Our state-operated facilities were joined by eleven county juvenile probation departments, and seven public school campuses across the state, to implement a total of 72 service-learning projects focusing on issues like kindness/tolerance, poverty, hunger and homelessness, bullying, violence and safety, public health, environment, pollution and beautification, literacy, and human rights. Nearly 1,200 youth logged a total of 5,246 hours of service during the month of April in observance of GYSD, benefitting an estimated 15,000 Texas citizens.
Through planning grants supplied by Youth Service America, the State Volunteer Resource Council for Texas Youth, the Texas Community Service Association, and Generation to Generation, mini-grants totaling $3,650 were disbursed to ten partners, enabling them to purchase equipment and supplies for their service projects. An additional $2,731 in cash and in-kind donations were contributed to projects. Twelve news articles were published calling attention to the good things our youth are doing for others. Fifteen governmental officials were involved in GYSD activities, by issuing proclamations, attending events, and recognizing youth at city council meetings.
The impact on youth is difficult to measure, but one program coordinater observed, “They saw compassion demonstrated for strangers without any expected monetary compensation. They commented how this was a really nice thing to do. It was an opportunity to see kindness and to be a part of it and know how wonderful it felt to be helpful and kind. They asked about going back and longed to be helpful towards others.”
The impact on the community was measured in a variety of ways, and each demonstrates the incredible potential our youth have to make the world a better place through community service.
HEALTH OUTCOMES:
- Individuals engaged in physical activity - 4,367
- Fitness events organized - 3
- First aid kits prepared or distributed - 4
- People certified in providing CPR or as first responders - 13
- Sustainable agriculture classes organized - 1
- Substance abuse, including tobacco, classes organized - 3
- Sexual and reproductive health classes organized - 1
- Roads or sidewalks improved to increase safety - 4
POVERTY & HUNGER OUTCOMES:
- Pounds of food collected and donated - 326
- Items of food collected and donated - 6,220
- Food drives or fundraisers organized - 3
- Community or school gardens planted or created - 3
- Hours served at food bank, food pantry, or kitchen - 692
- Meals prepared at kitchen, shelter, or other feeding location - 1,145
- Individuals receiving emergency food from community kitchens, food banks, or nonprofit - 230
- People educated about the issue of childhood hunger in the community - 552
- Financial literacy classes organized for adults and/or youth - 2
- Emergency housing or shelters improved - 822
ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES:
- Native trees, shrubs, or other plants maintained - 6
- Pounds of trash and debris removed - 55
- Acres of harmful invasive vegetation removed - 1
- Parks, public lands, habitats, or wilderness areas cleaned or improved, preserved, protected, or created - 5
- Pounds of waste reduced, reused, recycled, or composted - 300
- Buildings weatherized or made more energy-efficient - 1
- Buildings or infrastructure prepared for extreme weather events caused by climate change - 1
- Acres of land and soil restored that were degraded by desertification, drought, and
- floods - 1
EDUCATION OUTCOMES:
- Adults and youth mentored, tutored, or read to - 203
- New adults and youth volunteer mentors, tutors, or readers recruited - 72
- Books or school supplies collected, donated - 2,055
- Classrooms or school spaces physically improved - 3
- Job skills training’s (technical, vocational or tertiary) organized - 10
- Girls gain access to school/education - 34
- Students gain access to school/education - 99
COMMUNITY BUILDING & SAFETY OUTCOMES:
- Playgrounds or play spaces improved or built - 6
- Sites cleaned, beautified, and/or painted - 13
- Murals painted or community artwork created - 2
- Buildings or sites reconstructed, renovated, cleaned-up, or otherwise improved - 8
AWARENESS OUTCOMES:
- Number of people educated/provided with information - 2,171
- Number of people reporting increased knowledge - 1,166
- Number of people reporting intention to change behavior - 364
ADVOCACY OUTCOMES:
- Number of messages to or interactions with policymakers - 2
- Number of people engaged as advocates - 3
- Number of policymakers reached - 8
PHILANTHROPY OUTCOMES:
- Number of dollars raised and donated - $3,955
- Dollar value of goods/items collected and donated - $19,195
PHOTO: Gainesville State School youth paint messages of kindness on stone ladybugs for local public school third graders.