Generation SERVE is a bridge that introduces families to local nonprofits. Together we can make an even bigger impact on our community. This holiday season find more ways than just our calendar that you can volunteer locally and the reasons that your support is so important. 

If looking at the guide on your desktop, please hover your mouse over the cover and click when you see an arrow. If you need to go back, move the mouse to the left side of the document until you see an arrow in the opposite direction and click backwards. 

Looking to support Generation SERVE this #GivingSeason? Learn about our #GivingTuesday campaign today!

Family Volunteer Day 2022 was a success thanks to the families, sponsors, and Central Texas nonprofits who helped make the day extra special. This year's event included puppies, worms, a DJ, Generation SERVE's Teen Advisory Board learning about how you will change the world, and over 25 volunteer projects that went to 28 partner nonprofits. Together we made an in-kind and time donation equivalent to $17,780! 

As a community of volunteers, it can be easy to underestimate your impact. It can even feel like you aren't making that big of a difference. YOU ARE!!! Days like Family Volunteer Day demonstrate what we can do when we all do a little. They also show us how an hour and a half can spark hours of conversations and learning. Together we can always do more. 

Thank you for volunteering through Generation SERVE and continuing to spark the love of volunteering with your children. ​

Sign up for your next event today!

Generation SERVE is on a mission to create a generation of empathetic community-minded leaders. Through our volunteer activities we are often the catalyst for families to begin important conversations. But even when we aren’t, we want to be a resource for parents and families to begin their research so that conversations around the dinner table can be meaningful, clear, and informative.

Common Sense Media, Kids Peace, Learning to Give, The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, and Sandy Hook Promise are national programs organized to help parents, teachers, and anyone caring for children understand school violence, among other violent tragedies. All of the resources provided emphasize meeting your child where they are when deciding how to address trauma as a family. 

How to talk to young children:

• Avoid watching news stories that may scare them 
• Only bring it up if you suspect the child has an awareness
• ​If the child has an awareness reaffirm your responsibility as a parent to keep them safe
• Listen
• ​Keep answers short so not to over complicate the conversation

How to talk to your older children:

• Meet your child where they are
• Listen to what they think they know
• ​Gently dispel misinformation
• Reiterate your responsibility to keep them safe
• Be honest and when you do not have the answers say so
• Offer hope and model community-mindedness

Looking to be part of the solution? The following are non-profit partners in Austin that Generation SERVE volunteers support in their efforts to end domestic violence, educate around the impact of bullying, and support the needs of refugees. 

Hope Alliance
One Million Stars of Texas
Refugee Services of Texas
The SAFE Alliance
Texas Advocacy Project, Inc.

We are working to improve our resources. What service area would you like to learn about next? Leave us a comment and let us know.

