From humble beginnings come great things: mini-grants help support 2013 Global Youth Service Day

Whether leading a food drive, building a community garden, or demanding equal rights for girls, young people around the world are finding their voice, taking action, and creating real change. To help in these endeavors, several Michigan organizations received support from Youth Service America (YSA) and the Corporation for National and Community Service to fund small projects for Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), April 26-28.

This year, the Michigan Community Service Commission, Michigan Nonprofit Association, Volunteer Centers of Michigan, The League Michigan, and Michigan Campus Compact received more than $10,000 in mini-grant funds to support GYSD projects across the state of Michigan.

Twenty-eight Michigan organizations received these mini-grants, ranging from $87 to $500, to put together service projects tackling critical challenges in their communities, including education, hunger, homelessness, economic opportunity, public safety, clean energy, health, and environmental stewardship.

In Grand Rapids, Blandford Nature Center, Cherry Street Community HealthCorps, Harrison Park School, and Kent Innovation High all received mini-grants.

Thanks to a $200 mini-grant, the students of Harrison Park School participated in various service projects on April 25, including visiting with veterans, cleaning a park, helping out Habitat for Humanity with several chores, and packing lunches for Kids Food Basket.

On April 26, Cherry Street Community HealthCorps used its $300 mini-grant to educate the community about its Be.Nice. anti-bullying program and local mental health services.

Kent Innovation High's $87 mini-grant helped plant 100 trees in Riverside Park on April 27.

And Blandford Nature Center utilized its $500 mini-grant to help clear out invasive species and debris at the Center on April 28 to improve native habitats. Volunteers installed shrubs to help stabilize creek banks and protect eroding waterways.

Established in the U.S. in 1988 and globally in 2000, Global Youth Service Day is the largest service event in the world, and the only day of service dedicated to children and youth. GYSD is celebrated each year in over 100 countries.


Get involved:

- Follow Blandford Nature Center, Harrison Park School, Cherry Street Community HealthCorps, and Kent Innovation High on their Facebook pages for info on how to volunteer.

Source: Jamie Wilson, Communication Specialist, State of Michigan
Writer: Victoria Mullen, Do Good Editor

Images: Courtesy of Blandford Nature Center, Cherry Street Community HealthCorps, Kent Innovation High, and Harrison Park School.