BE A JOY MAKER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

In late November, generationOn announced its sixth annual Joy Maker Challenge. The Campaign, which saw over 126,000 participants last year, encourages youth to spread joy to people in need during the holidays through volunteer service.

From November 23 – December 23, teens, teachers, youth development professionals and families are encouraged to sign up or share their service project stories for the Joy Maker Challenge through the dedicated Campaign website (generationOn.org/joymaker). For every kid and teen who volunteers throughout the Challenge, Hasbro will donate a toy or game to Toys for Tots (up to $1 million worth).

The holiday season is a great time for families to commit to local volunteer projects. The Joy Maker Challenge campaign website features youth service project ideas and downloadable planning tool kits. Example service project ideas include:

• Caring Cards - In light of recent events in Paris and other parts of the world, it is important for young people to turn their caring and empathy into compassionate acts. One way to do this is through letting kids who have experienced difficult times know that other kids and teens care about and are thinking of them. generationOn’s Points of Light affiliate, Tout Benev, is willing to receive “caring cards” and distribute them to children in France.
• Festive Communities – Make festive decorations to donate to a senior center, retirement or nursing home
• Share the Season – Help troops feel closer to home with a seasonal care package
• Doggie Bags – 5-7 million animals enter shelters each year. Help to spread holiday cheer by making and donating doggie treats to animals without homes

A full list of additional, local volunteer opportunities and project ideas can be found on generationon.org/joymaker. Happy volunteering!

About generationOn

generationOn is the youth service division of Points of Light, igniting the power of kids and teens to make their mark on the world. generationOn inspires, equips and mobilizes hundreds of thousands of kids and teens annually to take action through service, service learning and youth leadership initiatives. It also provides tools and resources to kids, teens, families, youth practitioners and educators to help kids change the world and themselves through service. For more information, visit www.generationon.org.

Photo Credit: generationOn