:

Impact:

What I learned:

Type:

Who/How:

Impact:

What I learned:

Type:

Who/How:

Impact:

What I learned:

Type:

Who/How:

Impact:

What I learned:

Type:

Who/How:

Impact:

What I learned:

Outcomes

My Leadership Team and I achieved the following outcomes from Fall Service:

Ambassador Voice: Unite. Act. Lead.

“Hope motivates my leadership to end hunger. Uniting together as Project 351, with the possibility of changing thousands of lives, is what keeps me going.”

LAYLA, CLASS OF 2024, HANOVER

“My why is that I can change things. I have the power to work towards a better goal for people. When people are struggling, I will do anything to help when I can. I won’t leave anything behind and take every opportunity that lies in front of me.”

SOPHIA, CLASS OF 2024, DUNSTABLE

“I am motivated to end hunger because no person deserves to wonder where their next meal will come from. There is enough food on this plant for everyone and we won’t give up until everyone has access to reliable food sources.”

MALONE, CLASS OF 2024, COHASSET

MY VOICE

3-5-1 Reflection

THREE service impact measures that bring you greatest pride

FIVE favorite moments during your service 1.

During “Ready, Set, Serve”... ONE effective tool or strategy that you used to inspire and motivate your team:

ACTION STEPS

PLAN AND HOST your Ready, Set, Serve Meeting.

KEEP SPREADING The Word!

SCHEDULE a Celebrate & Appreciate meeting for the week after Service.

SORT, PACK & DELIVER

REPORT Your Outputs

SHARE this week’s social media graphic (on next page) to inspire your LT as Service begins. Tag them in your post. Appreciate their hard work and encourage their leadership as Service begins.

Diane Patrick Former First Lady of Massachusetts

ALUMNI INSPIRATION

NAME

Pranav Govindarajan

CLASS 2020 TOWN Holliston IN 8TH GRADE, I WAS:

It feels wonderful to see the positive impact we have made through this year’s service, and to know that — as a team — we have touched so many lives. It is important to spread the word about how even small acts of kindness can make a huge difference in the lives of so many.

My hope is to inspire others as I have been inspired by sharing gratitude. A great way to do that is to make sure that you thank everyone who has helped, encouraged, inspired, and supported your service along the way.

One of my favorite tactics is to reach out through the local media. Writing a letter to the editor in your local newspaper or online publication about your service project is not only a great way to Spread the Word -- it’s also a very effective way to express your heartfelt appreciation to your entire community. Plus, you’ll build lots of hometown pride!

Appreciation & Reflection

Leadership Goals

> Model Project 351 values of compassion, humility, and gratitude.

> Celebrate the success of your drive with friends, family, and community and encourage the continued service of others.

> Listen and learn during post-service debriefs to analyze strengths and opportunities for further development. Then, get inspired for your next service project!

Celebrate and Appreciate

Gratitude is the heart of Project 351. Feeling it, expressing it, and acting in a manner that demonstrates appreciation and care. Through sincere thankfulness of others, we cultivate communities of kindness and compassion, strengthen bonds of friendship, and grow awareness of the many gifts in our lives.

And so… our service isn’t complete until we Celebrate & Appreciate and reflect upon our impact, team work, and lessons learned.

grat·i·tude

(noun) the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

Step 1

CREATE A GRATITUDE LIST

Use the chart on page 140. Who and which organizations made Fall Service possible? “More rather than less” is the guiding principle of Gratitude Lists! Be inclusive! Engage your Leadership Team to develop and finalize list.

Step 2

BRAINSTORM CREATIVE AND THOUGHTFUL WAYS TO EXPRESS THANKS

Fuse both joy (a fresh batch of brownies or a silly video!) and meaning (highlights of your impact) with every action. Don’t forget social media! Post, tag, tweet your thanks!

Step 3

ENGAGE YOUR CELEBRATE & APPRECIATE TEAM TO EXECUTE THE PLAN

Schedule work time together to create, reflect, and have fun. The act of thanking others will make you smile. Set a timeline for your work and a deadline for the distribution of gratitude. (A deadline of one week after the delivery of donations is suggested.)

