Over 1,000 North Texas Teens Volunteer For Global Youth Service Month

During Global Youth Service Month, from April 12 to May 12, 2024, over 1,000 teenagers across North Texas volunteered for various charitable projects. From aiding food pantries to supporting conservation efforts, adolescents demonstrated their commitment to community welfare.

For over thirty years, Global Youth Service Month, sponsored by Youth Service America, has encouraged individuals aged 5 to 25 to engage in acts of service within their communities. Utilizing justserve.org, a digital platform connecting volunteers with charitable causes, these teens selected projects aligned with their interests.

This initiative helps foster a spirit of community and service and teaches youngsters that service does not need to be complicated. Activities such as sorting food at the Tarrant Area Food Bank and crafting reusable grocery bags at Christ’s Haven in North Richland Hills demonstrate adolescents' commitment to social responsibility.

In Carrollton, 200 teenagers rallied behind The Birthday Party Project, assembling 790 party favor bags for homeless youths and spreading joy to homeless teens and children in Dallas through birthday celebrations. Community donations ensured a month's worth of festivities for those in need.

Fossil Rim Wildlife Conservation Center volunteers contributed to conservation efforts by clearing brush, recycling feed bags and staining benches. Scott Hughes, a director at Fossil Rim, emphasized the vital role of volunteers in supporting conservation programs.

At Frisco’s Clean It and Green It city cleanup, youth served to clean up trash despite rainstorms. “I enjoyed serving the community. I loved that we were given a trail as our location to pick up trash,” said Rian Wilson, a young adult who served in Frisco, in an official press release. “Even with the rain, being out in nature with my friends and working alongside them to serve our community was fun.”

From Tyler to Prosper, teenagers addressed societal issues, aiding the East Texas Food Bank and participating in food packing events. Luke Compton, a seventh grader, and his sister Emma Jane, a high school sophomore, loved serving at the food pack. “It was fun that we all worked together. The best part is helping people in need,” said Compton in the press release.

On May 11, more than 200 local young people will come together to paint the metal fencing at Equihope horse farm, usually a task that would take weeks to complete. This effort is a way to express appreciation to EquiHope's staff and volunteers for their contributions to the community.

To learn more about this initiative or how you can help, visit justserve.org

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