Thanks to the input and creativity of the Youth Advisory Board of World Connect, YesKidzCan! developed the Great Coin Race Community Service Project Kit.  The kit puts a fun spin on having kids raise money for Kids Connect (a youth-led program that supports arts, sports, education, and environmental projects in 12 countries) by collecting spare change.

We are excited to share that for the second year in a row, the Sage School in Foxboro, Massachusetts (serving 169 students ages 4-14) took on the Great Coin Race as part of their commitment to community service.

The first time out of the starting blocks, Sage School’s Great Coin Race was in honor of their 20th anniversary 2011.  The school selected a Kids Connect project in the Dominican Republic called “Passport to the World” as the beneficiary of their Great Coin Race efforts.  Sage students and teachers “raced” to collect spare change to mark the 1,567 mile distance from Foxboro to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  Their goal was to raise 50 cents for each mile with a goal of raising $783.50.  “Passport to the World” helps a Dominican Republic community enhance their library by improving the physical space and the selection of books.

Sage School’s effort was school wide with every student, teacher, and administrator assigned to one of two teams:  Green or Blue.  The two teams competed in a month-long coin collecting race.  Members of the World Connect staff and the Youth Advisory Board attended the launch and spoke to the student body about the importance of supporting kids around the world.  While the racing was going on, students studied the history and culture of the Dominican Republic and learned about the challenges faced by kids in that region of the world.  After a month’s effort, the school held an assembly to celebrate their Great Coin Race accomplishments — raising a total of $1,161.20 which exceeded their initial goal!

This year, Sage School chose to race 3,758 miles from Foxboro, MA to Ancash, Peru in support of Camp JUMP, a three-day/two-night workshop that educates 40 teenage boys about vocational opportunities, community health, and leadership. Over the course of the camp, the teens hear from business, educational, and medical professionals and are challenged to return to the communities to implement service projects such as mural painting, social theater, hosting radio shows, and more.

The school kicked off the “Race” with a school-wide assembly.  Students made banners and colorful collection canisters and concluded with an event to announce their fundraising success.  Sage School students surpassed their goal of raising $940 and brought in $1,178.69.  Now that is a lot of spare change!

We hope other schools and community groups will download the free kit and follow the fantastic example set by every Sage School student, faculty member, and administrators!  You continue to put the “Great” in “Great Coin Race!”

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

Many kids understand that July 4th celebrates the United State’s independence from British rule in 1776 with the drafting of the Declaration of Independence to document what was important to our leaders and citizens.  Seems like a perfect holiday to add an easy service project to bring out the leader in your kids.

We’re not talking about anything complicated.  Kids are looking for some entertainment while you’re heating up the grill.  So, set up a table with a few canvases and some paint and brushes and have the kids create inspirational paintings (perhaps with patriotic themes in honor of the 4th).  Many hospitals, senior centers, libraries, or schools would appreciate receiving the artwork to brighten up their hallways or waiting areas. For a complete how-to on this kind of project, download our free our Art that Heals Community Service Project Kit.  It includes a butterfly template as one artistic option.  You could also download our Lifting Soldiers’ Spirits Community Service Project Kit  which provides complete instructions for decorating and donating pillowcases to lift the spirits of our service men and women.  The kit includes patriotic-themed iron-on decals.  Or you could simply use fabric markers or paint.  Just a few ideas to amp up your patriotism this holiday!

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

Blogging may help reduce stress and increase self-esteem in kids!  So says recent research published by the American Psychological Association.  The study indicates that blogs are even more beneficial than written journals for kids because they promote sharing, allow feedback and help build interpersonal skills.  Yet another good reasons to encourage your kid to submit a guest blog for YesKidzCan!  Learn more here!

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

Calling all kids who enjoy giving back and like to write!  We want to hear from you about the good things you are doing in your community.  Your efforts can be big or small.  It doesn’t matter how much money you raised, how many items you collected, or how many things you delivered.  If it meant something to you and you want to share it with our readers, we want to know about it.

All you have to do (with a grownup’s permission) is email a write-up of your community service activity or kind act to YesKidzCan!  Don’t worry about how many words it is.  Please feel free to attach photos or video.  You could have a chance to get your own article posted on this blog!

To read an example of an article we published by a 5th grader, click here!  We loved reading about this school food drive, and we hope to hear from many of you as well!

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

Any parent is familiar with the requests from your kids to support the school bake sale, purchase raffle tickets, attend the spring fling, or buy wrapping paper — all with the very noble goal of raising funds for the educational institution.  If parents are being honest, there are moments when we all think, “Not again!”

That’s why when we came across these unusual ideas for schools to generate funds, we had to share them.

Adult Spelling Bee:  Grownups get to show off their spelling skills much to the glee of a packed auditorium of kids.  Have a school administrator give the words (which can easily be found off the Internet).  Each class can have a team of parents who compete against each other.  Set an entrance fee per participant or team.  You can even ask a local business to help sponsor the event or provide a modest prize to the winners.

No Talent Contest:  Coordinate a talent show where the goal is to perform really badly!  Charge $1 to get in and $5 to get out!  Participants can sing off key or perform terrible magic tricks, comedy routines, or dance routines.

