Have you ever wondered whether the time you spend performing at senior homes can count toward a national service award? The answer is yes! McLean Melody previously sponsored the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, but that program is currently paused. In the meantime, McLean Melody is excited to sponsor the National Service Honor, a private recognition program created by the volunteer-management platform Helper Helper. Although it is not a government or presidential award, it recognizes meaningful, verified community service and encourages volunteers of all ages to keep making a difference.
So, how many hours do you need? The award recognizes service completed during any consecutive 12-month period. Children ages 5–10 need 26–49 hours for Bronze, 50–74 for Silver, and 75 or more for Gold. Youth ages 11–15 need 50–74 hours for Bronze, 75–99 for Silver, and 100 or more for Gold. Young adults ages 16–25 need 100–174 hours for Bronze, 175–249 for Silver, and 250 or more for Gold. Each recipient receives a certificate, pin, and official letter.
You may be thinking, “Do all my hours have to come from McLean Melody?” Not necessarily! Volunteer hours completed with other organizations may also count, but more than 60% of your total qualifying hours must come from McLean Melody. If you have service hours from outside McLean Melody, please send proof of those hours to volunteer@mcleanmelody.org so they can be reviewed and verified. McLean Melody will collect qualifying applications, submit them, and pay the application fees for eligible volunteers.
Every time you perform at a senior home, you are doing more than adding another hour to your record—you are sharing your talent, brightening someone’s day, and building a lasting connection through music. Remember to record your service hours regularly so none of your hard work is missed. For students using x2VOL, please note that x2VOL is no longer accessed through Naviance; you should now open it through the Schoology waffle menu.
If you are close to reaching Bronze, Silver, or Gold, why not sign up for another performance? We hope this recognition encourages all of us to volunteer more, perform more, and keep bringing music to our senior communities!