Links to Community Service Web Sites

• "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi, Nobel Peace Prize winner.

  America's Promise
  America's Promise, founded after the President's Summit for America's Future in April of 1997, desires to mobilize people from every sector of American life to build the character and competence of our nation's youth by fulfilling five promises for young people.
• America's Second Harvest
  America's Second Harvest is the nation's largest domestic hunger relief organization. Food banks affiliated with the program provide emergency food assistance to more than 23 million Americans. Visit their web site to connect with a food bank in your area.
• AmeriCorps
  AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs that engage more than 50,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health and the environment. AmeriCorps members serve through more than 2,100 nonprofits, public agencies and faith-based organizations. They tutor and mentor youth, build affordable housing, teach computer skills, clean parks and streams, run after-school programs and help communities respond to disasters. AmeriCorps was created in 1993 as part of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
• City Year
  City Year is a national service program that unites young adults aged 17 to 24 from diverse racial, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds for a demanding year of full-time community service, leadership development and civic engagement. Find more about the City Year programs in Detroit and other U.S. cities by visiting this site.
• Corporation for National and Community Service
  Find e-grants, create an online personal record of service and learn about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in addition to the many other programs on this site.
• Do Something
  Do Something is a nationwide network of young people who know they can make a difference in their communities and take action to change the world around them. As part of Do Something, young people are asked what they want to do to make things better and then given the resources and support to bring their unique vision to life. The organization offers a training program, grants and other assistance for community leaders.
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
  This day of service reflects on Dr. King's life and teachings . . . breaking down the social and economic barriers that divide us as a nation in order to bring people together around the common focus of service to others.
• Global Youth Service Day
  Global Youth Service Day is an annual event that works to promote the benefits of youth service around the world while recruiting the next generation of volunteers.
• Habitat for Humanity
  Habitat for Humanity International brings families and communities in need together with volunteers and resources to build decent, affordable housing.
• Join Hands Day
  Join Hands Day is a day when generational barriers are forgotten and people of all ages pitch in to make their communities better places.
• Kids Can Make a Difference
  This site is dedicated to inspiring kids to end hunger and poverty in their communities, their countries and their world. Targeted at middle school and high school students, the site offers resources for young people about hunger, ways they can work to end hunger and a teacher or leader guide.
• Make a Difference Day
  Make a Difference Day challenges everyone to spend a Saturday making a difference in their communities and in the lives of others by volunteering in a service project.
• Michigan Community Service Commission
  The Michigan Community Service Commission is committed to helping communities find their own creative solutions to local challenges. The nonpartisan commission supports and administers national and community service programs across Michigan.
• Peace Corps
  Since this government-based volunteer program was started in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, Peace Corps volunteers have been fighting hunger, disease, illiteracy, poverty and lack of opportunity in 84 countries around the world.
• Peace Corps Kids World
  This interactive site designed for kids inspires them to make a difference and share their stories afterwards. It also allows users to explore what everyday life is like in countries where Peace Corp Volunteers serve and to play a "Pack Your Bags" online game.
• Points of Light Foundation
  The Points of Light Foundation's mission is to engage more people effectively in volunteer community service to help solve serious social problems.
• SERVENet
  SERVEnet is an online guide to the world of service and volunteering. It features a complete section on Youth Service America.
• Volunteer Match
  This site has an interactive tool that can help pair volunteers with service opportunities. Type in your ZIP code, city, county or state to receive a list of volunteer opportunities in the area.

Contact Information

For more information on how to get involved as a youth or volunteer, contact your county MSU Extension office or:

Cynthia B. Mark, Ph.D., Program Leader
4-H Youth Development
Michigan State University
160 Agriculture Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1039

Phone: 517-432-7575
Fax: 517-355-6748
Email: markc@msu.edu

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Last Updated: January 4, 2008
Last Reviewed: December 16, 2002