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, we are updating the 2025 National Grange Community Service Program to highlight and celebrate these contributions.
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.
Community Service Books
Effective 2025, there will be no national-level judging of Community Service Books. Submissions, whether physical or electronic, will not be accepted at the national level.
State-level competition is optional and up to each state’s discretion. We encourage Granges to continue maintaining books or electronic records in a format that works best for historical documentation at the local and state levels.
For more information, contact National Grange Community Co-Directors Randee Farmer (KS) and Bonnie Mitson at communityservice@grange.org
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 a monetary award and/or certificates, the National Grange Community Service Report Form must be completed and emailed to communityservice@grange.org.
This is the only form required to request the award
Share Your Project Story
When you complete a Community Service project in 2025, consider filling out the “Share Your Project’s Story” form and emailing it to communityservice@grange.org.
We want to recognize your efforts by sharing your story, including:
The need or benefit in your community
How the project was successfully conducted
A “how-to” guide to help others replicate similar efforts
As a bonus, your written details will be ready for inclusion in your state’s reporting.
Firefighter/EMT/Law Enforcement Officer/Teacher of the Year
Effective 2025, there will be no national-level judging for these awards, and entries will not be accepted at the national level.
We encourage local and state Granges to honor hometown heroes—those who go above and beyond in their profession. Your recognition will have a profound impact on them and the community.
Ideas for honoring them include:
Hosting a public reception or dinner
Presenting an award at their workplace
Any other creative and thoughtful way to show appreciation
Email their stories and details of your recognition to communityservice@grange.org for publication in Grange materials.
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.
Life Skills/Self-Sustainability
Grangers can teach 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 younger generations speaking skills.
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, and lay wreaths and flags in cemeteries for the holidays. In addition, you can clean cemeteries, and bake cookies or other goodies for the military and VFWs.
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.
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.
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.
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.