Teachers Who Rap:  A week or so before a pep rally, set up a table with jars that you label with teachers’ names.  Ask kids to put $1 in the jar with the name of the teacher they would like to see perform a rap.  The “winning” teacher gets to lip-sync a rap song at the upcoming pep rally.

School Spirit Chain:  During a set week, students buy strips of paper for $1 to use toward making a paper chain for their class.  Each class assembles the chain in secret and then reveals it at an assembly.  The grade with the longest chain wins.  The prize could be bragging rights, a school spirit award, or something else negotiated with the administration.

For more unique fundraising ideas, click here!

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

Here’s a unique way to challenge your kids:  encourage them to take part in a 29-Day Giving Challenge.  This lovely notion was started by Cami Walker who is living with Multiple Sclerosis.  To bring a more positive focus to her life, she decided to give away 29 gifts in 29 days.  Astounded by how much better this effort made her feel, she launched 29Gifts to encourage others to do the same and share their stories.

Gifts can include smiles, kind words, food, needed items, time, or anything else! You can share your story on the website by submitting a story, posting artwork, creating a short film, or even writing a song.  The site has over 16,000 members from 43 countries and is dedicated to reviving the giving spirit around the world.

Consider trying this out with your family, your classroom, your neighborhood, faith group, club, or scout troop.  There is no “right” way to do it!  The “doing” is the most important part!

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

Looking for a creative way to help kids (ages 6-11) learn about charitable giving?  Then check out Ellen Sabin’s The Giving Book.  The engaging format of this interactive, hardcover, and spiral-bound book draws kids in and encourages them to explore giving back.  The book’s colorful and lively illustrations lead kids through the process of creating a “scrapbook” of their giving experiences in a fun and meaningful way.  By the end of the journey, kids gain a sense of their compassion and interests in charitable giving and believe that their actions can help change the world.  The Giving Book is a great resource for parents, educators, and others interested in helping kids open the door to a lifetime of giving.

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

Spring is here!  Time to open the windows, get some fresh air circulating, and clean out the clutter that has accumulated.  To make this task less daunting, make it a family affair and have your kids help you organize items to give away to worthy causes. Even if you have large items such as furniture or never-used items such as unopened gifts,  there are groups that are eager to receive them and put them to good use.  Here are a few organizations that would value your spring cleaning donations:

The National Furniture Bank Association:  Helps struggling families furnish their homes. Needs include beds, dressers, tables, chairs, couches, and lamps.

Dress for Success: Helps disadvantages women find professional attire for jobs and job interviews.  Needs include women’s larger-sized skirts, pants suits, blouses, blazers, jackets, and shoes.

iLoveSchools: Preschool through high school teachers list classroom resources they don’t have.  Needs include  new or gently used notebooks, binders, art supplies, or backpacks.

Child’s Play:   Fulfills wish lists of kids staying in hospitals for long periods.  Needs include new items such as video and board games and toys (no stuffed animals).

Books for Africa: Provides educational materials for kids who cannot attend school.  Needs include fiction, nonfiction, textbooks, encyclopedias, dictionaries, pens, pencils, paper, and more.

Be sure to check out the website for details about what and how items can be donated.

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

Many of you may be familiar with Dr. Jane Goodall, renowned primatologist.  But did you know that she is the inspiring founder of an organization that is dedicated to motivating the youth of today to be the leaders of tomorrow.  Roots & Shoots youth take action all over the world by identifying problems in their communities that effect people, animals, and the environment; implementing service projects and youth-led campaigns; and exchanging ideas online and in person.

The organization’s goal is to create a fun, flexible, and supportive environment where young people and adults can share inspirations, participate in special events and worldwide campaigns, and experience successful results.  Kids from around the world participate in their classrooms, home schools, nature centers, neighborhoods, refugee camps, zoos, scout troops, and more.  Projects can range from helping endangered species to implementing reusable bag campaigns to creating tree nurseries to promoting worldwide peace.  According to Dr. Goodall, the answers to so many global problems are in the meaning behind the organization’s name:  “Roots creep underground and make a firm foundation. Shoots may seem weak, but to reach the light, they can break open brick walls.  Hundreds of thousands of roots & shoots, hundreds of thousands of young people around the world can break through these walls.”

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

We are all used to the heart in Valentine’s Day representing love and affection.  Wonderful sentiments for sure.  Perhaps this Valentine’s Day, the heart can also come to mean acts of kindness.  Instead of having your kids ask someone to “Be Their Valentine,” have them ask others to “Be Their Volunteer!” Kids often enjoy projects more when a buddy is involved.  Here are some Valentine volunteer activities your kids and a friend or two can do together:

• Make Valentine’s Day cards to give to a residents in a  senior center, your mail carrier, or even a waiter or waitress you see regularly.
• Package and send Valentine’s Day candy wishes to troops overseas. (Be sure to select candy that can’t melt.)
• Bake holiday treats and deliver them to your neighborhood fire department or police station.
•  Buy a few Valentine’s Day balloons and surprise some young kids in a shopping mall or grocery store by handing one to them.

The heart has an amazing capacity to expand.  Test it out with your kids this Valelntine’s Day!

© YesKidzCan!, 2012