Celebrate

Celebrate the difference your community has made through Fall Service— and inspire others to serve by your example.

PROJECT 351

Post pictures and stories to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and other social media. Tag Project 351’s handles and use hashtags #p351 and #p351fallservice.

YOUR COMMUNITY

Share your team’s story and the impact you made in a local paper and on social media. Write a “Letter to the Editor” of your hometown newspaper to report on the generosity and kindness of your community.

YOUR FAMILY

Appreciate their efforts and encouragement. And, identify your next family service opportunity!

YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM & FRIENDS

Host a gathering, in-person or virtually, in celebration of the donations you collected!

YOUR SCHOOL/HOST SITE:

Give thanks for the support of your school at an Assembly and morning announcements. For schools/Host Sites, post gratitude on their website and social media. Create a “thank you” banner with impact numbers for a highly visible location.

FOOD PANTRY

During donation drop off, present a thank you card/banner. Your greatest expression of gratitude is your continued support of their mission!

Gratitude list

NAME

Cornerstone Partners

(Food Pantry & Host Sites)

alc team leader

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Caring Adults/ family

Media

Business Leaders

Elected Officials

REASON I’M GRATEFUL

Please complete this grid to ensure you appreciate and recognize the dedication, partnership, and hard work of those who made your service possible. Don’t forget to include Fall Service impact numbers in your expressions of gratitude.

HOW I WILL CELEBRATE/APPRECIATE

DEADLINE

Gratitude list

friends & other community members

Contacts at Additional Collection Sites

Other Supportive Individuals/ Organizations

Here are more special people to celebrate and appreciate as you complete your final service campaign of the year!

HOW I WILL CELEBRATE/APPRECIATE

DEADLINE

Feedback & Reflection

Each time we serve, we face challenges, celebrate victories, and experience countless “a ha!” moments of insight and discovery.

The process of reflection and team debrief concludes your service. A candid assessment of your efforts will highlight opportunities of strength—and for growth. Use these to further develop as a leader, teammate, family member, friend, and student.

Team Debrief

„ Schedule a debrief & reflections meeting.

„ Length: 60 minutes (suggested)

„ Who: Leadership Team and supportive adults

„ Timing: Within a week of the end of your drive—you want everyone to have fresh memories of service!

„ Preparation: Ask team members to prepare for a brainstorm of the strengths and challenges of your Food Drive.

Agenda

1. WELCOME & GRATITUDE

Begin with celebration of impact and your appreciation. Be personal and heartfelt.

2. SUMMARIZE IMPACT!

Share the final tally of donations (#s of food, meals created, financial support) and any highlights from Fall Service (newspaper article, engagement of an elected official, the extent of your school’s engagement).

Leadership lesson

Schedule debriefs with your Host Site and Food Pantry, too. Their insights and guidance will be invaluable to your development as a leader.

3. RIPPLES & JOY

Encourage team to share their pride in a structured celebration of positive impact. (See Chapter 3 for guidance.)

4. ROSES & THORNS

Use the chart on the following page for team reflections and feedback.

5. ADDITIONAL “DEBRIEF”

Engage your team in fun, constructive reflections to share knowledge and ideas for future service. Here are some Team activities from our good friends at City Year.

Fists of Five

Ask the team to shake out their fists, similar to playing “Rock, Paper, Scissors.”

After a count of ten, everybody puts one hand in the center, displaying the number of fingers that reflects how they feel about service. One (1) = excellent/never better; five (5) = not great/needs work. Ask each team member to explain why they chose their number.

One Word

Ask each team member to pick one word that expresses how they feel about the Food Drive.

PTA (Personal and Team Accomplishments)

Ask each team member to share one personal accomplishment and one team accomplishment.

Head • Heart • Feet

Ask each team member to answer the following about their service experience:

Head: What did you learn?

Heart: How are you feeling?

Feet: What are you walking away with?

6. GRATITUDE

Express appreciation to the team. If possible, highlight one special contribution made by each team member.

