Join us and you will be immersed in a showcase of our YCS youth’s accomplishments from the past year! From initiatives like Trash2Art’s cleanups and captivating art displays to insightful reflections of our President’s Volunteer Service Award recipients on their service.

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Youth Community Service (YCS) and our partners present

2023 Mid-Peninsula National Day of Service

Join us! 

Sunday, September 10
YCS National Day of Service

 

EAST PALO ALTO

Creative Montessori

Join with Creative Montessori Learning Center to enhance educational activities.
Service Age: High School and above
Service Time: 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Service Location: Creative Montessori
1421 Bay Rd, East Palo Alto 94303

Ecumenical Hunger Program

(Wish List)- drop-off
Drop off canned goods for the EPH food closet.

Virtual – At home, self-paced: Wed, 8/30 – Mon. 9/11
Drop off Times: Week after event, 9/11 – 9/14 if possible or week of 9/18 – 9/21
Tuesdays – Best Day or Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm (CLOSED ON FRIDAYS)
Drop Off Location: Ecumenical Hunger Project
2411 Pulgas Ave, East Palo Alto, 94303

 

Izzi Early Education

Join with Izzi Early Education Magnolia and EPA sites to install bamboo fencing to ensure privacy for the young school children.

Service Age: High School+
Service Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm
Service Location: Izzi Early Education
1385 Bay Road and 1425 Bay Road, East Palo Alto 94303

 

WeHope

Wish List

Join with WeHOPE to prepare hygiene kits for their Dignity on Wheels Program, do gardening and clean-up the outside if the shelter.

Service Age: High school +
Service Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Service Location: WeHOPE
1854 Bay Rd, East Palo Alto 94303

Woodland Park Community
Parks, Garden and Site Clean Up

Service Age: Middle school & up
Service Time: 8:30am – 12:00pm
Service Location: Meet at Bridge Pop Park
1760 W Bayshore Rd, East Palo Alto 94303


Palo Alto

Blossom Birth & Family

Come create crepe flowers to decorate the Jeff Center and to brighten the day of expectant and new parents in the Blossom community.

Service Age: Middle school and up
Service Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm
Location: Oshman Family JCC
3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto 94303

Karat School Project

(Wish List)

Come support the Karat School project by purchasing winter gear for K-12th and Adult RV dwellers and transient students in Palo Alto and Redwood City.

Service Age: All Ages, under 12 with an adult
Service Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Service Location: Gamble Garden,1431 Waverley St, Palo Alto 94301

Mitchell Park Library

Join the Mitchell Park Library for a day of service at the Library. Help with tasks that add to the overall quality and function of the library system.
Service Age: 10 yrs and up. 10-12 yrs with an adult.
Service Time: 11:00am -2:00pm
Service Location: Mitchell Park Library
3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto 94303

PACCC Community Garden

Join with Palo Alto Community Child Care and enjoy a day out in the community garden at Ventura Community Center.
NOTE: Please bring a pair of garden gloves and tools!
Service Age: 15 years and older
Service Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm (stay as long as you want)
Service Location: 3990 Ventura Court, Palo Alto 94306

Palo Alto Humane

Join with Palo Alto Humane to make no-sew blankets for local shelter animals.
Service Age: Middle school and older (use of scissors)
Service Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm
Service Location: Ventura Community Center,

3990 Ventura Ct, Palo Alto, 94306

Project HumaneKind

Join with Project HumaneKind to commemorate the role of animals in the National Day of Service by painting portraits of animals. Cats, Dogs, Rabbits.
Service Age: Middle school and older
Service Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm
Service Location: Ventura Community Center,
3990 Ventura Ct, Palo Alto, 94306

Friends of the Palo Alto Library

Come support the Friends of the Palo Alto Library (FOPAL) September book sale. Please bring your own water bottle, water-cooler refills are available. A face covering is recommended for those volunteering indoors.

Service Age: Students (13+) and adults
Service Time: 10:30am -1:30pm
Service Location: FOPAL@Cubberly Community Center
4000 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Campus Map Link

Rinconada Library

Join the Rinconada Library for a day of service at the Library. Help with tasks that add to the overall quality and function of the library system.

Service Age: 10 yrs and up. 10-12 years with an adult.
Service Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Service Location: Rincondada Library
1213 Newell Rd, Palo Alto 94303

Stevenson House


Support Stevenson House senior residents with fun activity kits,

Virtual – At home, self-paced: Sat. 9/9 to Mon. 9/11
Drop Off Days/Times: Week after the event, 9/11 – 9/15 if possible or the week of 9/18 – 9/22, Monday – Friday 9:00am – 1:30pm
Drop off Location: Stevenson House
455 E. Charleston Rd, Palo Alto 94306
If you are unable to drop off Senior Activity Kits at Stevenson House, please email monica@youthcommunityservice.org

Los Altos

Hidden Villa

Join Hidden Villa for a day of service in and around the Education Garden.
Bring water, snacks, and a hat. Wear long pants, sunscreen and sturdy shoes.

Service Age: 16 yrs and up
Service Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Service Location: Hidden Villa Ranch
26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills, 94022

Los Gatos

Grassroots Ecology

Join Grassroots Ecology to help eradicate invasive plants and to restore habitat! This event is rain or shine, unless otherwise notified.

Eventbrite LINK
Service Age: All ages, 12 and under with an adult
Service Time: 8:30am – 11:30am (Please arrive early and on time. Once group leaves you are not able to join the group)
Service Location: Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve.

