Do a World of Good — From Your Hometown
From making sock puppet to holding a donation drive, when you conduct an Operation Smile service project, you bring joy and comfort to our patients around the world.
Video by Juan Jose Marin
One of the most effective ways to make a direct impact for the organization is to hold a service project for Operation Smile. Longtime student volunteers Amanda Lonergan of New Jersey and Nadia Farashahi of Virginia offer up three tips to consider as you start your project:
- Get started by checking out the service project toolkit. This toolkit outlines all the different projects you and your club could tackle for Operation Smile, as well as all the materials you’ll need to carry it out. With so many opportunities to choose from, picking your project is almost the hardest part of the process!
- Next, you’ll get all the details ironed out. To set your date, think about any awareness days you can leverage for your project. A good example is making get-well cards for our patients on World Smile Day, which is the first Friday in October. You’ll also want to scout out a location and figure out how you’ll gather all the necessary materials. You’ll want to talk with your regional Student Programs associate as well as your club adviser, parent, or a trusted adult so you can pick their brain for feedback and suggestions. They’ll help you think through all the details, especially if you have to send materials to Operation Smile Global Headquarters.
- And once you’ve held your service project, send pictures and highlights to your regional associate or Content Producer Bethany Bogacki. We want to celebrate your good deed! We’ll share your update in our global, monthly newsletter.
Conducting a service project is often just the beginning of your Operation Smile adventure, and we’re so happy and grateful that you’re taking the time to help our patients all around the world. If you need any support at all, be sure to reach out to your Student Programs regional associate!
