THANK YOU TO AMY'S ICE CREAMS!

By: Generation SERVE staff

As a thank you for our volunteers' service to the Austin community, Amy's Ice Creams provides each of our youth volunteers, ages 13 and younger, with a gift certificate after every third Generation SERVE volunteer activity completed!

We are so grateful to Amy's for demonstrating their support for our mission in this way. It is evidence that the local business community appreciates what our volunteers are doing for Central Texas.

Recognition & Intrinsic Motivation

At Generation SERVE, our goal is to encourage intrinsic motivation to help others. Research shows that kids are able to empathize starting around age four, but each child has his or her own timeline for strengthening those empathy muscles! As kids develop along our Service Pathway, we see their motivations for participating in our activities change over time. We often see our newest and youngest volunteers excited and motivated by the ice cream treat! As they experience meaningful service more consistently, they become inspired to serve because they witness the needs in the community and see the impact that they are having through volunteerism.

Paying It Forward!

These certificates can also be a way to extend the kindness beyond the Generation SERVE activity experience! We have seen families collect their Amy's Ice Creams certificates until they have the right number to take a group of friends out for an ice cream party! We have also seen families discuss giving the certificate to a friend in need of cheering up. We continue to be amazed by the youth in our programs and their innovative ideas for spreading the love!

Thank you, Amy's Ice Creams, for helping us encourage youth to continue serving, making it a habit and a lifelong commitment for our community's next generation!

A volunteer enjoys her reward from Amy's Ice Creams after a Generation SERVE activity.