Presidential Service Award Program

TCCHE is proud to announce that we are an official Certifying Organization for the Presidential Service Award with our motto of "Building Community Through Service". In order to participate in our awards ceremony, you must be a TCCHE member. However, anyone may participate in any service event. 

We recognize in our current time of homeschooling the need to also provide community service as an integral part of our children's lives. We have made this a priority to come alongside parents and encourage them in community service involvement for the following reasons:

To Recognize: 

• the Needs in our Local Community
• the Need to Spread Jesus' Love by effectively being his arms and feet, serving as He did  ( For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45)
• the Need to Spread Acts of Kindness  (In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16)
• the Need for official service records for graduating student
• the Need for others to see home educated children as those able, willing, efficient caring workers   (not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others...Philippians 2:4)
• the Need to expose our children to a variety of interest areas in a safe and structured environment
• the Need for our children to determine their GOD given skills and gifts by sharing with others   (Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.."  I Peter 4:10)
• the Needs in our churches and other faith-based organizations     
• the Need for our children to take on leadership roles and encourage others to participate in events

It's Easy....let's get started: 

Call a park day for the littles to pick up trash. Organize your music class to offer a music session at the nursing home. 

Look at the list of opportunities page to jump start you. (See below)

Print the Service Log and start logging. (See below)

 All hours MUST be turned in by March 31st. You may turn them in during the year so as not to lose them.   

We have started fundraising to support the cost of this program and possible t-shirts for participants to identify them easily.  The BoxTops program money is being allocated to that so start saving and turning those in! 

PSA GOAL: 2,000 hours of community service 

You may schedule something via the calendar

• in order to be more organized,
• allow parents to "click to add to calendar",
• get and send reminders or updates,
• print a participation list of who is coming and more. 

So easy - just be sure to click on the "add signups" box. 

If you are interested in helping organize the Service Awards night please use our contact page.

Do not forget to do good 
and to share with others,
 

Hebrews 13:16

PSA - Volunteer Service Opportunities

Ideas of other service opportunities?    Please reach out on the contact page to add to this list. 

Who can set up a service project?     ANYONE!  ANYONE can get a group together to help out.  We recommend adding to the calendar with ages, times, locations, goals, etc and adding as a "signup" event.  You can then print out a roster with parent information, OR you can simply call a group of friends and meet somewhere to serve. 

Are there rules? Only to act in an appropriate manner as a Christian homeschool group. 

Where do I log my hours?  Find the Logsheet (See below). Turn in when completed or by March 31st. 

(See the exclusions on the PSA Church page link for what is NOT allowed as service hours countable for this only. 
Do track those for personal logs for things such as high school transcripts.)

 Goal - 2,000 Hours of Service

• Refuge Paper Pantry of Pike County, MO. This organization provides paper goods to people who cannot afford them along with spreading The Word of God. They are always in need of the following items: toothpaste, paper towels, toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, hand soap, body soap, dish soap, laundry detergent, trash bags, etc. Please contact Leslie Dallas (636)295-2144 for more information. http://pikerefugechurch.org/event/1070164-2018-02-07-paper-pantry/ 
• Oasis Resource Center helps women with unplanned pregnancies. They offer free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, confidential conversations as well as resources for medical care, food, housing, clothing, supplies, & education. They may need help stuffing baby bottles with information about ending abortion. Please contact Cindy Steer at 636-706-6858 for more information. Their address is 219 W. College St. Troy 63379 https://oasisresourcecenter.org/services/
• First Step Back Home strives to help the homeless and working poor to work toward a self-supporting status. You may help them by adopting a homeless family, providing meals at their partnering locations, and putting together a laundry basket full of socks, underwear, laundry detergent, etc for the families getting back on their feet. Please contact Paul Krause (636)-466-1365 or paulwkrause@centurytel.net http://firststepbackhome.net/donate-your-time/
• Bridgeway Behavioral Health's The Robertson Center provides emergency shelter for women escaping domestic violence along with a myriad of resources including legal advocacy and counseling. This organization needs help with yard clean-up in the Spring and Fall. They also need "Birthday Bags". For example, create a bag for a Princess Birthday Party which would include items such as a cake mix, icing, candles, and items from the Dollar Store to create a princess themed birthday party. Please contact Kendra Beck for more information at (636)-290-5553
• Twin Oaks Heritage Pointe Assisted and Senior Living in Wentzville, MO. Their volunteer needs are always changing. Please contact Sara Crile for more information at scrile1331@gmail.com
• Patriot Packages mission is to support our military's men and women deployed in harms way by sending appreciation packages filled with travel-sized snacks, games, and personal care items. Letters are enclosed thanking them for their service. Please contact Ebony Linneman for more information at (636)528-8504 http://patriotpackages.org/patriotpackages/
• Fence Painting for the Troy City Cemetery. This cemetery contains the graves of many of our veterans from WWI & WWII. Please contact Kendra Beck for more information at (636)290-5553
• Wrap a Bottom Diaper Drive was started by Harvester Christian Church to address the need of a mother/family inability to buy clean diapers. Please contact Danielle Tippy at (636)-528-2373 for more information https://harvesterchristian.org/wrapabottom/
• Hannah's Hope ~ More information to come https://www.hope4hannahfoundation.org/ 
• Trash Pickup ~ Visit a local park to help beautify by picking up trash.
  

