10 Foursquare Badges We’d Like Made To Honor Community Service

Editor’s Note: This post was initially published on Stage Two’s website on March 24, 2010, and co-authored with Jeremy Toeman.

At this year’s South by Southwest Interactive conference (SXSW), geo-location service Foursquare released 16 new badges that users could earn – all of which had different requirements. For those using services like Foursquare or even Gowalla, the interest in using these tools is pretty much for the entertainment value, meaning that they don’t care how many “points” they get, just that they receive a new badge which would entitle them to bragging rights. With this great appeal towards these virtual badges, we here at Stage Two thought that more meaningful ones should be created for Foursquare users to truly “connect” more deeply.

Stage Two loves community service, and with all the great talk about geo-location, we felt that this was just another evolutionary step that Foursquare could take to add more meaning to its ever-popular application. We’ve done a few service projects at our agency and had great fun. For me, it was great getting to help others; these badges could be used to pay homage to those who spend their time helping others.

Here are the ten new badges Stage Two would love to see show up, cheesy names and all:

1. Spare a Pint? Badge (Blood Bank)

One of the things people think about when they’re helping others is giving blood. So now you’ve unlocked the “Spare a Pint?” badge on FourSquare! Just like it’s as easy as getting a Starbucks badge on FourSquare just to check in and get your coffee, getting this badge should be just as simple, except you’re going to be saving someone’s life as a result of getting the badge.

2. Serve ‘Em Up Badge (Soup Kitchen/Food Bank)

To unlock this badge, donate your time to your local food bank, ensuring food is delivered to others. If all you need to do is package vegetables or bundle oranges, that’s the least you can do to earn this badge.

3. Welcome Home Badge (Habitat for Humanity)

Usually, in Foursquare, you have to create a venue or have one already established in order to check in, but in this case, you’re going to put the cart before the horse—you’re going to get a badge for helping to create a place where someone’s family will be able to call their home.

4. Delivery Badge (Meals on Wheels)

Get this badge to show your support and commit to saying that you’re proud to drive around and deliver meals to the needy.

5. Biggie Badge (Big Brother/Big Sister)

Many children participate in Big Brother/Big Sister and need our help to avoid trouble. Whether mentoring someone to do better in school or just being there for them, everyone who helps out at this organization and checks in on FourSquare should be given this badge—it can proudly be displayed and tell others that that person wants to help others succeed in life. Bravo!

6. Kris Kross Badge (Red Cross)

Suppose you decide to help in an emergency. In that case, whether it’s local, statewide, national or even international, you should be recognized for your actions and good deeds in helping out the Red Cross. This honors all the volunteers who risk their lives to help others.

7. Bell Ringer Badge (Salvation Army)

Helping those less fortunate is more than just a tax write-off at the end of the year. This badge is in honor of the Salvation Army employees who spend their days helping those who can’t help themselves.

8. Think of the Children Badge (Toys for Tots)

Children should not go without toys. Donating toys to those kids for the Toys for Tots program is a noble gesture and this badge acknowledges your giving.

9. Red Ribbon Badge (AIDS Walk)

By participating in an AIDS awareness event, you’ve earned this badge, which you will wear along with your red ribbon to remember those with this terrible disease.

10. Good Samaritan Badge

Earned by receiving any of the five badges mentioned above or by going to five different volunteering venues or facilities.

There you have it: Ten badges we’d like Foursquare to create to honor those who volunteer their time helping to make the community a better place. What other badges do you think Foursquare should make that would promote community service or other worthy causes?