Global Youth Service Day mobilizes more than 1,000 volunteers in Central Indiana

Students from Washington Woods Elementary School in Westfield took part in Global Youth Service Day on Friday, April 15. These youth volunteers assisted in a number of kit assembly, craft and beautification projects throughout Hamilton County that support area agencies, including Maple Park Village, Merciful H.E.L.P, Project Linus, Students Rebuild (to support Syrian refugee children), Mental Health America, Meals on Wheels, International Disaster Emergency Services (IDES) and Children’s TherAPlay.

In addition, hundreds of volunteers united at the American Legion Mall in downtown Indianapolis to offer a lunch service for the homeless in Central Indiana, as part of Global Youth Service Day, on Saturday, April 16.

Global Youth Service Day is celebrated each year in more than 135 counties, with young people working together to address the world’s most critical problems. Locally, the effort to help the homeless with free meals was organized by volunteers from United Way of Central Indiana, Skills USA, ProACT, IUPUI’s Student United Way, Creative Change Project and Joyful Sound Productions.

Established in 1988, Global Youth Service Day celebrates and mobilizes the millions of young people who improve their communities through service. GYSD is the largest service event in the world and the only one dedicated to the contributions that children and youth make year round. GYSD is a partnership with Youth Service America and State Farm Insurance.