Service-Learning and Civic Engagement

Learn and serve with local organizations for a day with other MC students. Past Spirit of Service Days have included Good Deeds Day, MLK Day of Service, Accenture Day of Service, annual Earth Day clean-ups, and Homeless Resource Day. 

Whether you're a regular volunteer, new to community service, or part of a club that wants to plan a day of service, we hope you'll join our network and spread the spirit of service everywhere. Join the MC Serves Databasenew window to get involved.

More than 35 percent of public school students are eligible for free or reduced meals during the school week. Smart Sacks bridge the gap between Friday and Monday, providing nutritious foods for children and their families who might not have another meal until after the weekend.

Montgomery College's Offices of Student Life and Service-Learning Program currently supports elementary schools in areas in or around Germantown, Rockville, and Takoma Park/Silver Spring.

Through Manna Food, Montgomery College students on all three campuses help over a hundred children every week.

Want to meet new people? Get away for a while? Travel to new places? Make a difference? Join other MC students on a week or weekend packed with community service, meaningful reflections, and fun activities.

Alternative Break service trips help students learn about social issues through direct service, issue education, and reflection. Students explore critical community issues and how they can make a difference in the local or global community.

Applications will be shared via Student Life social media and on-campus flyers as they become available.

Impact MC (PDF, ) is a service-learning leadership development program designed to help students become change agents at MC and in our surrounding communities. In this year-long leadership development program, students work in teams to engage other MC students in service, awareness, and advocacy projects related to the UN’s Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Applications are available in the summer through early fall for each year's cohort. 

Interested? Fill out this formnew window and we’ll email you when the application opens!

To sign up for existing opportunities: (Top Tab)

• Once logged in to the MC Serves Databasenew window, click the “Needs” button on the left panel
• Complete the waiver
• Search and register for opportunities
• If you can’t find what you’re looking for on the MC Serves Database, check out our resources under “Find a Service-Learning Project”

To sign up for existing opportunities:

• Log into MC Serves Databasenew window
• Complete the waiver, if required
• Click the “needs” button on the top left panel.
• Search for specific needs using key words or zip code. Note: This database is synced with the Montgomery County Volunteer Center, and includes all volunteer listings from their site plus opportunities specific to Montgomery College.
• View volunteer opportunities in the community at MC Servesnew window. After creating your account, click “needs” and search using key words or zip code. Note: This database is synced with the Montgomery County Volunteer Center, and includes all volunteer listings from their site plus opportunities specific to Montgomery College. 

Record Your Hours Spent:

• Performing any activity assigned to you by your  community partner
• Creating products as directed by a community partner, e.g. grants, brochures, website
• Performing any activity directly related to the outcome of your service project, like making flyers for a fundraiser you are helping to plan
• Planning, researching, or preparing for activities, when necessary to complete assigned tasks or as directed by an community partner
• Undergoing training or orientation activities, when hosted by a community partner or related organization (e.g., CPR training by the Red Cross for an assisted living center)
• Planning projects with a community partner by remote or in-person meetings

Do NOT Record Hours Spent:

• Traveling to/from a service site, unless with clients or the organization as part of a related activity, e.g. a tour that is part of an orientation, training meant to prepare you to do the service task, supervising school children on a bus to a service site
• Sleeping, i.e. when staying overnight at a service site
• Performing work for a political candidate or political party
• Proselytizing for a particular religion
• Eating, unless as part of an assigned activity, e.g. at a meeting or event
• Contacting community organizations when arranging an initial partnership
• Reflection activities, assigned or otherwise, e.g. journaling, making class presentations, writing class research papers 
• Research done on your own to enhance your knowledge or understanding of the partner
  Reflection activities, assigned or otherwise, e.g. journaling, making class presentations, writing class research papers  
• Activities performed as part of a club, unless benefiting the community at large

Service awards are given annually for hours served between May 1 and April 30. Share your service in the MC Serves Database to be considered for the following MC Service Awards: 

• Spirit of Service Certificate (20-99 hours)
• MC Spirit of Service Medallion (100+ hours)
• If eligible, the U.S. President's Volunteer Service Award (100+ hours)
• Outstanding Service Leader

Applications for the President's Volunteer Service Award may be submitted year round. Learn more about PVSA and applynew window.