Christian Service
‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ -- Matthew 25:40
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SERVICE: IN THE SPIRIT OF ST. DAMIEN
Damien High School embraces a Christian Community Service Program that is a hybrid of both individual service hours (20 per year, 80 total by graduation) and participation in specific service projects sponsored by the school. Teaching the students to “Serve in the Spirit of St. Damien” is our ultimate goal for adopting this service model.
Each year we encourage students to invest in our community in a way that emulates the example set by St. Damien. Students are also expected to seek out and track their own service (through the MobileServe app) in areas where they find a great need or of their own personal interest.
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What is Christian Community Service?
Christian Community Service provides students with an opportunity to develop empathy, compassion and a sense of justice through meaningful and active citizenship. Students identify areas in their communities where they can help develop a Gospel vision of society. At Damien High School, students are obligated to be participating in service activities/projects each quarter.
You are not allowed to be paid. If you are paid for the service you are not allowed to count that towards your service obligation. Generally, helping family will not be counted towards your service obligation as we are looking for acts of community service that go beyond helping our families. You are permitted to help with Damien school events that take place outside of the school day. Activities such as taking club sign-ups on club day or helping with a lunchtime food sale will not be counted towards your service obligation. Likewise, being excused from class to participate in a school activity will not be counted toward your requirement.
How do I record the Service Activities I participate in?
Damien High School utilizes a phone app called MobileServe, which allows students to instantly record a service activity when and where they complete it. Students are required to include a short reflection explaining what they did, who they helped, and how they felt about what they accomplished. Students are then able to have the supervisor of their service activity verify their service on the supervisor portion of the app. They can access MobileServe through the Damien app or the following website: https://app.mobileserve.com/. As always, for assistance, see Mr. Hoffman in Room 103 or email [email protected].
What kinds of things can I do to satisfy my Christian Community Service Requirements at Damien?
We encourage students to do things their heart calls them to get involved with. There are several parishes and schools nearby always in need of help. Hospitals, assisted living homes, convalescent centers, etc. are always looking for volunteers. You likely have elderly neighbors who could use some help around their home. Young people are in need of tutors. Youth activity and sport programs are usually looking for coaches, referees, and/or help with set up and take down of equipment. Animal shelters, services for the hungry and homeless, and other centers for people in need are great places for students to reach out to and see how you can help out. All of these are suggestions and students need to search their hearts for where God is calling them.
One rule we stand by is that students are not to be paid for these activities. They must be done freely. Generally, we ask students to do service activities outside of their family as part of community service. We can include some activities done for the school but they need to be done outside of school time and are to be done on top of/separate from any class, club, athletic, etc. requirements.
It is recommended you see Mr. Hoffman in Room 103 prior to beginning your service activity to verify it is acceptable for being counted toward your Christian Community Service Requirements.
How do I record my service activities?
Students are required to download the MobileServe app on their phones; if they do not have a smartphone, they can access MobileServe through the following website: Since most students take their phone with them to their service activities, it is a convenient way to record their activities. At the end of their activity, students complete a log on MobileServe, including completing the reflection component with what they did, why they did it, how they felt, how did the people/person they helped respond, etc., and finally complete the supervisor section with their name, email, and phone number so our service coordinator can reach out to verify the entry.
MobileServe is a convenient phone app students need to have on their phone where they can record their service activities. They can access MobileServe through the Damien app or the following website: https://app.mobileserve.com/. See the question about how to record service for more details.
Are students limited to service activities listed on the MobileServe App?
No, activities on MobileServe are simple examples and opportunities. Please see the question about kinds of service for more information or see Mr. Hoffman in Room 103 if you require further assistance.
When are my service activity hours “due”?
DEADLINES FOR CURRENT SENIORS - CLASS OF 2024
DEADLINES FOR OTHER STUDENTS
- Class of 2024 Seniors were supposed to be completing 20 hours of service activities each of the last three years for a total of 60 required for graduation.
- Class of 2024 Seniors are encouraged to have all of their required 60 hours worth of service activities logged into the MobileServe app by Easter Break (March 26).
- Class of 2024 Seniors who do not have a minimum of 45 approved hours worth of service activities logged into MobileServe by March 26 will not be able to participate in Prom (April 14). No refunds will be given.
- Class of 2024 Seniors who do not have 60 approved hours worth of service activities logged into MobileServe by April 28 will not be able to participate in Grad Night (May 10). No refunds will be given
- Class of 2024 Seniors who do not have 60 approved hours worth of service activities logged into MobileServe by May 12 will not be able to participate in the Baccalaureate (May 23) nor the Graduation Ceremony (May 24). No refunds will be given.
