Plan to Participate in the National DAR Day of Service

On October 11, 2015, the 125th anniversary of the founding of DAR, chapters from coast to coast are encouraged to participate in special service projects within their local communities, as we unite to demonstrate the combined impact of our DAR mission. The National DAR Day of Service will be a chance to join together in a nationwide effort to illustrate our National Society’s collective commitment to America on the day of our founding.

Planning a service activity for the National DAR Day of Service is easy to do! Identify a worthy project that will engage your members in a hands-on, visible and meaningful way. Your chapter can volunteer at your local food bank or homeless shelter, honor Vietnam veterans with a special celebration, host a reading festival at your local library, clean up a local historic cemetery or park, sponsor a genealogy workshop or give a lecture on local history, the options are endless! Click here for more ideas. This doesn’t have to be a complex or even necessarily a “new” event for your chapter, as it can be a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on a substantive volunteer effort that you regularly conduct. Your chapter’s service activity should be something that your members can participate in together to give back to your community.

Special commemorative t-shirts are available from the DAR Store for chapters to wear during their National DAR Day of Service activity or you could wear a different DAR shirt that you may already have. This is a great way to identify yourselves as DAR members and let people know about the DAR Day of Service. It also encourages people to ask questions and maybe even attract prospective members.

Make sure to fill out the template news releases with information about your chapter and your plans for the National DAR Day of Service and send them to your local media. Spread the word about your service project and invite your local community leaders, prospective members and the media to join you.

Remember to take lots of photographs during your National DAR Day of Service activities and share them via social and traditional media and email them to DAR Headquarters at [email protected]. When you post your photos on social media be sure to use the hashtags #DARDayOfService and #DARCelebrate125.

Celebrate your chapter’s impact on your community and DAR’s impact on America! Do not miss this historic event; plan now to take part in the National DAR Day of Service on October 11, 2015!