Tennessee First Lady Maria Lee announced that more than 275 students completed the fifth annual Tennessee Kids Serve Summer Challenge. The participants served a total of 3,273 hours in 49 counties, the highest number of hours served in one summer since the challenge launched in 2019.
“There is great benefit and importance in teaching kids to serve at an early age,” said First Lady Maria Lee. “Opening their eyes to the needs of those around them makes for productive citizens who can impact their communities both now and later in life. Every summer we’re inspired by the ways kids use their God-given talents to touch the lives of their neighbors.”
To fulfill the challenge requirements, rising kindergarten through sixth grade students completed a service activity in at least two of the challenge’s eight categories and dedicated a minimum of two hours.
Examples of the creative ways kids served this summer include:
Playing bingo with residents at an assisted living center
Donating toys to children in foster care
Filling local blessing boxes with food items
Helping elderly neighbors with yard work
Delivering thank you notes and treats to first responders
Placing flags on graves at a veterans cemetery
Decorating onesies for newborns in the hospital
The Tennessee Kids Serve Summer Challenge is part of the First Lady’s continued effort to increase volunteerism throughout the state through her initiative, Tennessee Serves. More than 2,200 kids have participated in the summer challenge since 2019, serving 7,784 collective hours in Tennessee communities.
Find everyday ways kids and families can serve their neighbors on the First Lady’s website.
