From Tragedy Comes the Opportunity to Better Serve Our Nation’s Youth
A few weeks ago, Points of Light provided several articles and resources collected from voices of people both inside and outside of Points of Light speaking out about the tragedies of the last few months so that they might contribute to a larger narrative of unity and service in times of crisis.
Throughout the country volunteers are answering the call, lending each other a helping hand, and helping us all find answers for the sometimes uncomfortable questions that this violence raises. Several of our affiliates, including HandsOn Orlando, have been actively responding to injustice and disunity with a call to service.
A Points of Light partner organization, America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest network dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth, is giving a voice to those whose voices sometimes go unheard in times of crisis — the children. Tanya Tucker, vice president of alliance engagement for America’s Promise Alliance, writes:
“We have a collective responsibility to embrace, listen to and support young people directly affected by violence and the countless others in our families, schools and communities indirectly affected. They need us now more than ever. All children deserve safe places to live, learn and grow.”
Tucker’s words serve as a passionate call to serve our nation’s youth. She is not alone; there are a variety of ways you can volunteer to support young people in your area.
Empower youth to reach their full potentials
The Boys and Girls Clubs of America are the leading organizations in the country dedicated to empowering youth to strive for academic and life-long excellence. Through a series of programs and service opportunities, the Boys and Girls club stimulates growth of children into responsible adults.
Help shape the future leaders of America
Combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun is a tradition of both the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America. These organizations provide young boys and girls with exciting extracurricular education opportunities as well as valuable leadership opportunities.
Be a role model for life-long success
At Big Brothers Big Sisters, adult role models are paired with children to foster powerful relationships that empower children to succeed.
Get involved in extracurricular youth enrichment programs
Summer enrichment programs provide essential growth and education during the warm summer months while kids are away from school. Find a camp near you and volunteer to be a counselor or help fill out camp staff in some other way.
Help young students achieve academic goals
Have a direct impact on a child’s education. Tutors can play an important role in the impact of education on a child’s life. Check with a school or after school program to learn how to get involved.
While her voice is one of many, Tanya speaks to a truth that applies to men and women on both sides of the partisan divide. Republican, Democrat; black, white; young, old; we must all be united in service to our youth. As Tanya says, “How we respond and support the young people around us won’t change what happened but could make a difference in how they navigate forward. Let’s be sure when we’re asked what about the children, we have a response we can all be proud of.”
Visit America’s Promise Alliance to learn more about the organization. To find immediate and exciting volunteer opportunities in your area, visit All For Good.
12 Service Project Ideas for Kids
Back-to-school can be a busy time for families, filled with homework, sports practices, school plays, and other extracurricular activities. However, it’s important to remember the role that volunteer service can play in your child’s development. Volunteering together as a family helps kids learn that they can make a positive difference through service to others.
Without further ado, here are 12 simple service projects for kids of all ages:
Younger Kids
Make crafts or write letters to be included in soldier care packages. Operation Gratitude will help you come up with ideas and find a donation center near you.
Organize a food drive in your neighborhood to support a local foodbank, and have your children pick their favorite foods to donate. Feeding America’s Food Bank locator is searchable by zip code and can help you find a food bank near you.
Fill backpacks with cups, pots, pans, soap, toothpaste, and other cosmetics to create homeless “survival kits” to be distributed to homeless people in your community, or find out other ways you can show your support by simply CAREing.
Become a Hospital Buddy and be a supportive friend to a child during their fight against cancer.
Start a crew of neighborhood children to provide free lawn care and snow shoveling services for seniors in your community. Check out Points of Light’s resources for volunteers for tips on how to get started.
During lunch at school, host a hot chocolate or cider stand and donate the proceeds to a charity of your choosing. Charity Navigator will help you find the perfect organization to donate to.
Clean out your bookshelf of older, lightly used DVDs and books and donate them to a local children’s hospital.
Be a companion to a senior in a local nursing home. Make cards and sing carols for them around the holidays. Use Create the Good’s guide for volunteering with seniors to help you get started.
Adopt a military family for the Holidays and bring food, comfort, and friendship to a family struggling to get by.
Making a Habit of Service
Habits that children develop at a young age will stick with them long into adulthood. The following tips will help your children see the power of service and build a lifelong commitment to giving back.
Deliver donated items with your kids. This will help them see and feel the difference they are making in the lives of people they have helped.
Talk about and share your family’s service experience. Help your children process what they did, how it felt, and what they learned.
Choose your next project immediately. Build on your kids’ enthusiasm and search for opportunities to give back in your area on All for Good.
, an initiative that brings volunteers together to support literacy in communities. With thousands of volunteers, educators and partners in every time zone, together we’ll read to children all over the globe through one of the world’s largest reading events.
Here are four ways you can participate:
Pledge to volunteer.
Being able to read is a critical step toward success for every child. Together we can demonstrate the importance of literacy.
Exposure to language – talking, singing, or reading – through age 3 is a strong predictor of a child’s ability to read fluently by third grade. Children who are not reading proficiently by then are four times more likely to drop out of high school.
Spread the word.
Tell friends, family, colleagues and others in your networks about the importance of literacy and making it possible for all children to experience the magic of books and reading.
Host a reading event.
Put together a Read Across the Globe event in your community to elevate literacy and spread awareness. Click
