The Ray

Our Mission:

We provide opportunities for youth to engage in meaningful community service and empower youth to be service leaders in their community.

Vision:

We envision a world in which youth service opportunities are available, accessible, and inclusive, and provide spaces for developing leadership skills and civic engagement in personally meaningful community service.

We are excited to partner with Feeding Tampa Bay in its mission to raise awareness about food insecurity and empower youth to take action in their own communities, and support Students Rebuild Unique & United Challenge, powered by the Creative Visions Foundation.

Through these partnerships, Learn and Serve Tampa Inc is providing tools, resources, and materials for students at six local schools to creatively decorate a paper plate that represents their own interpretation of what "Unique & United" means, and to help youth organize food drives or host local events for food pantries in their neighborhoods. These events offer an opportunity for young leaders to make a direct and meaningful impact while fostering connections within their own communities. The plate art will be on display at Feeding Tampa Bay on Monday, January 19, 2026, during the MLK Day of Service event.

January is National Poverty in America Awareness Month, so what better way for youth to learn and serve in their community? If your school or organization has not signed up, individual youth can sign up to be a Unique & United INFLUENCER in Tampa Bay! Click here or use the QR code to learn more and sign up! You can earn community service hours and be a challenge leader! Our first one-hour online training is on Wednesday, January 7, from 5:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.

Why It Matters

Food insecurity affects thousands of families across the Tampa Bay area. By organizing local events and engaging youth in service, we’re not just addressing immediate needs—we’re building a generation of compassionate leaders committed to creating a more equitable future.

Whether you’re a student, educator, or community leader, you can make a difference. Join us in supporting Feeding Tampa Bay and working toward a world where no one has to go hungry.

Join Learn and Serve Tampa as we support Realize The Dream in their mission to collect youth service hours to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with 100,000,000 hours of youth service for his 100th birthday on January 15, 2029! Email Learn and Serve Tampa to learn more about Realize The Dream and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service.

The King Center, founded in 1969 by Ms. Coretta Scott King, is dedicated to educating the world on the life, legacy, and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., inspiring new generations to carry forward his unfinished work, strengthen causes, and empower change-makers who are continuing his efforts today.

Students With King provides invaluable resources for service-learning projects for social change. Students ages 13-18 can also apply for the Leadership Academy. The center also hosts Nonviolence365, an education and training program for youth and adults. This year, the center is hosting a week of MLK Day events, starting Monday, January 12, 2026. Attendance online is FREE!

MyImpact Challenge is a national civic engagement contest hosted by the Bill of Rights Institute. To expand its reach, we’re offering microgrants to educators who host local Civics Fairs—science fair-style events where students showcase their community service and civic projects. Middle or high school educators in the states of Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Texas are eligible to apply. Funding & Resources: Receive up to $8,000 to cover educator stipends, student prizes, and event costs.

Originally launched in 1988 as National Youth Service Day, Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is the longest-running annual youth participation event in the world and the only one that asks all youth ages 5-25 to work together for the common good while also recognizing the impact youth make on their communities every day of the year. Learn and Serve Tampa is a Lead Agency designee by Youth Serve America, the founding organization. We will coordinate with multiple partners to offer a menu of service-learning opportunities on various days between April 11 and May 11, 2026 around the Bay area. More information on this year's plan will be available in early March. Check out our Scrapbook to see photos from last year's projects.

Our goal is to use an interactive memorial for 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance to teach students about the causes, events, and consequences related to terrorism, but also to honor and remember those we have lost in these violent attacks. Planning for 2026, the 25th anniversary of the attacks, will begin in March 2026. Teachers, if you are interested in participating, email Learn and Serve Tampa Inc to learn more.

The 2026 Youth Service Leadership Summit ,hosted by the Ryan Nece Foundation will be held on Friday, February 13, 2026, at Feeding Tampa Bay's new Causeway Center and is presented by Suncoast Credit Union. This event is open to all high school teens aged 14 to 18 year olds. The purpose of the event is to engage high school students in a morning of community service, followed by an afternoon of leadership education with talented speakers.

Need help? Learn and Serve Tampa Inc's website will soon have a tab dedicated to advise youth on finding local service experience that will work with their age and availability, location, and hopefully connected to the youth's interest, passions, and talents. We will not host registration for volunteering, but we will point you in the right direction and also guide you in planning your own service project if you would like to develop your leadership skills! Learn and Serve Tampa Inc posts any of its own volunteer opportunities on the United Way Suncoast Volunteer Website. Youth must be 13 or older to create an account. This website is a great resource for students and families looking for local ongoing service or one-time events. Youth should sign up through VolunteerFlorida. By creating an account , you will receive information about upcoming opportunities around the state. The official forms for documenting service for BrightFutures is linked in this newsletter. These forms can be downloaded, edited, printed, and, MOST importantly, saved!

Dear Educators,

As a classroom teacher for 29 years, I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of service-learning, which I used as an instructional tool for more than half of my teaching career. My introduction to service-learning was serendipitous—I unknowingly applied its principles in a high school World History class. That experience led to an invitation to attend the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) conference, where I discovered the pedagogy’s immense potential. Since then, I’ve passionately advocated service-learning in classrooms, schools, and districts.

Today, Amy Meuers, the Executive Director of NYLC, continues to champion this cause with dedication and expertise. As a NYLC Board of Directors member, I have the privilege of collaborating with Amy often. Her latest article, Why K-12 Schools Need Quality Service-Learning to Strengthen published by Medium.com last month, eloquently captures the urgent need to bring service-learning back into K-12 education.

I encourage you to read and share this article widely. It is a compelling call to action that underscores how service-learning not only enhances academic outcomes but also cultivates engaged, informed citizens who are equipped to uphold and strengthen our democracy.

Thank you for your commitment to education and to shaping the next generation of leaders.

Always in service,

Kristy Verdi

Executive Director

Learn and Serve Tampa Inc

Volunteering and reciprocal service are essential to child development. Through service opportunities, youth learn to care for others, develop empathy, and appreciate the diversity of experiences and perspectives around them. What makes service particularly impactful is its reciprocity: while youth give back to their communities, they also gain invaluable life and leadership skills.

For young adolescents, the support of parents and community leaders is vital. This is especially true for youth who are often overlooked in volunteer initiatives—students who may not qualify for honors programs, those with disabilities, those experiencing homelessness, or youth within the juvenile justice system. These young people deserve opportunities to contribute, learn, and grow, just like their peers.

The need for parental and community support is clear. Of the 285 middle school students who responded to a pre-service survey in 2024, 51 students—or 18%—expressed a desire to participate in organized volunteer activities but cited barriers such as a lack of adult supervision or transportation.

Parents who have the time and resources are uniquely positioned to step up—not only for their own children but also for others in the community. By championing youth service organizations and supporting volunteer initiatives, adults can help ensure that all young people, regardless of their circumstances, have the chance to engage in meaningful service.

By removing barriers and fostering inclusive opportunities, we can empower every child to experience the benefits of volunteering. Together, we can cultivate a generation of empathetic leaders who care deeply about their communities and are prepared to make a positive impact on the world.

You are always welcome to make a donation to help us grow. As a 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization, your donation will be tax deductible! Once the Holiday dust has settled, consider donating those unique and special gifts or gift cards to us to help us in our upcoming Winter Virtual Raffle! Every little bit help us on our mission.

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!

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.