March, 2022- Hi Readers! Welcome back to the Generation SERVE blog! My name is Jaya Mahajan, and I am 17 years old. I am so glad to be writing this blog post for Generation SERVE.
     As far as my role in Generation SERVE, I am a member of TAB, which stands for the Teen Advisory Board. As a part of TAB, it is my job to assist with a variety of different things that help Generation SERVE to be the amazing nonprofit organization it is. For one, TAB fundraises for Generation SERVE through Bonfire, which has high quality merchandise designed by TAB teens that can be bought by you all. Fundraising is also done by TAB through GoFundMe, which allows anyone to support TAB with a monetary donation. I highly encourage you all to donate or purchase merchandise if you want to support Generation SERVE’s message “To engage children in volunteerism and empower them to make a difference in their communities”.
    TAB also aids Generation SERVE with the development of certain programs, such as Project Mentee and the Teen Leadership Academy. TAB members have created the lesson plans for the leadership training the Teen mentors go through to support Project Mentee. Those TAB members who help create the curriculum, lead such leadership training with the knowledge they have gained through being a part of TAB. Project Mentee is a program that encourages young kids to take initiative and become leaders in their community. I believe through Project Mentee  and the Teen Leadership Academy we are helping to grow Austin’s newest group of service-minded individuals, and I think anyone ages 8-12 & 13-18 would highly benefit from applying. Applications are open until March 9th for both Project Mentee and Teen Leadership Academy. I encourage you to apply today!
     The Teen Advisory Board also focuses on spreading awareness for TAB and Generation SERVE’s initiatives, through social media. The TAB Instagram and Facebook handle is @genservetab and I would love for you all to follow it! We post fun content to engage our followers and give them up to date information on everything going on with TAB. 
     I truly think TAB is an incredibly unique and impactful group of teens. The experiences I have been granted due to TAB have been extremely helpful for me to gain an edge over others my age. I have gained skills in writing, leading groups of various ages and demographics, public speaking, and marketing events. I think being a part of TAB will serve me well in my future, college and beyond. 
   Of course due to Covid-19 many of our previous opportunities and activities were moved to a virtual setting, but we are working hard now to make almost all of our activities in person! Our goal is to get involved as closely as we can with the Austin community we love so much. Thank you for reading this blog post! Hopefully through this you have come to understand who TAB is in correlation with Generation SERVE!
- Jaya Mahajan

​👋Welcome to Generation SERVE's blog! We are so excited to share with you. Our Teens involved in our Teen Advisory Board (TAB) are now the authors of this forum and will be publishing  posts that explore issues important to TAB and Generation SERVE. Thank you for being here and let's get reading!

Generation SERVE Announces New Executive Director
 
June 17, 2021, Austin and Houston, Texas. – Generation SERVE helps children to get involved in their communities through family service, service-learning, and youth leadership programs.  Nicole Sarkar, CFRE, has been appointed Executive Director for the expanding Texas-based organization.
 
“I could not be more thrilled to welcome Nicole Sarkar as our new executive director,” says Generation SERVE board president Erin D’Andrea. “Nicole’s deep roots in the Austin non-profit community and her proven success in helping organizations meet and exceed their goals fill me with excitement and optimism for the future of our organization. I look forward to partnering with Nicole as we work together to make our mission a movement.”
 
Nicole brings 20 years of experience to the position. She has worked for Texas-based nonprofits, including Meals on Wheels Central Texas, Girl Scouts Central Texas, Bat Conservation International, and AGE of Central Texas. As a Certified Fundraising Professional, her appointment will help Generation SERVE continue its expansion statewide.
 
“I have been a fan of Generation SERVE since the very beginning when it was known as Little Helping Hands and they came to volunteer at the AGE Adult Day Center,” says Nicole.  “I am honored to be here now at this very pivotal time. My son and I recently completed the Little Helpers program. It was inspiring to see him, and the other toddlers absorb each lesson.  Since then, he loves picking up litter and he has begun asking me about people experiencing homelessness. I can literally see the wheels turning and him processing the information we learned. The mission of Generation SERVE is so meaningful to me personally.  I look forward to working with the team to help Generation SERVE’s mission grow.“   - Nicole

Generation SERVE has grown quickly since it was founded in 2009.  As with many nonprofits, the coronavirus pandemic affected its programming and funding. However, the staff and Board successfully pivoted and despite the pandemic, partnered with over 129 nonprofits in Texas, the largest number to date.
 
Generation SERVE continues to deliver new programs created during the coronavirus pandemic, while simultaneously expanding and re-opening our popular in- person family volunteer program.
 
This month the organization will begin its summer programming, helping teens and pre-teens from  Austin and Houston learn and practice community leadership and service.
 
 
For more information on Generation SERVE, visit https://www.generationserve.org/.
 
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About Generation SERVE
Generation SERVE (formerly Little Helping Hands) is a 501-c3 non-profit organization that provides opportunities for children to get involved in their communities through family service, service-learning, and its youth leadership programs. Founded in Austin, Texas, in 2009, the organization currently serves Greater Austin and Houston.