Community Service Opportunities

Family Service Fair

Family service fairs provide an opportunity for families to get together and work on a variety of service projects benefitting several local nonprofit organizations. Typically a 1-1.5 hour open house style event, a family service fair features 4-6 simple and fun hands-on projects so families get the opportunity to "sample" the different ways they can give back to the Austin community. While the families work, we educate them about the community need and nonprofit organization being supported. This is an introduction for youth and families to our Generation SERVE Service Pathway, which guides youth throughout their development to become community-minded leaders and citizens. 

How a Service Fair is Organized

In collaboration with our business partner, Generation SERVE will work to determine the service projects and all logistics of the event. These events are intended to be educational for the families involved. There is no rush to "get the work done" - participants should enjoy the time with colleagues and families, and help youth learn about the different ways they can help others in the community.
What Generation SERVE provides:
  • All materials/supplies for the projects
  • Educational materials for distribution to the families
  • Staff to lead all service projects during the event and to provide guidance and education to participants
  • Set up and clean up for the event
  • Delivery of the finished service projects to the nonprofit beneficiaries
What we ask of our business partner:
  • Minimum of four weeks advanced notice for planning
  • Provide information about the group ahead of time for planning the appropriate type of event (i.e. age range of kids, anticipated attendance)
  • Promote the event and recruit your participants (Generation SERVE can create a signup.com calendar to help with this process if necessary)
  • Provide expected headcount two weeks prior to the event
  • Provide tables, chairs, and a physical location for the event
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Making rice sock warmers for shelter kittens at WSGR
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Decorating bags for Hope Totes at Kendra Scott
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Packaging beans & rice for Caritas of Austin at WSGR
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Preparing bags for Meals On Wheels PALS at Bazaarvoice

Community Projects

A community project is a one-time volunteer event with one of Generation SERVE's current nonprofit partners. These events are typically 1-1.5 hours long and scheduled for weekends, but may be scheduled on week days if desired. Community projects typically accommodate between 10 and 20 people, but can go up to 50 people for some (very limited) projects.

Examples of community projects include:
  • Taking apart computers for recycling
  • Sorting donations for children in foster care
  • Tending to a community garden
  • Beautifying parks and trails
  • Organizing food pantries

Generation SERVE asks for a minimum of 4 weeks notice to schedule your community project, along with the following information.
  • # of expected attendees
  • Age range of the children participating
  • Dates and times that work best for your group
  • Service categories / projects that are of most interest to your group

Project selection will be based on the above information as well as nonprofit availability and need, weather, and season.