COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS
Community service is a vital part of the Grange, from the smallest to the largest communities and Granges, believing that there is no project “too small” to make a difference. Grange members across the nation dedicate themselves to improving their communities in countless ways.
Recognizing the diversity of our Granges, communities, and service efforts, our goal is to showcase and celebrate the incredible work of Grangers—not through competition at the national level, but by sharing and recognizing the unique and impactful projects happening across the country all year long.
For more information, contact National Grange Community Co-Directors Randee Farmer (KS) and Bonnie Mitson at communityservice@grange.org
Community Service Books
Per delegate action at the 2025 National Grange convention, winning community service books will have a place to be displayed at the 2026 National Grange Convention in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
ADOPTED: 605-MI – Community Service Notebook Judging
WHEREAS: for many years, Granges across the United States have put together Community Service notebooks or at least filled out a report form; and
WHEREAS: this is a real encouragement for Granges to work hard at the Community Service projects they take on; and
WHEREAS: working hard on projects and spending many hours putting a notebook together in the hopes that they just might have a winning book and be recognized by the National Grange; and
WHEREAS: recognizing and honoring Granges and Grangers is a great way to keep these members encouraged and involved in the Grange; therefore be it
RESOLVED: The National Grange honor state winning Community Service books by allowing them a place to be displayed at the National Grange Convention; and be it further
RESOLVED: that it be known, if said State Grange is going to send its book; it is at their full expense, and it is their full responsibility to display and remove their book at the end of the convention.
When competition of CS books on the National level was stopped effective 2025, States were given the opportunity to conduct their recognitions of Community Granges in ways that worked best for them. Some elected to continue state-wide judging, some went to no judging and awarded all Granges reporting within their states with equal recognition. Both ways are acceptable.
In accordance with last year's National Grange resolution (above), a table will be provided for you to display your state winner's book if you are still having a contest in your state. For those states that are not having book contests, we suggest a consolidation of the report forms/mini reports received from your state's Community Granges become a "State Brag Book" of CS activities conducted. Both a state winner's book or "Brag Book" will be welcomed on the display table.
- Only one notebook or Brag Book per State can be displayed.
- States are responsible for setting up and removing their respective items.
- Displaying notebooks or Brag Books is purely voluntary.
- There will be no judging.
Community Service Report Form (Request for $250 Award & Certificates)
The National Grange will continue awarding $250 to states where at least 25% of Granges submit reports at the state level. Electronic certificates will also be available for printing and presentation.
To receive the $250 monetary award and/or certificates, a State’s Community Service Director or President must complete the fillable National Grange Community Service Report Form. At the end of the, click "Submit" and the form will be sent directly to the Community Service Directors for review.
This is the only form required to request the award.
This report form is to be completed on or before December 15, 2026.
National Grange Community Service Honor Roll. State Granges submitting a Community Service Report Form will be included in the Honor Roll, a list of State Granges showing participation. This information will be included in the National Grange Community Service Annual Report made available to National convention delegates and printed in the Journal of Proceedings.
National Grange Community Service Director’s List. State Granges reporting participation of their Community Granges to National will be included in the CS Honor Roll. Those State Granges with 100% participation will be highlighted and the State Directors will receive a personal recognition award from this Community Service team. This information will be included in the NG CS Annual Report made available to National Convention delegates and printed in the Journal of Proceedings.
Share Your Project Story - 2026 Focus is America’s 250th Birthday Celebration
Let’s celebrate in 2026! When you complete a Community Service project in 2026 with the focus being America’s 250th Birthday Celebration, consider completing the “Share Your Project’s Story” form. This form is automatically sent to the Community Service Directors and will trigger your Grange receiving a celebratory certificate for presentation and/or hanging as well as possible inclusion in National Grange publications.
Community Service Project Ideas
To help Granges develop impactful projects, we will maintain a list of Community Service Project Ideas.
Meals
Feeding people is an overwhelming passion for Grangers. Ideas include supporting food banks, creating food baskets for community distribution, hosting dinners or preparing full meals for various events and needs, and collecting for food pantries or food drives. Host a community ice cream social in celebration of our country’s 250th birthday. (See more ideas in the America 250 Guidebook for Granges.)
Life Skills/Self-Sustainability
Grangers can teach and/or take classes and workshops in cooking, sewing, quilting, painting, carpentry, animal husbandry, defensive driving, pie making, crocheting, dancing, archery, and gardening, among many others. You can also consider holding debates to teach speaking skills to Juniors, youth, and young adults. (See more ideas in Project Sustenance section under Programs.)
Community Support
Granges adopt and clean highways, streams, parks, and cemeteries; donate the use of their Halls for community events; support various community projects; serve as an information hub for their towns on bulletin boards and social media; and host legislative forums and debates for candidates for various local positions.
Veterans
Grangers can write cards, make holiday stockings, adopt soldiers and send care packages, host appreciation dinners, honor veterans with Quilts of Valor, lay wreaths and flags in cemeteries for the holidays, or even volunteer to clean cemeteries and restore gravestones. In addition, you bake cookies or other goodies, or provide other much-needed donations for the military, VFWs, or veterans’ homes. Help with or conduct a community ceremony in conjunction with the country’s semi quincentennial, honoring our military and veterans throughout our country's history.
Schools
Support schools in many ways, including collecting school supplies, volunteering at schools and community centers, donating to school closets and food pantries, making mittens, scarves, and hats, and giving directly to teachers, paraeducators, and staff to show appreciation. Purchase and donate dictionaries for 3rd-grade students (The Dictionary Project). Lead a craft community service project for students to help with the delivery of items (e.g., tie blankets for shut-ins, cards for military or nursing homes). Provide flower seeds and pots for students to plant and take to their moms or elderly neighbors. Donate funds to cover unpaid children’s meals throughout the school year.
Senior Centers
Many Granges find ways to support senior and assisted living centers by donating toiletries and non-skid socks, creating gift bags, holiday cards, and ornaments, and volunteering time to visit residents. Some Granges adopt nursing home residents who may not have family visiting or supporting them. Play Bingo and other games with residents, donate prizes. Present an educational, fun, musical, or literary-type program to a senior center in honor of our country’s 250th Birthday Celebration.
Supporting Grangers in Need
Whether donating to a Grange member or family after a disaster, driving members to appointments, or ensuring they attend Grange events, supporting the volunteers who make these efforts possible remains essential.
Quilts of Valor
Although there is no official National Grange Chapter of QOV, we encourage Granges to continue recognizing and honoring veterans and active-duty service members. Information on the Quilts of Valor Foundation program can be found on the QOV website at qovf.org. Grange presentation awards are part of the Under Our Wings Program. Please read those guidelines carefully from the QOV website.
The making and presenting of QOV quilts are truly inspiring. Organize a group within your Grange to cut and sew toppers for quilts (there is a level of participation for everyone).....have state wide quilt sewing days.....invite young people and teach them the art of sewing straight lines and quilting (share your knowledge or learn from others).....include 4-H and other like groups who already know how to sew -- use making quilts as a Grange membership opportunity as well as honoring our Veterans.
There are official QOV Foundation groups in many communities that might be able to help. Contact the local groups early as there are many more Veterans to present quilts to than quilters to quilt.
Bonnie Mitson has been involved with QOV for a long while and she considers it a passion. She is available to answer questions or make suggestions for supporting your QOV presentations at communityservice@grange.org. She can send you official Quilts of Valor labels with the Grange emblem / Under Our Wings to affix to your quilts.
Community Service Directors
The Community Service Department is Co-Directed by Randee Farmer (KS) and Bonnie Mitson (ID). Any questions about the program can be directed to communityservice@grange.org.