Who Can Recieve a President's Volunteer Service Award? 

The President's Volunteer Service Award recognizes United States citizens and lawfully admitted permanent residents of the United States that have achieved the required number of hours of service over a 12-month time period, or, for the Lifetime Award, more than 4,000 cumulative service hours over a lifetime. TCCHE is awarding to anyone that is a current member of the TCCHE website, enrolled in K-12 homeschool and completes all the service hour logs.

What Service Counts? 

Volunteers select the service they wish to do. The only service requirements we maintain are that the volunteer is not paid for the service and that the service efforts are not court-ordered.  Additionally, the Award only recognizes volunteer service as service hours completed; monetary or other in-kind contributions are not grounds for recognizing an individual with a President's Volunteer Service Award.

Most voluntary service is eligible, with the following exceptions: political lobbying, religious instruction, conducting worship service, proselytizing, and serving only family members. Non-partisan voter registration is an eligible activity.  (you may check current updates to this policy by visiting https://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/terms)

Can Volunteers purchase their own awards?

No.  All Awards must be ordered and paid for by a Certifying/Leadership Organization (TCCHE)  on behalf of the volunteer. Requesting that an honoree give money to cover the cost of his or her award is a violation of the Terms and Conditions, and may result in an organization losing its Certifying Organization status. Additionally, the President's Volunteer Service Award only recognizes unpaid service hours, not financial or other in-kind contributions.

What are the minimum hours needed for a Presidential Service Award?

Is there a deadline? 

There is no deadline to order Awards; however, there is a set window of time hours can be tabulated for award consideration.  Once a volunteer has tracked his/her hours for a 12-month period, the Certifying Organization can total the hours for the year and order Awards.  The 12-month period is determined by the Certifying Organization in its initial application and does not have to be the calendar year. TCCHE is operating their year from April 1st  to March 31st.

Volunteers that wish to participate in the PVSA program must meet the following criteria to earn the highest honors – Presidential recognition:

1.  Must be a United States citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States.
2.  Must be 5 years of age or older at the time service hours are begun for participation in the PVSA program.
3. Must be associated with a registered Certifying Organization in good standing.
4. Awards are issued for volunteer service only.  Additional levels of participation with the organization, e.g., charitable support, are not a factor considered for the award.
5. Individuals conducting service that receive stipends do not qualify. (AmeriCorps participants are allowed to apply the hours served during their stipend year towards the Lifetime Achievement Award following your active year)
6. Court ordered community service does not apply to PVSA service hours.
7. Must perform volunteer activities eligible for the award. Most voluntary service is eligible, with the following exceptions: political lobbying, religious instruction, conducting worship service, proselytizing, and serving only family members. Non-partisan voter registration is an eligible activity.  (you may check current updates to this policy by visiting https://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/terms)
8. Hours for each award level must be completed within a 12-month time period. (exception for awards based on Lifetime achievement)
9. Must not be under a criminal indictment or have been convicted of a felony in any State or Federal court, unless the individual has completed the sentence and shown complete rehabilitation by an appropriate passage of time as determined by POL and CNCS, as well as by specific acts reflecting rehabilitation other that the acts constituting PVSA service hours. Any contemplated award based on this exception must first be approved by POL and CNCS working in concert.
10. Failure to meet the criteria or to deceive a certifying organization with any of the requirements listed herein may result in revocation of the individual's award.

Annual Awards - Certificate Package

Bronze, Silver & Gold Packages include:
Customized certificate
Congratulatory letter from the President