A Parent's Guide to Community Service and the Early-Return Option

• Community service hours should be served with an organization that is willing to allow the student to work and is willing to document the student’s hours and what he or she did during the service hours worked.
• Doing chores at home, working for a family business, etc., are not community service.
• Students cannot receive any pay or compensation for their time.

• Documentation of completed service hours is generally in the form of a letter from the organization stating how many hours the student worked, the activities in which the student participated, and the name and phone number of the person who supervised the student.
• No special forms are required. Documentation may be submitted to the student’s home school or to the Office of Student Discipline and Behavioral Interventions.

• It is the responsibility of the student and parent to find a service organization. The list of organizations found inside this brochure may be helpful as a starting point. However, due to insurance requirements (particularly for younger students or specific rule violations), students may or may not be accepted by these organizations.

The following list is a good place to start:

Gwinnett County Public Libraries
Students must be 13 or older. An application is available online at www.gwinnettpl.org. Look for the "Get Involved" tab. Complete the application.

Gwinnett County Volunteer Opportunities
At www.gwinnettcounty.com, click “"Top Links" and then "Volunteer Gwinnett” to review upcoming activities and to learn how to register.

Lilburn Co-op
Phone: 770-931-8333
Contact: Sharon Foster
Hours of operation: Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Minimum age without a parent is 14. Lilburn Co-op will provide a time sheet, list of responsibilities, and dress code for volunteers. Students must sign a copy of the rules for volunteers. No one with theft, shoplifting, forgery, violation of trespass, any type of battery, domestic violation, major drug offense, obstruction of officer, furnishing drugs or alcohol to a minor, or any other violent offense is accepted for service. First-time offenders (minors) for possession of alcohol or marijuana will be accepted. Insurance waiver must be signed.

Metro Atlanta Faith-Based Organizations
Contact church, synagogue, temple, mosque, or other faith-based organization directly.

Obria Medical Clinics
Phone: 770-338-1680
Contact: Tiffany Burlew or Matt Davis
Email: obria@obriagwinnett.org
Hours of operation: Monday (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.), Tuesday (12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.), Wednesday (10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.), and Thursday (9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.)
Female students only.

StreetWise Georgia
Phone: 678-985-9952
Website: www.streetwisegeorgia.org
No one with violent assault or theft offenses is accepted for service. Volunteers younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Volunteers should dress modestly in comfortable clothing that may get dirty. Closed toe shoes are required.