Community service is a term used to describe voluntary work carried out by individuals or groups with an aim to promote the well-being of a community. Synonyms for community service include volunteer work, charitable work, public service, civic engagement, and social service. Volunteer work is any kind of activity that is performed without pay, including serving meals at a soup kitchen or collecting donations for a charity fundraiser. Charitable work refers specifically to activities that are aimed at helping others, especially those in need. Public service is any type of work that is carried out for the benefit of the public, such as cleaning up a park or helping out at a local hospital. Civic engagement involves participating actively in the affairs of a community, while social service is work performed to help individuals or communities experiencing hardship or difficulty.