Danielle Lackey
Ms. Duquette
AP Government and Politics
3 December, 2010
“Civic Duty”
All citizens of the United States have a civic duty to their country and to themselves, these coming with the government’s protection. With the government’s protection, there also come responsibilities that each citizen must pertain to as it is one of the main ways citizens show their allegiance to their country.
The basic concept of civil duty is that in return for the government’s protection, citizens must show their allegiance to their government and country. Being a citizen of the United States, all citizens, under the social contract theory, are given responsibilities that they must take care of (Lilaroja, 2010). Some of the responsibilities given to citizens are given with the Civil Rights, such as voting, that all citizens receive. These civic duties are enforceable by the government as citizens are suppose to and required to do them; such responsibilities include voting, obeying the law, paying taxes and serving on a jury. The term “Active Citizenship” is considered to be the “philosophy that citizens should work towards the betterment of their community through economic participation, public, volunteer work, and other ways to help improve the life of all citizens” (Lilaroja, 2010).
When younger people are involved in volunteer work, they are learning many useful skills that will help them to better understand their community, which in turn will enhance the life of the community (Unknown, 2010). Overall communities help to cultivate the development of citizenry which helps create a better democracy. Another important fact about civic duty is when people volunteer in their communities, it allows them to meet people of different cultures and ethnicities. When having the opportunity to meet new people, a bridge is being built to help close gaps between the different types of people, allowing them to work together which helps to create a better democracy.
Schools are starting to integrate community service into their curriculum as they know the benefits of it and that it teaches children to take an interest in performing their civic duties. Through the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990 the emphasis on teaching children the application and integration of community service became a required piece of children’s education (Unkown, 2010). Due to this act, community service hours have become a part of the graduation requirements in high school. It has gotten to the point where schools have an overall theme of community service that they require their students to perform. For example, one school focused all of the community service done by their students, on the elderly (Unkown, 2010). There is some argument however, as to whether or not community service should be a requirement or encouraged.
When people perform their civic duties, it allows them to take part in what is taking place within the country today while paying allegiance to their country. Having people take part in community service or political participation allows them to form opinions on societal issues as well as governmental issues. When forming these opinions many people come up with ways to help improve the country based upon what they observe. Sadly, there are people who are hesitant about having to complete their responsibilities, one responsibility being jury duty, but when people are willing to take part in community or political service they are demonstrating that they care about the country and their communities. Civic duty is not just about the required responsibilities of the American people, but their taking part in their country and giving back.
Bibliography
Lilaroja, Initials. (2010). Citizenship. www.wikipedia.com, Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizenship
Unknown, . (2010). Civic duty law and legal definition. www.uslegal.org, Retrieved from http://definitions.uslegal.com/c/civic-duty/
Unkown, . (2010). Volunteer work. education.stateuniversity.com, Retrieved from http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/2538/Volunteer-Work.html
The basic concept of civil duty is that in return for the government’s protection, citizens must show their allegiance to their government and country. Being a citizen of the United States, all citizens, under the social contract theory, are given responsibilities that they must take care of (Lilaroja, 2010). Some of the responsibilities given to citizens are given with the Civil Rights, such as voting, that all citizens receive. These civic duties are enforceable by the government as citizens are suppose to and required to do them; such responsibilities include voting, obeying the law, paying taxes and serving on a jury. The term “Active Citizenship” is considered to be the “philosophy that citizens should work towards the betterment of their community through economic participation, public, volunteer work, and other ways to help improve the life of all citizens” (Lilaroja, 2010).
When younger people are involved in volunteer work, they are learning many useful skills that will help them to better understand their community, which in turn will enhance the life of the community (Unknown, 2010). Overall communities help to cultivate the development of citizenry which helps create a better democracy. Another important fact about civic duty is when people volunteer in their communities, it allows them to meet people of different cultures and ethnicities. When having the opportunity to meet new people, a bridge is being built to help close gaps between the different types of people, allowing them to work together which helps to create a better democracy.
Schools are starting to integrate community service into their curriculum as they know the benefits of it and that it teaches children to take an interest in performing their civic duties. Through the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990 the emphasis on teaching children the application and integration of community service became a required piece of children’s education (Unkown, 2010). Due to this act, community service hours have become a part of the graduation requirements in high school. It has gotten to the point where schools have an overall theme of community service that they require their students to perform. For example, one school focused all of the community service done by their students, on the elderly (Unkown, 2010). There is some argument however, as to whether or not community service should be a requirement or encouraged.