San Jose

Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence

(Wish List)

Support survivors of domestic violence with donations of non-perishable pantry items, toiletries/hygiene items, gift cards; Target/Walmart/Safeway
Virtual – At home, self-paced: Wed., 8/30 – Mon., 9/11
Drop off Days/Time:
Week of 9/11 – 9/15 if possible or the week of 9/18 – 9/22
Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Drop off address: 234 E. Gish Rd, Ste 200, San Jose 95112

If you are unable to drop off items to Next Door Solutions, please email monica@youthcommunityservice.org

PATH

(Wish List)

Support People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) with supplies for the individuals and families as they transition to permanent housing.

Virtual – At home, self-paced: Wed., 8/30 – Mon., 9/11

Drop off Days/Time: Monday – Friday, 11am – 4pm
Week of 9/11 – 9/15 if possible or the week of 9/18 – 9/22
Drop off address: 290 N. 2nd Street, San Jose 95112

If you are unable to drop off items to Next Door Solutions, please email monica@youthcommunityservice.org

Project Linus

Create single layer no-sew blankets at home to be donated to Project Linus to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, in the hospital, or in foster care.

Important no-sew blanket instructions Click here

Virtual – At home, self-paced: Sat. 9/9 to Mon. 9/11
Drop Off Days/Times: Week after service event 9/11 – 9/17 if possible or the following week 9/18 – 9/24

Click Here for Multiple Drop-off Locations

If you are unable to drop off items to Next Door Solutions, please email monica@youthcommunityservice.org

 

Sunnyvale

Animal Assisted Happiness

Support the Animal Assisted Happiness (AAH) organization by painting flat river rocks and/or making goat, chicken or rabbit treats. The animals really love them!

Virtual – At home, self-paced: Sat. Sept 9th – Mon. Sept. 11

Drop Off Days/Times: Tuesday’s Sept. 12th or the following Tuesday Sept. 19th. 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Drop Off Location: Baylands Park
999 E. Caribbean Dr, Sunnyvale, 94089

If you are unable to drop off items to Next Door Solutions, please email monica@youthcommunityservice.org

Anywhere-your choice!

CleanSwellApp

Virtual – At home, self-paced: Sat. Sept 9th – Mon. Sept. 11

Community Service Hours: Register your volunteer hours using “YCS NDS” in the group/event section on the CleanSwellApp. For service hours confirmation, please send a screenshot of your App or forward your hours confirmation email to ycs@youthcommunityservice.org

Hours completed on Sept 9, 10 and 11, 2023 will be approved by YCS.

 

____________________

MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 11th

Multi-faith Peace Picnic

Plan to get together with American Muslim Voice Foundation, Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice, YCS and other local organizations to celebrate service and build community.

Palo Alto City Hall – King Plaza

250 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto

6:00pm – 8:15pm

Food will be served, please register HERE.

 

YCS: 2023 Mid Península Día Nacional de Servicio y Conmemoración

Domingo 10 de septiembre en múltiples sitios de servicio en Santa Clara y el Condado de San Mateo  YCS y nuestros socios comunitarios invitan a miembros de la comunidad de todas las edades a registrarse para ser parte de este día de servicio más grande, mientras nos reunimos para trabajar en proyectos para elevarnos y apoyarnos mutuamente: campañas de recolección de alimentos, fabricación de tarjetas,limpieza ambiental, jardinería y mucho más. ¡Hay horas de servicio comunitario disponibles para los jóvenes! Para obtener más detalles y registrarse, visite www.youthcommunityservice.org, envíe un correo electrónico a ycs@youthcommunityservice.org o llame (650) 858-8019.

PARTNERED ORGANIZATIONS

SPONSORS

Service Dates

Sunday, Sept. 3rd
2-6 PM

Stanford Blood Drive at the Oshman Family JCC. Book your appointment here. 

Sunday, Sept. 10th

Local service site in East Palo Alto, Palo Alto and surrounding neighborhoods. Service site projects and at home activities open to all ages and abilities. Please check individual service site descriptions for specific restrictions. Use the register link for service site(s) or service project(s) of your choice. Service times vary by service site location. Space is limited and fills up quickly!

Monday, Sept. 11th
Evening

Multifaith Peace Picnic at King Plaza, Palo Alto 6pm – 8:15pm. Come together as a community and celebrate the recent service of volunteers. RSVP here. 

Check out last year’s recap video for the 2022 National Day of Service! 

  • Last year’s theme was “Showing Up!” for the community.
  • Over 400 volunteers from all over the mid-peninsula participated!
  • Volunteers completed various service projects for local non-profits, schools, and more. 

2023 Service and Community Event High School Interns

Meet our 2023 team of summer interns who worked together to gain knowledge and skills while helping set the theme and foundation for the National Day of Service event.

The summer interns were part of the YCS Summer of Service and worked with staff and community leaders to plan events and learn project management, partner engagement, event planning, evaluation and other skills.

The Intern team met with community partners and supporters to share more details and get input on the plans for the National Day of Service 2023. Our guests included Molly Wallner, Teen Librarian at Palo Alto Mitchell Park Library , Tamara Thiel Prizant, Director of Family Engagement Oshman Family JCC, Taube Koret Campus for Jewish Life, Lenore Delgado, Educator with Project Humane Kind and Alex Wang, Founding Sales Partner Rainmaker Real Estate and their colleagues.