Family Service of Roanoke Valley (FSRV) will join over one hundred organizations around the world in sponsoring the 23rd annual Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) taking place this Saturday. Global Youth Service Day is the largest volunteer initiative in the world and the only day of service dedicated to children and youth. Students from throughout the Roanoke Valley join millions of youth in the US and in 120 other countries who have planned community service projects and special events.
Celebrating the spirit of community and the value of our youth, FSRV aims to mobilize 600 young volunteers as they participate in a variety of service projects designed by youth who have been planning this event throughout their school year. Family Service of Roanoke Valley has been selected for the tenth year in a row by Youth Service America as one of the country’s lead agencies to organize Global Youth Service Day. This event offers simultaneous service projects for youth and families. This year’s theme is Bullying Prevention and Awareness.
The Global Youth Service Day celebration will kick-off on Friday, April 15 with an American Red Cross Blood Drive which will be held from 2:00pm-6:00pm in the old Stein Mart location at Tanglewood Mall. Saturday’s events will last from 12:00pm-3:00pm and the featured service project will be a bullying prevention and awareness walk that will begin on Williamson Road at the Civic Mall and will end at Breckinridge Middle School. Other projects fall under the themes of hunger and homelessness, health and nutrition, helping the environment, veterans and senior citizens, children’s health and welfare, animal care, education and awareness, and restoring our community.
In line with the mission of Family Service of Roanoke Valley, Global Youth Service Day is meant to empower youth, ages 12-25, to transform their communities through volunteering efforts and events. For decades, leaders have recognized the strengthening effects of volunteer service on individuals, businesses and the community. Jameea Bailey, a student at Patrick Henry High School, shares her experience as a returning volunteer, “I volunteer for Global Youth Service Day because it is so fun. I love making a difference for what I care about in my community.”
This annual event is a partnership with Youth Service America and is made possible through the generosity of sponsorships from numerous local companies who are working with Family Service in cooperation with dozens of other service sites and youth organizations so that the children and teenagers of the Roanoke Valley can feel valued by their community and have the chance to make a difference.
Immediately following the service projects, each volunteer is invited to a celebration held at Breckinridge Middle School. Participants will celebrate the day of service with fellow volunteers, local dignitaries, and WSLS 10’s Dawn Jefferies. Each volunteer will receive a t-shirt, a free week pass to one of several YMCA locations and a free ticket to a Salem Red Sox game. The event is free to the public.
Families are encouraged to participate, but volunteers under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Service projects are offered on a first come, first served basis.
For GYSD registration information, please contact Sarah Jane Lawrence at 540.563.5316 or email: [email protected]. Online registration is available at www.fsrv.org/gysd.