Current Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors should complete this year’s service activities by July 31, 2024. This enables them to be ready to begin the 2024-25 school year focused on the requirements of next year. By completing 20 hours of Christian Community Service activities each school year, the Class of 2025, Class of 2026 and the Class of 2027 will be expected to perform 80 hours worth of service activities by spring break of their senior year. Busy students are encouraged to look for service activities during the Christmas, Easter and summer breaks to complete their requirements.
I just don’t know what to do. Do you have suggestions of places I can do service?
The following list includes many examples of Christian Community Service. It is always recommended that students consult with the Coordinator of Christian Community Service before beginning a service activity/project.
Assisting with a parish such as alter serving, assisting a teacher, assisting with fundraisers and events, etc.
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Holy Name of Mary
724 E Bonita Ave
San Dimas 91773
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Our Lady of the Assumption
435 N Berkeley Ave
Claremont 91711
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St. Joseph
877 N Campus Ave
Upland 91786
Contact:
Diana Pedregon
909.579.7710
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St. Anthony
2110 N San Antonio Ave
Upland 91784
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St. Louise de Marillac
1720 E Covina Blvd
Covina 91724
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St. Dorothy
241 S Valley Center Ave
Glendora 91741
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St. Madeline
999 E Kingsley Ave
Pomona 91767
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Our Lady of Lourdes
10191 Central Ave
Montclair 91763
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St. George
505 N Palm Ave
Ontario 91762
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Sacred Heart 1215 S Hamilton Blvd Pomona 91766 |
Sacred Heart 344 W Workman St Covina 91723 |
Sacred Heart 12704 Foothill Blvd Rancho Cucamonga 91739 |
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St. Christopher
629 S Glendora Ave
West Covina 91790
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Our Lady of Grace
126 S 5th Ave
Covina 91723
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St. Peter and St. Paul
9135 Banyan St
Rancho Cucamonga 91737
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There are dozens of other parishes in our surrounding areas both Catholic and of other faiths that you can contact to see if they have service activities and projects that you would be able to help them with.
Helping with a shelter. Organizations that do this include:
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East San Gabriel Valley
Coalition for the Homeless
1345 Turnbull Canyon Rd
Hacienda Heights 91745
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Holy Name of Mary
Winter Shelter
724 E Bonita Ave
San Dimas 91773
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Mary’s Mercy Center
641 Roberds Ave
San Bernardino 92411
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Helping out at a soup kitchen or food pantry. Organizations that do this include:
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Holy Name of Mary
St Vincent De Paul
724 E Bonita Ave
San Dimas 91773
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Catholic Worker
“Hippy Kitchen”
821 E. 6th Street
Los Angeles 90021
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Uncommon Good
Main Office location
211 W Foothill Blvd
Claremont 91711
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God’s Pantry Headquarters 250 E Center St Pomona 91767 |
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Sowing Seeds for Life
1350 Arrow Hwy
La Verne 91750
(909) 392-5777
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Inland Valley
Hope Partners
1753 N. Park Avenue
Pomona 91768
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Gleaning Hope
Picking fruit from neighborhood trees. A program of the Inland Valley Hope partners.
Mr. Hoffman can help organize this.
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Helping out senior citizens. Organizations that do this include:
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Casa Bonita
Convalescent Hospital535 E Bonita Ave
San Dimas 91773
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Pilgrim Place Retirement Village
625 Mayflower Rd
Claremont 91711
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City of San Dimas
Senior Dinners
Nadia Lopez
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Helping your grandparents or other relatives is not counted toward your graduation obligation as you should help your grandparents and we want students to extend themselves beyond their families.
Tutoring younger students:
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Mrs. Velasquez
Room 102
Damien High School
La Verne 91750
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Uncommon Good
Main Office location
211 W Foothill Blvd
Claremont 91711
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Tutoring a younger sibling is not counted towards your graduation obligation as you should help your family and we want students to extend themselves beyond their families towards the wider communities.
Assisting with youth sports, such as a coach, umpire, referee, etc.
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AYSO - San Dimas
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AYSO - Claremont
1042 Amador St.
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AYSO - Upland
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Youth Football
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Assisting with city/non-profit organization, such as a festivals or Spooktacular:
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Priceless Pets - Chino Hills
2587 Chino Hills Parkway
Unit C
Chino Hills 91709
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Priceless Pets - Claremont
665 E. Foothill Blvd.
Unit E
Claremont 91711
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Friends of Upland Animal Shelter
1275 San Bernardino Road
Upland 91786
(909) 931-4185
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Environmental improvement projects, such as Beach Cleanups, river cleanups, tree planting. Organizations that do this include:
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Surfrider Foundation
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Heal the Bay
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Friends of LA River
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Tree People
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Support for women and children:
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Foothill Pregnancy Resource Center
924 Buena Vista St.
Duarte 91010
(626) 358-2122
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