SUMMER OF SERVICE

5/30/2019

By: Generation SERVE Staff

School’s out for summer and we’re ready to kick off your summer of service with a ton of great opportunities to give back!

Volunteer with Generation SERVE

Register for our Summer Volunteer-A-Thon - In celebration of our 10th birthday, we are challenging kids to complete at least 10 hours of service in the summer months of June, July and August. These hours can come from Generation SERVE volunteer activities, volunteer service through other organizations or volunteer projects you come up with on your own! We will be in touch throughout the summer with tips and ideas. Sign up here.
McKinney Falls Dedicated Family Placement - We still have open spots for teens and parents to provide life-saving water safety education to visitors of McKinney Falls State Park! Teens (age 12+) and parents will complete a mandatory training on June 1st and choose at least three outreach dates to teach families visiting the park about drowning prevention. This placement is a great fit for teens who like to meet new people, spend time outdoors and gain leadership experience. Register here.
Family Volunteering - As always, we will continue to offer our year-round family volunteering activities on our calendar all summer long. Since school is out, we’ll be hosting special summer-specific opportunities, like cooking in the Central Texas Food Bank kitchen, facilitating games at Sammy’s House Splash Day and serving food to clients of Caritas of Austin. Check out the calendar here.

Volunteer with Other Organizations

Austin Humane Society - Join AHS for their popular Summer Kids Series where kids age 12 and under will learn hands-on about animals and how to care for them. Some of these events are service-oriented, some are educational and some are just plain fun. Keep an eye out for our teen leaders, who will be facilitating some of the Summer Kids Series events! View all the sessions and sign up here.
Austin Parks Foundation - APF is hosting a family-friendly service day the first Saturday of every month this summer. Join them to clean up Austin’s parks, trails and gardens all summer long! Their first volunteer shift is on Saturday, June 1st, for National Trail Day and they’ll be mulching and enjoying the trails of Gus Garcia Park. View their calendar and sign up here.
Family Eldercare Summer Fan Drive - Every summer, Family Eldercare collects box fans and oscillating fans from the community to provide their senior clients with relief from the Texas heat. Learn more about how to donate fans here.
Meals on Wheels Central Texas - Every summer, Meals on Wheels has a special demand for delivery drivers as their regular volunteers go out of town for summer vacation. This opportunity is a great activity for the whole family where you get face-to-face interaction with MOW’s clients. Apply to volunteer here.
Recruit a Team to Walk to End Alzheimer’s - Support the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual fundraising event to end Alzheimer’s by recruiting a team to participate in the walk. Learn more here.
Williamson County Animal Shelter Rescue Readers - WilCo’s shelter opens its doors to kids of all ages every Sunday at 1pm as part of their Rescue Readers program. Come read to rescued dogs and cats to socialize them for adoption. Learn more here.

Volunteer on Your Own

Make Pet Toys for a Local Animal Shelter - Many local animal shelters accept donations of DIY dog and cat toys, blankets and rice sock warmers. Call your favorite shelter to ask what they need, they may even send you specific project ideas!
Organize a Food Drive - Help alleviate hunger in Austin by organizing a drive for non-perishable food items to support your favorite local food pantry. The largest food bank in the area is Central Texas Food Bank, but there are plenty of smaller local pantries to support as well.
Organize a School Supply Drive - Help Austin’s youth prepare for the school year by hosting a school supply drive for essentials, like paper, pencils, folders and backpacks. Youth-serving organizations in need of school supplies include Foundation Communities, Communities in Schools, Austin Independent School District, SAFE Alliance and more.
Plant Native Trees or Flowers in Your Yard - Add to our local ecosystem by planting native plants in your yard at home. Planting wildflowers in your yard can attract butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. Learn what flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds here.
Donate a Wish List Item to Your Favorite Organization - Nearly every organization has a wish list posted on their website calling out their most needed items. These in-kind gifts can make a big impact in helping organizations achieve their mission. Go to your favorite organization’s website to see what they need! See our full list of nonprofit partners here.