Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and be grateful for our blessings and the people in our lives. Thanksgiving is also a time to start thinking about giving back. Community service for teens can be a great way to honor the holiday. Instead of focusing on food and family, Thanksgiving can provide a chance to inspire and build a strong commitment to supporting and serving our communities in the next generation.
Teen community service, in many ways, brings the idea of Thanksgiving full circle. It takes the focus off being thankful for what we have to acting upon that thanks. As an example of this philosophy: Edward Taylor Coombs is an example of a young man who was remembered not only for his accomplishments as a student and on the lacrosse field, but also for his compassion and leadership. The Edward Taylor Coombs (ETC) Foundation has continued to keep his spirit alive through the leadership of programs that empower youth who exhibit strong purpose and commitment to service.
The Benefits of Teen Community Service
There are numerous personal and developmental benefits to participating in teen community service. Community service is more than just a checkbox on a college application; it is a way for people to become responsible, confident, and community-minded young adults.
Developing Confidence and Leadership Skills
When a teen participates in a community service project, they will learn that they can affect society by creating meaningful change. By leading a donation campaign or organizing a food drive, teens are placed in positions of leadership, responsibility, and decision-making, which all require them to be accountable for their actions. The skills they gain from participating in teen community service will help them immensely in the future.
Communication and Social Proficiencies
Teen community service programs often require collaborative efforts among peers, adults, and organizations. These community service opportunities provide teenagers with the ability to navigate through different perspectives, collaborate as a team to resolve issues, and effectively communicate. Many of the skills learned through community service are essential to successful living, even though they are normally not part of the standard curriculum taught in a school classroom.
Civic Engagement and Awareness
The most significant impact that teen community service has on teenagers is that they develop a strong sense of civic responsibility. Teenagers begin to view themselves as members of a much larger social fabric and understand that they possess the ability to influence the communities in which they live and operate. Research supports the idea that youth who volunteer are far more likely to participate in civic engagement, political discussions, and continue to give back to the community throughout their lives.
The ETC Foundation recognizes this growth and has made it one of its main areas of emphasis. A significant number of the ETC Foundation’s scholarship recipients are selected based on their involvement in teen community service; therefore, the ETC Foundation believes that today’s volunteers will be the community leaders of the future.
Simple Ways to Get Involved Over Thanksgiving Break
The most significant impact that teen community service has on teenagers is that they develop a strong sense of civic responsibility. Teenagers begin to view themselves as members of a much larger social fabric and understand that they possess the ability to influence the communities in which they live and operate. Research supports the idea that youth who volunteer are far more likely to participate in civic engagement, political discussions, and continue to give back to the community throughout their lives.
Because Thanksgiving break has less school responsibility and provides young people with the chance to think about and be thankful for the blessings in their lives, this time of year is an opportune time to enter into, or deepen, your commitment to teen community service. Here are some practical and relatively easy ways for your teen to serve their community:
Organize a Food or Winter Coat Drive: Work with a local food bank or winter coat drive organization to collect basic food items and winter coats for those in need. Schools, churches, and social media are all places to inform others about ways we can help.
Soup Kitchen or Community Meal: Many local organizations are looking for people to volunteer to help serve food or pack food during the holidays.
Send Letters to Seniors and Veterans: A simple letter or card can lift the spirits of someone who is alone during the holidays.
Create “Kindness Kits”: These are care packages that include items like snacks, hygiene products, and socks. Kindness Kits are distributed to unhoused individuals living in your area.
Start Creating a Lifelong Tradition
Although Thanksgiving may be the first opportunity for you to volunteer, you don’t have to limit your community service to one week in November. Instead, the goal is to develop a lifelong habit of giving back to the community and being socially engaged.
Here are examples of how families and schools can support teens in continuing to build on this momentum.
Create a Year of Service Plan: Sit down as a family and discuss what service activities you want to plan for each month of the upcoming year. By making your family engaged in service each month throughout the year, it will remind everyone that serving others is important and manageable.
Encourage Teen Leadership: If teens want to continue volunteering beyond November, encourage them to start or join a service club at school. These clubs provide structure and support for teens who want to continue volunteering.
Connect Service to a Personal Passion: One way to foster a sustainable passion for service in teens is to connect their service activity with a personal passion they have. For example, if a teen enjoys working with animals, volunteering at an animal shelter is a great way to connect their passion for animals and their desire to help others.
The ETC Foundation’s mission is to educate and support teens to become responsible and compassionate leaders. This is a testament to the ongoing importance and impact of teens engaged in community service.
Final Thoughts: A Season to Start Something Bigger
As we gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving, take a moment to reflect on all that we are thankful for in our lives. Gratitude does not have to end with words; instead, it can lead to positive changes. One of the best ways for teens to show their gratitude is through service to their communities.
By encouraging teen community service at this time of the year, we are not only filling food banks or writing thank you notes, but we are also providing the opportunity for teens to develop leadership and problem-solving skills as well as being thoughtful and caring members of the community. Volunteering and organizing a drive fosters the idea in teens that their time, talent, and energy can positively impact the community and therefore should be valued. We owe it to our communities as well as our youth to provide them with the chance and means to be philanthropic. The Edward Taylor Coombs Foundation demonstrates that providing opportunities for teen community service creates future leaders, develops a sense of hope and character and contributes to a brighter future for everyone