7. CLOSING MESSAGE

Keep serving! The Food Drive has ended but the fight to end hunger continues. Inspire your team to continue their positive impact. If your pantry is accepting in-person volunteers, schedule the next volunteer shift for your LT at the Food Pantry. And, be sure to keep your LT contact list, so you can engage your friends and family in future service projects.

ROSES & THORNS

TEAM MEMBER ROSES

This team building exercise is a positive and productive way to learn from your service.

Ask each team member to reflect on service and the Leadership Team experience and share a highlight (rose) and a suggestion for improvement (thorn).

Use this chart and/or a chalkboard to capture ideas and then, discuss as a team. Actively listen and acknowledge feedback and ideas. Every idea or comment is valuable and should be respected. The result of Roses & Thorns will be a room full of stronger leaders; and more effective and impactful service projects in the future!!

THORNS WORDS OF INSPIRATION

TAKE FIVE

How to Write a Thank You Note

Carolyn Casey, your Project 351 teammate

The written expression of gratitude is a fading art in this era of email, text, and social media. But, it is a passion of mine and something I prioritize for family, friends, and the 351 community. Handwritten notes are a greatly cherished and valuable means of communicating thanks. They reflect your sincerity and allow for creative selfexpression. And, they serve as powerful mementos of a special event, milestone, or accomplishment. As you “Celebrate & Appreciate”, I encourage the use of handwritten or, for the artist, hand drawn thank yous. Let’s “Take Five” to review the steps for appreciating others.

1. BEGIN WITH WARMTH AND GRATITUDE

Start with a fresh sheet of stationery or a card. Lead with gratitude that reflects the individual’s specific contribution to your service. Be sure to use the correct form and spelling of the person’s name, as well as that of anyone else referenced in your note. Be enthusiastic with your words of thanks!

“Dear Principal Jones, Thank you for serving as my mentor during Fall Service, you inspired me to exceed my goal of collecting 100 pounds of donations and I am grateful.”

2. CELEBRATE THE IMPACT YOU CREATED TOGETHER AND USE SPECIFIC FACTS

Get creative and include a service photo that reflects the impact you made.

“Because of your belief and guidance, the Foxboro High School community collected 125 pounds of food for the Foxboro Food Pantry. More than 250 students participated! Attached, please find a photo of our Leadership Team delivering FHS’s generous donations.”

3. MAKE IT PERSONAL

Share specific details of the impact of their support. Demonstrate that you recognize and value the unique gifts they shared to strengthen Fall Service.

“As you know, 1 in 5 families in our community is at risk of hunger. According to Mary Jones, the director of the Foxboro Food Pantry, the donations from FHS will help nourish hundreds of our neighbors over the holiday season.”

4. INVITE THEIR FEEDBACK AS YOU CONTINUE TO GROW AS LEADER

“As our Food Drive comes to a close, I welcome any feedback or guidance you may have so I can continue to strengthen my leadership and communication skills. I would also value your continued support of future service projects.”

5. FINISH STRONG!

Conclude your note with warmth and kindness, and by restating your appreciation.

“Thank you again for investing your time to coach me on leadership and project management, and for your support of Project 351’s Fall Service. I have learned many valuable lessons from you, lessons that I will continue to use to make positive change in our school and community. With gratitude, Ambassador/Alumni Name”

3-5-1

Reflection

Over the past six weeks, you have grown as a leader, teammate, and agent for positive change. Together, the Fall Service Team has learned new skills, set important goals, and executed an Action Plan that dramatically impacted hunger in our Commonwealth. As Fall Service and this Project 351 year of service concludes, take time to reflect on what you have learned and how you have grown. And, to dream about what service comes next!

THREE important leadership lessons I learned:

FIVE things I learned about myself:

Biggest surprise:

Biggest challenge:

I most enjoyed:

I am most proud of:

I am most grateful for:

ONE future service mission, I have is

Ambassador Voice: Celebrate & Appreciate

“Thank you for providing me with help to make my community better and to give back. I am proud to be a part of such a close and loving organization.”

ANNA, CLASS OF 2024, WORCESTER

“I cannot express how much this experience has meant to me. This past year has taught me so much about myself, and I can attribute it all to Project 351. What you do has such a big impact on so many people, and I am so grateful to have been a part of this wonderful community. You have quite literally changed my life and I’m excited for our amazing work to continue!”

