COMMUNITY SERVICE

 IMPORTANT: Community Service Report Guidelines as of 2024 : CLICK HERE 

 

Community Service is a service that is performed for the benefit of the public, or it's institutions by the VFW or as a representative of the VFW.

 

Hours: Posts should list the hours of community service performed by the Post or it's Auxiliary. Only hours benefiting the community are to be reported.

 

DO NOT report hours for:

  • Buddy Poppy Distribution
  • Post Fund Raisers
  • Post maintenance or repairs
  • Volunteers in Post canteen or kitchen (EXCEPTION: Can claim if work done in canteen or kitchen while hall is donated to outside service group of the VFW).
  • VFW meetings, conventions, conferences, school of instructions, or OTI.
  • Church activities that a member may do for 1 particular church and not the others in town. The service should benefit the entire community, not just a section of it. (Usher, Lecture, Minister, etc) Exceptions that would count for Church Activities would be to Speak at a church, Teach a Sunday School class, help with a church food bank.
 
Money/Donations: Report in Exp or donation column: (Value is in dollar amounts, round to nearest dollar).
  • Actual money expended from Post funds in support of community service projects.
  •  Moneys donated or expended by Post members in performance of community service hours reported, and donations made in the name of the VFW.
  • The rental value of Post Home or facilities used by community service organizations when no rent is charged.
 
DO NOT report:
  • Donations made to the Post.
  •  Income to the Post.
  • Proceeds from Buddy Poppy distribution.
  • Any value to the hours reported.
 
Mileage: Posts should report the miles for use of volunteer's automobiles and Post owned vehicles on community service projects.  The value of the mileage should be calculated using the IRS authorized $0.14 per mile to and from the community service project.
 
DO NOT report:
  • Any vehicle expense
  • Mileage for vehicles owned by another organization such as DAV.
  • Mileage if the volunteer has received reimbursement for that mileage.


DO NOT double report hours or money. Report only once in one section of the CSR.
 
 
DO NOT: Claim a color guard detail that is done for a VFW Member. (This is part of the duties of the Post) If it is for a veteran (not a VFW member, this can be counted). If you are getting paid for this service you cannot count it. 
 
The important thing is to get the word out to your members what is and isn't reportable and you will be surprised what you can put on your Community Service Report.
 
Remember: This report helps us to be a part of the Community and we are a Tax Exempt Organization under 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Service code. We must be able to keep this status by making sure we are reporting the tings we can on the Community Service Report.