MCSC receives award for Global Youth Service Day efforts

The Michigan Community Service Commission received an award from Youth Service America for its efforts on 2016 Global Youth Service Day.

Youth Service America received many inspiring, motivating stories of youth service from around the world covering all 17 Sustainable Development Goals for Global Youth Service Day 2016. Out of the thousands of stories received, they selected three project winners based on scale, visibility, and impact.

They awarded the scale award to the Michigan Community Service Commission, stating:

“Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) helped fund projects across Michigan through a mini-grant process ultimately benefitting 30,000 people on GYSD through over 100 nonprofits and 3,500 hours of youth service. MCSC engaged volunteers in a variety of service projects including a Flint Day of Service, community cleanups, building garden beds, making greenhouse tents out of recycled water bottles, assembling care packages for the homeless and more. MCSC worked closely with project leaders to create efficient budgets and maximize impact from their budgets. Grantees were required to reach out for donations and partnerships, expanding the impact of their project.”

MCSC, in partnership with the Michigan Nonprofit Association, provided 25 mini-grants for projects across the state.

“We are proud to be a leader of youth service in Michigan,” said MCSC Executive Director Ginna Holmes. “We strive to find innovative ways to engage youth in volunteerism and promote youth voice to push youth service to the next level in our state.”

Some of the GYSD highlights in Michigan include:

• In Flint, around 200 youth volunteered for five service projects that included building garden beds, creating greenhouse tents from recycled water bottles, community cleanup and painting and preparing rain barrels.
• Muskegon County 4-H Tech Wizards filled 10 trash bags and cleaned 100 memorial markers while cleaning up local beaches and a veteran’s park.
• In Marquette, Northern Michigan University students assembled 64 sack dinners for children to fight youth hunger.
• In Fremont, youth volunteers with TrueNorth Services assembled 125 backpacks for children in need including a blanket, book, stuffed animal, personal hygiene products, a game, and a pair of socks.
• At Starr Commonwealth in Detroit, youth assembled and distributed 200 hygiene kits for the homeless.

Read more about Global Youth Service Day in Michigan.

Read more about Youth Service America’s project awards.