PRISHA, CLASS OF 2024, SANDWICH

“As we come to the end of our Ambassador year, I am excited for the future and sad that this experience has come to an end. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you have taught me about myself over this year.”

MADELYN, CLASS OF 2024, NORWOOD

ACTION STEPS

MEET with your Celebrate & Appreciate Team to create a Gratitude List and brainstorm creative ways to plan.

WRITE handwritten thank you notes to your Cornerstone Partners and Leadership Team Members

SHARE public appreciation to your Cornerstone Partners and community leaders who supported your project (media outlets, elected officials, local businesses).

MEET with your Leadership Team and supportive adults to reflect & debrief on Service.

ENCOURAGE your Leadership Team to share this week’s social media graphic (on next page) and tag somebody who helped your team RISE during Fall Service.

19th Century Orator

ROBERT INGERSOLL

Glossary

These are key components of Fall Service and our vision for building community. This glossary will serve as a great guide throughout your service.

ACTION PLAN

The timeline, milestones, key dates and deadlines—with designated LT lead—that serves as your roadmap to Fall Service success.

AMBASSADOR

Compassionate, committed agent of change who serves with Project 351 and their community to make a remarkable difference in the world.

ALUMNI MENTORING CORPS (AMC)

Project 351 high school Alumni selected to serve on the Alumni Leadership Council, responsible for mentoring and leading a Service Hero team of Ambassadors.

CELEBRATE & APPRECIATE

A 351 tradition that reflects heartfelt gratitude in creative ways that generate joy!

CORNERSTONE PARTNERS

The Food Pantry and Host Site who serve as the foundation of Fall Service.

FOOD DRIVE

Ambassadors/Alumni led school and community mobilization that raises awareness, food and financial donations, and recruits volunteers in support of hometown Food Pantries to help end hunger.

FOOD PANTRY

Community-based organization led by everyday heroes who miraculously leverage limited resources to meet critical need and nourish families in your hometown.

HOST SITE

A school, house of worship, business, community organization, or other location that generously provides space, support, and visibility as the hub for Fall Service donations.

LEADERSHIP TEAM

The friends, family, and classmates who generously share time and talent to create and execute successful Fall Service.

OPERATIONS/LOGISTICS

The nuts and bolts that make your service possible, including materials (e.g. collection boxes, flyers), systems (e.g. team meetings, STW), and structures (e.g. LT, social media).

ROSES & THORNS

At the close of service, an effective and positive format for collecting strengths and opportunities for improvement. Generates wisdom that will be used to improve future service projects.

STW

Spread the Word! Your inspiring, enriching, and creative communication strategies that build awareness of the issue of hunger and inspire friends, classmates, and community members to act.

“The first essential component of social justice is adequate food for all humankind. Food is the moral right of all who are born into this world.”

NORMAN BORLAUG, NOBEL LAUREATE

“Hunger is not a problem. It is an obscenity. How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

ANNE FRANK

WITH GRATITUDE FOR THEIR GENEROUS INVESTMENT & BELIEF

The Crimson Lion / Lavine Family Foundation

“Project 351 gives me hope for the future and all that our generation can accomplish. I feel responsible, confident, and ready. And I know that positive change can start with us.”

MADISON OXNARD, ALUMNA, LANCASTER

At Project 351, we begin—and end—in gratitude. Our movement for change is fueled by appreciation for the privilege of service and for the countless everyday heroes who enable our efforts.

On the occasion of the last page of your final Toolkit for your final service project as Ambassador, our gratitude runs deep and begins with you. Eleven months ago, we welcomed a community of eighth grade unsung heroes. Today, 35ONE is led by compassionate and courageous change makers who envision a better world... and do whatever it takes to make it so.

That vision includes the assurance that every child has resources they need to fulfill their unlimited potential. Including – and especially – consistent access to healthy and nourishing food.