When people perform their civic duties, it allows them to take part in what is taking place within the country today while paying allegiance to their country. Having people take part in community service or political participation allows them to form opinions on societal issues as well as governmental issues. When forming these opinions many people come up with ways to help improve the country based upon what they observe. Sadly, there are people who are hesitant about having to complete their responsibilities, one responsibility being jury duty, but when people are willing to take part in community or political service they are demonstrating that they care about the country and their communities. Civic duty is not just about the required responsibilities of the American people, but their taking part in their country and giving back.
Bibliography
Lilaroja, Initials. (2010). Citizenship. www.wikipedia.com, Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizenship
Unknown, . (2010). Civic duty law and legal definition. www.uslegal.org, Retrieved from http://definitions.uslegal.com/c/civic-duty/
Unkown, . (2010). Volunteer work. education.stateuniversity.com, Retrieved from http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/2538/Volunteer-Work.html
“Civic Duty and Community Service”
There are many forms of civic duty, such being economic participation and volunteering at non-profit organizations such as St. Mary’s Food Bank. With volunteering there are many benefits that most citizens do not consider. When volunteering people are helping their community by improving the lives of fellow citizens, while at the same time giving back to their country in return for all that the country and government do for them. Community service is just one of the many ways that citizens can give back to their country; there being many forms of community service still today.
When volunteering at St. Mary’s Food Bank, it is surprising how many families come in each day so that they may receive food for themselves or for others. When working at the location in Surprise, there were not that many families and volunteers because the population is lower compared to the Thomas Road location. When volunteering at Surprise, the people who work there have jobs such as sweeping, delivering food to cars or preparing plastic bags to be stuffed with food, that need to be done. The Thomas Road location being more like a factory, has more families and volunteers, partly because the population within that area is much higher than in Surprise. Volunteers are mainly put to work either delivering food to cars or standing in a line filling carts with food to be delivered. Community service still exists today as there are many opportunities to help out communities, such as cleaning up the environment, volunteering at non-profit organizations and volunteering at rest homes.
With the current state of our economy, many families are unable to afford food, especially around the holiday season. To have non-profit organizations such as St. Mary’s Food Bank located around the valley, allows families to have the opportunity to eat something. Not many people tend to their civic responsibilities and volunteer periodically at such places as St. Mary’s Food Bank.
With the economy the way it is and there not being a lot of money to help families in need, there are many non-profit organizations like St, Mary’s Food Bank throughout the valley that are able to help families that need help. Food Banks tend to help society more than they hurt it as they provide families within the area with food that they are unable to afford themselves. The large amounts of food collected through donations help feed hundreds of families each day. There are a few theorized ways that food banks can hurt society along with ways that they help society. If families continuously go to food banks for their food, they become dependent on others taking away their motivation to actually work for their food or anything else that they need (Ramsay, 2008). Food banks make sure that they are not providing groceries year round for families so that the families do not become completely dependent on others. They have limited as to how many groceries each family can have as it is the food banks role to help them in only within a short period of time when they are in trouble and need help. People can not visit multiple food banks in hopes to receive more food. When a family moves, they are treated the same way before at the previous food bank, as in the same amount of food (Ramsay, 2008). Some people even believe that food banks trap families in poverty; however food banks aim to prevent this from happening. Families are allowed to visit the food banks once every three months in hopes to break the dependency cycle (Ramsay, 2008). With only one visit every three months, families have time to plan for the expenses of food and other expenses into their budgets helping them to escape poverty
Bibliography
When volunteering at St. Mary’s Food Bank, it is surprising how many families come in each day so that they may receive food for themselves or for others. When working at the location in Surprise, there were not that many families and volunteers because the population is lower compared to the Thomas Road location. When volunteering at Surprise, the people who work there have jobs such as sweeping, delivering food to cars or preparing plastic bags to be stuffed with food, that need to be done. The Thomas Road location being more like a factory, has more families and volunteers, partly because the population within that area is much higher than in Surprise. Volunteers are mainly put to work either delivering food to cars or standing in a line filling carts with food to be delivered. Community service still exists today as there are many opportunities to help out communities, such as cleaning up the environment, volunteering at non-profit organizations and volunteering at rest homes.
With the current state of our economy, many families are unable to afford food, especially around the holiday season. To have non-profit organizations such as St. Mary’s Food Bank located around the valley, allows families to have the opportunity to eat something. Not many people tend to their civic responsibilities and volunteer periodically at such places as St. Mary’s Food Bank.
