YCS is a wonderful resource for youth to connect with service learning opportunities so they can be part of making a difference in the community!
I went to YCS thinking that it was a chore. Helping homeless I thought was going to be smelly and gross. When I first got to the homeless shelter I started out by feeding the homeless. Seeing all the people come to get their food was so amazing. The line kept going and going, and I, kept serving and serving. I thought, what if people did not volenteer? These hundereds of people would be out on the streets having nothing to eat. YCS was definitely not a chore it was a organization to make you feel good. And that is exactly what it did to me.
My daughter was a camper in the SOS camp for 2 sessions. It was one of her favorite camps offered through the City of Palo Alto. She enjoyed the different experiences but particulary enjoyed going to the Elkus Youth Ranch very much and working over at Lytton Gardens with the seniors. She has stressed that she would like to continue with working with the seniors and other service opportunity.
YCS was really fun this summer I really enjoyed it a lot. It was really fun helping out with the children and taking care of them.
Youth Community Service (YCS) is a “vitamin” for our community! Over the past 17 years, the YCS organization has empowered more than 16,000 local young people to make a difference. Its programs teach leadership and build community by bringing students together across city and economic boundaries to make a difference for their communities. Through YCS programs, these young people have given more than 100,000 hours of service; working with over 40 community organizations. YCS’ Programs are life changing for many students. They empower students, contribute to our local community and teach the value of community service, civics, leadership and teambuilding skills. YCS’s programs include:  12 public school based community service clubs  A High School Fellows program that trains and builds youth leaders  A High School Freshman program which works with East Palo Alto students transitioning to High School to help reverse high dropout rates  A Summer of Service program for Middle School students and entering High School Freshman  A watershed improvement project  A community service curriculum development program for teachers and educators. Programs are run tightly; the organization has only a few regular full time employees and two public service interns. A few years ago I worked closely on a project with the students in the Fellows Program and was so impressed by their focused attention, enthusiasm, organization skills and follow-through. I shared a goal with the Fellows team and in only 3 weeks, and a minimal amount of adult oversight, they were able to mobilize a huge group of club members to complete the project and accomplish the goal.
As a board member of YCS, I am reminded that we experience our true wealth in the act of giving. Through its mission, YCS provides this opportunity to every YCS employee and board member, volunteer - child and adult, community member, government official, civic group, foundation, corporation, and individual donor – regardless of socioeconomic class, ethnicity, profession, gender, culture, and/or corporate mission (or any other category used to identify oneself). We are all equal, charitable, noble and heroic when giving, and I believe it is in the act of giving that we experience abundance in our lives. For this, I am grateful for YCS and every person connected to YCS who I have been blessed to meet.