Annually, Fall Service helps us to fulfill the promise of that possibility by eradicating food insecurity and hunger. We’re grateful to be powered by our friends at Blue Cross Blue Shield and inspired by their leadership to ensure Food Justice for every family in the Commonwealth. With Blue Cross’ generosity of belief and resources, you bring hope, foster unity, and uplift community as you restock the shelves of your hometown food pantry. We are so grateful.

That spirit of appreciation extends to a special community of leaders and friends who have enriched our Fall Service journey:

• Congressman Jim McGovern, one of the country’s greatest heroes in the fight to end hunger;

• Project Bread, our state’s leading anti-hunger organization led by visionary President Erin McAleer and energized by Lizzy Agdedun, Advocacy Manager;

• The family of Shane McColgan, whom we join to #ServeforShane as we continue his mission to end hunger;

• Our amazing Alumni, including your Service Hero team leaders and those whose wisdom and best practices are featured throughout this Toolkit;

• The makers whose talents create the Toolkit in your hand – photographers Benson Chang, Jennifer Cogswell, and Michael Casey; Jon Goose and the Color Copy Center Boston team; and Kieler Langemo, Owner & Creative Director, Axxon Design, and Project 351 Alumni;

• Your Food Pantry partner, for their inspiring example of service to a cause greater than self;

• Your Host Site partner, LT, educators, and families – who make all things possible!

• And, finally, the 35ONE team, especially Mary Cringan whose devotion to every Ambassador is an inspiration!

I close this note and this Toolkit with gratitude to you—our remarkable Fall Service team. Thank you for your kind hearts and shining example of the powerful change made possible when we unite as 35ONE

Once again, you’ve demonstrated that with wisdom, empathy, teamwork, and a commitment to #ServeforShane, anything—including a world without hunger—is possible.

With 35ONELove and gratitude,

Carolyn

Carolyn Casey Founder & Executive Director

Design: J Sherman Studio; D. West, K. Langemo Content: C. Casey, M. Campbell, D. West; Project 351

KINDNESS. COMPASSION. HUMILITY. GRATITUDE. KINDNESS. COMPASSION. HUMILITY. GRATITUDE. KINDNESS. COMPASSION. HUMILITY. GRATITUDE. KINDNESS. COMPASSION. HUMILITY. GRATITUDE. KINDNESS. COMPASSION. HUMILITY. GRATITUDE. KINDNESS. COMPASSION. HUMILITY. GRATITUDE. KINDNESS. . HUMILITY KINDNESS. GRATITUDE. KINDNESS. COMPASSION. HUMILITY. GRATITUDE. KINDNESS. HUMILITY.GRATITUDE. GRATITUDE. KINDNESS. COMPASSION ON. HUMILITY. GRATITUDE. KINDNESS. COMPASSION. HUMILITY. GRATITUDE. KINDNESS. COMPASSION. HUMILITY. GRATITUDE. KINDNESS.KIND. COMaSSION. HUMILITY. GRATITUDE. ILITY. GRATITUDE . NESS.

Project 351 develops a new generation of community-first service leaders through the year-long engagement and enrichment of an eighth grade Ambassador from every city and town in Massachusetts. Youth are selected by hometown educators for an exemplary ethic of service and the values of kindness, compassion, humility, and gratitude. Founded in 2011, Project 351 has engaged more than 5,229 unsung heroes and quiet leaders as change agents in their community. Together, these remarkable eighth graders have impacted more than one million neighbors through transformational service. Ambassadors engage in a year-long service journey that hones leadership skills and builds communities of kindness and compassion. Milestones include a Launch Day, and three signature statewide service campaigns that mobilize schools and communities to scale impact for select nonprofit partners. An active and engaged Alumni community serves as mentors and role models to Ambassadors as they continue their service leadership through high school and college. Through Project 351, youth build leadership and communication skills, engage peers and civic leaders in common purpose, and open hearts and minds with their passion for making a difference in their communities and our world.

As individuals, Ambassadors develop greater confidence, courage, compassion, and the capabilities to serve and lead. As a united Project 351 community, they demonstrate the extraordinary change made possible when young people Unite. Act. Lead.

50 Milk, 16th Floor, Boston, MA 02109

617-387-7100 • info@project351.org • www.project351.org