With the economy the way it is and there not being a lot of money to help families in need, there are many non-profit organizations like St, Mary’s Food Bank throughout the valley that are able to help families that need help. Food Banks tend to help society more than they hurt it as they provide families within the area with food that they are unable to afford themselves. The large amounts of food collected through donations help feed hundreds of families each day. There are a few theorized ways that food banks can hurt society along with ways that they help society. If families continuously go to food banks for their food, they become dependent on others taking away their motivation to actually work for their food or anything else that they need (Ramsay, 2008). Food banks make sure that they are not providing groceries year round for families so that the families do not become completely dependent on others. They have limited as to how many groceries each family can have as it is the food banks role to help them in only within a short period of time when they are in trouble and need help. People can not visit multiple food banks in hopes to receive more food. When a family moves, they are treated the same way before at the previous food bank, as in the same amount of food (Ramsay, 2008). Some people even believe that food banks trap families in poverty; however food banks aim to prevent this from happening. Families are allowed to visit the food banks once every three months in hopes to break the dependency cycle (Ramsay, 2008). With only one visit every three months, families have time to plan for the expenses of food and other expenses into their budgets helping them to escape poverty
Bibliography
Ramsay, C. M. (2008). A theology of food bank. www.sheepspeak.com, Retrieved from http://www.sheepspeak.com/sasknews.htm#A Theology of Food Bank
Pictures
Me pulling a cart to collect cans for the food drive.
Me placing a box of cans onto the cart.
Me pushing the cart filled with cans.
Me and Jenn counting the cans we werecollecting from the food drive.
Amanda and I collecting cans around the school, as well as the boxes.
Me placing food in a cart that will be given to a family.
Me pushing a cart along the assembly line.
Me standing in front of the Westside Food Bank logo
located out in Surprise, Arizona.
Me posing in front of the plastic bag pyramid we made.
After seprating the bags from their rolls, we built a
pyramid out of the stacks of plastic bags.
Me sweeping the warehouse!
Me pulling plastic bags off their rolls so that they are
Me pushing food out to a customers car.
Me posing in front of the plastic bag pyramid we made. 
After seprating the bags from their rolls, we built apyramid out of the stacks of plastic bags.
Me sweeping the warehouse!
Me pulling plastic bags off their rolls so that they are
more accessible.
Me pushing food out to a customers car.
“Volunteering at St. Mary’s Food Bank”
For my community service project, I chose to volunteer at St. Mary’s Food Bank and participate in a food drive on campus to help support them during these busy holiday months.
For six out of the ten hours I volunteered, I visited two different St. Mary’s Food Bank locations and helped out by doing what they asked of me around the facility. In some cases I was sweeping a room to help them prepare for an upcoming event or at other times I was making plastic bags more accessible for when they go to fill them with food. These kinds of takes mainly took place at the St. Mary’s located out in Surprise, Arizona for I ended up doing completely different tasks at the Thomas Road location. When I volunteered at the other location, St. Mary’s was hosting a turkey drive for Thanksgiving; therefore the facility was packed with people, whom were mostly volunteers. The entire time I was there I was put to work tossing food, such as bread and doughnuts, into carts to deliver to the families who came to pick up the food. Before that day I had never seen so many carts filled with food in my life, as they were pushed by me in a long, never-ending line. There were a lot of people there volunteering that day for because of the Turkey Drive for when I had volunteered at Surprise there were only six volunteers present and it was not nearly as busy.
For the other four hours that I had to volunteer I participated in helping with the Food Drive that took place at our school. I also contributed to making some posters and getting boxes ready to distribute amongst the classrooms so that the cans can be collected. When the time came to pick up the food cans, I was involved in the collecting of cans as well as some of the counting of the cans.
For six out of the ten hours I volunteered, I visited two different St. Mary’s Food Bank locations and helped out by doing what they asked of me around the facility. In some cases I was sweeping a room to help them prepare for an upcoming event or at other times I was making plastic bags more accessible for when they go to fill them with food. These kinds of takes mainly took place at the St. Mary’s located out in Surprise, Arizona for I ended up doing completely different tasks at the Thomas Road location. When I volunteered at the other location, St. Mary’s was hosting a turkey drive for Thanksgiving; therefore the facility was packed with people, whom were mostly volunteers. The entire time I was there I was put to work tossing food, such as bread and doughnuts, into carts to deliver to the families who came to pick up the food. Before that day I had never seen so many carts filled with food in my life, as they were pushed by me in a long, never-ending line. There were a lot of people there volunteering that day for because of the Turkey Drive for when I had volunteered at Surprise there were only six volunteers present and it was not nearly as busy.
For the other four hours that I had to volunteer I participated in helping with the Food Drive that took place at our school. I also contributed to making some posters and getting boxes ready to distribute amongst the classrooms so that the cans can be collected. When the time came to pick up the food cans, I was involved in the collecting of cans as well as some of the counting of the cans.
