ENCOURAGE OUR HEROES - 9/11 SERVICE PROJECT:
We invite 13-18 year old students to create their own letters, drawings, short stories or poems to share with veterans who are injured, need medical care, work in the hospital, or beginning to transition back into civilian life. We honor and appreciate the heroes who put their lives on the line to protect our country.
Rules
Students may earn a total of up to 4 community service hours (SSL) by participating. Students may forward their submissions as a PDF to Projects@SGAPleaders.org or they may mail their hand-written submissions to SGAP Leaders c/o 15800 Crabbs Branch Way, suite 300, Rockville, MD 20855.
Each student must complete an online registration. Registration forms may be forwarded to parents or students upon request. We will accept submissions (letters, drawings, poems and short stories). Each approved submission accounts for 30 minutes of community service. To receive community service hours, we ask that student include their first name, grade and school name on their submissions, as well as adhere to the submission specifications below:
Letter - at least 150 words
Drawings - must be submitted on an 8" x 11" sheet of paper
Short Story - at least 250 words (may include illustrations)
Poems - at least 50 words
All submissions must be the student’s original work (please do not plagiarize someone else’s work). SGAP Leaders reserves the right not to accept submissions which include any form of vulgarity, nudity, or any and all offensive terms which may demean or insult any individual or group of people. Please note: Veterans may not respond to the submissions received but they will be given the opportunity to do so.
Thank the hero for their service, then… (choose one prompt to answer below)
- Tell them how they have inspired you
- Tell them about things you do and say to encourage yourself and others
- Share a story of how a stranger or a veteran encouraged you
Privacy:
Please, do not share any pictures or likeness of the students as well as personal information such as home address, email or phone number etc. We ask that students include their first name, grade and school only on each submission. All approved submissions will be shared with veterans who are recipients of support. Please note: Veterans may not respond to the submissions received.
How to earn community service hours (SSL):
Each approved submission accounts for 30 minutes of community service. The maximum number of community service hours earned is 4 SSL hours, which is 8 submissions. Community service forms with the total hours earned will be distributed via email to the students (cc'd to parents).
Student participation in this service project is at the discretion of the student’s parent/guardian. The nonprofit organization is responsible for maintaining student safety and privacy at any time the student is interacting with the nonprofit and its clients. The nonprofit organization will determine the number of SSL hours awarded based on the evidence submitted. Parents/guardians should contact the nonprofit directly with any questions and/or concerns. This service activity is designed to be completed within the safety of the student’s home until schools resume normal status.
