Cheesecake Factory, Roadhouse, 4Rivers Smokehouse, Chick-Fil-A, Coopers Hawk, American Eagle Outfitters, Fit4Moms, Bark Box, Tampa Bay Clays, drones, robots, and other electronics, Tampa Bay Buccaneer Club Tickets, memorabilia from Taylor Swift, Post Malone, Nikita Kucherov, Andre Vasilevskiy, Peyton Manning, Nolan Ryan, Jack Nicklaus, Michael J. Fox, artwork by Paul Kaminski, jewelry from Kendra Scott, and more!

We support youth volunteerism, community service, service-learning, and youth leadership by hosting projects and events around the three National Days of Service and making them accessible to young adolescents and teens in underserved populations. SEE OUR 2024 RESULTS BELOW!

Learn and Serve Tampa is hosting an online fundraiser to support our various projects, including 911 Day of Service and Remembrance, and to sustain our operations. We ask that you match our partners for Giving Tuesday on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. We received $125 from match partners! Please donate on Tuesday here!

11 Hillsborough County schools sponsored service-learning after-school activities that engaged 675 youth ages 9-18 in projects. Students generated each service idea, and then planned using tools provided through Learn and Serve Tampa. These projects resulted in mental health activities for 200 elementary students at Cimino Elementary School, 10 boxes of clothing and non-perishable collections for ECHO, and 5 boxes of pet food, toys, and bedding collections for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Students from Rodgers Middle School also participated in conservation at Bell Creek Preserve and beautification efforts at Spoto High School, Brandon High School. Additionally, 75 adult and youth volunteers assisted with clean-up and brush removal at McKay Bay Nature Preserve during the Party For The Planet event co-sponsored with the Florida Aquarium, Roots N' Shoots, and The Mission Continues.

On January 13, 2024, 165 volunteers united to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a clean-up and clean-out at McKay Bay Nature Park. 50 of these volunteers indicated that this was their first volunteer experience! 40 of these volunteers were in middle school or elementary school. We had many families, a few school groups, and veterans on site. The Parks Department calculated that 7,780 lbs. of debris and garbage were removed, making the park a cleaner and safer place to enjoy.

This Day of Service included the placement of the American Flag Memorial for the victims of 9/11. The flag, made possible by Toyota of Tampa Bay, Support The Troops, and American Visual Brands, was placed at the Rosebud Continuum in partnership with American Legion Post 108 and FireWatch Magazine. 30 adult and 30 youth volunteers assisted with the memorial display. 150 Imagine Learning and Carrollwood Day School students researched and created biographies for victims. These were placed on the back of the red, white, and blue placards. 420 students at Franklin Boys Preparatory Academy created biographies and assisted with the placement of memorial markers for the firefighters, police officers, and EMTs who died on September 11, 2001. The Executive Officers at the school created snack and goody baskets for Tampa's 23 fire stations. On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, 12 middle school students from Pizzo K-8 had the opportunity to participate in the 911day.org meal pack event at Yuengling Center on the University of South Florida campus. They packed over 400 meals in two hours!

We want your help, support, ideas, and outside-the-box thinking to solve some of humanity's hardest issues. A youthful perspective reminds adults there are many ways to approach complex problems. This is a call to serve for youth of all ages.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is approaching. Learn and Serve Tampa will be hosting a regional project open to youth and families in Tampa Bay. We encourage youth, and the adults who work with youth regularly, to answer this call to service by hosting a project for your local community or school. As a Youth Service America Lead Agency and a host for Realize The Dream goal of 100 Million by 100 in 2029, we ask that group leaders share plans (or interest in) proposed projects between January 13-24, 2029, in honor of Dr. King. Groups can begin by reviewing the United Nations 17 Goals for Sustainable Development. We will need projects related Helene and possible future hurricanes as these weather events leave many in need. Service can come in many forms. Become an educated climate change advocate and write to those in positions to make a difference. Take action directly by cleaning public spaces or boxing food for those in need. Indirectly impact veterans, service members, or first responders with cards or care packages. Even researching a topic and sharing verified data can be a service.

Here is a comprehensive list of ideas for community service we found in the Join In blog!.

If you want to serve and don't know how to get started, visit the Youth Resources section on LearnAndServeTampa.Org. Email kverdi@learnandservetampa.org to schedule virtual support.

Of course we need to feed people now, but how can we plan better to feed people tomorrow? Twelve youth cohorts of 2 to 5 youth (all between age 5 and 25 and in the US) will each be awarded a $2500 grant. Proposals need to address root causes of hunger and must be replicable for future years. These projects should also be for the local community. To apply, visit YSA Sodexo Grant here.

The Creative Vision's Spark Peace Challenge for 2025 has launched! To learn more or register a team, visit the Students Rebuild website and click the Spark Peace Challenge link. The program will launch on November 1! Learn and Serve Tampa will also have a team if you want to join us!

United Way Suncoast

Volunteer Match

Volunteer Connect

YMCA

Humane Society of Tampa Bay

Feeding America Tampa Bay

Metropolitan Ministries

American Red Cross

The Spring Tampa Bay

Just Serve

City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department

Ronald McDonald House Tampa

Special Olympics

Our organization is here to offer support for teachers and schools who want to teach youth through community service. We offer FREE virtual consultations and seek funding sources to bring youth service-learning experiences to schools. We plan and support the three National Days of Service so youth can join their community in service. Connect with us today.

Of course, the most direct route to supporting our work would be a direct donation through GiveButter!

We need to buy materials and supplies for youth projects, to provide transportation when needed, and general operating funds for insurance, bookkeeping, technology, and more. We hope to expand our capacity to serve and need your support! Have a heart and help us help others!

We need working board members who can assist us with social media and marketing, accounting, and legal reviews of our activities. For young professionals (or young-at-heart retirees) who believe service to others is a critical part of youth development, Learn and Serve Tampa might be your calling. If you are interested in learning more, email Executive Director Kristy Verdi at kverdi@learnandservetampa.org to have your inquiry forwarded to our board members for consideration.

Our mission at Learn and Serve Tampa Inc, to bring high-quality service-learning instruction to Tampa area K-12 classrooms and schools, is grounded in our core value of youth empowerment. We are building partnerships with teachers and school leaders, other nonprofits, and businesses who agree that we need to listen to our youth and validate their concerns by supporting their service ideas. Service-learning gives youth a voice in solving issues they deem important, building leadership, personal, and social skills while entrenching the content in a real world context. Let's encourage our young people to think critically about real issues and propose solutions! This April-May, give youth time IN SCHOOL to voice their concerns about the future and encourage them to problem solve through service. #youthempowerment #GlobalYouthServiceDay

Student-centered education: Education is a process that needs to be entirely student-centered.

Youth Empowerment: Youth should be empowered to take action on issues that impact the world they are inheriting.

Democratic Thought: Not just what it is, but how you do it. The important role of self-discipline, respect for the rights and beliefs of others, and the process of teamwork and collaboration.

Equity and Equality Matter: An intentional focus on supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion of all human beings.

Healthy Planet, Healthy People: All institutions must adopt and lean into social and environmental sustainability goals.

Service for the Common Good is a Civic Responsibility: Service to others is expected of all. It is not a set of hours to complete. It is a moral imperative to sustaining human civilization. It is a key component to winning in life.