If you have any ideas for activities that have worked well for you and you would like to share it, please feel free to contact a member of the Stake Young Men's presidency and it may be added to this website.
Beautifying Our Church Buildings
Purpose
Show respect and reverence for dedicated buildings
Description
Encourage the youth to discuss the importance of our church buildings. Why is it important to keep our building clean and organized? Discuss the needs and conditions of the different Church buildings in the area. Plan what the youth could do to improve or clean them. If you live near a temple, coordinate with those in charge of the temple grounds to see if service is needed. Give the youth an opportunity to practice the skill. Encourage them to clean up bulletin boards, wash chairs and tables, clear left over “stuff” from stages and hallways, donate lost and found materials, deep clean the building and kitchen. Share how they felt beautifying the building.
Blanket Drive for Local Shelter
Purpose
Help individuals in need during cold weather
Description
Provide blankets to individuals in need (this can be done anonymously). Coordinate with local organization to collect and drop off new or gently used blankets. Encourage ward members, school friends, and other groups to participate to collect blankets. After the activity, invite the youth to share how they felt as they provided this service. Discuss ways they can have the spirit of giving throughout the year as they serve and bless the lives of others.
Food Drive & Community Service
Purpose
Provide food for the hungry
Description
Organize a food drive and collect nonperishable food to give to a food bank or other organization that assists the hungry. Consider contacting these organizations to find out what types of food are particularly needed. Pass out flyers to a neighborhood prior to going around knocking doors asking for food. Review and discuss the verses in Matthew 25:31–45. What does this teach us about why we serve?
Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat in October
Thanksgiving food drive in November
Christmas food drive in December
Fun for Friends with Disabilities
Purpose
Learn to interact with, learn from, and serve people with disabilities
Description
Watch and discuss a video about serving those with disabilities, such as “Dayton’s Legs,” “For Madison,” or “Cheering Each Other On.” Invite youth and adults with disabilities to an activity night of engaging activities, such as dancing, playing games or getting-to-know-you activities, or making crafts. Create activity stations that are led by groups of youth. Be sure to be sensitive to the needs and situations of those you serve. Consider contacting local education or care centers for opportunities to serve.
Resources
Yuma Special Olympics
Humane Society
Purpose
Become familiar with opportunities to serve animals in need
Description
Visit a local animal shelter that provides relief or help to animals in need. Ask those who work there to give you a tour, explaining what they do to help. Find out what projects the youth can help with at the center. Discuss ways that the Savior served and how we can be like Him.
Resources
Christmas Gift Giving
Purpose
Help families in need at Christmas time
Description
Provide Christmas gifts and food for a family or families in need (this can be done anonymously). Coordinate with the bishop to determine needs and use ward-provided funds or donations from ward members. After the activity, invite the youth to share how they felt as they provided this service. Discuss ways they can have the spirit of Christmas throughout the year as they serve and bless the lives of others.
Resources
Yuma Cross Roads Mission, Amberly’s Place, Precious Treasure, Light the World
Humanitarian Service
Purpose
Become familiar with opportunities to serve those in need
Description
Visit a local Church or community organization that provides relief or help to the poor and needy (such as a bishop’s storehouse, a homeless shelter, or an orphanage). Ask those who work there to give you a tour, explaining what they do to help people in need. Find out what projects the youth can help with at the center. Discuss ways that the Savior served and how we can be like Him.
Resources
Yuma Cross Roads Mission, Amberly’s Place, Precious Treasure, Light the World
Improving Our Community
Purpose
Serve your community and bless the lives of those who live there
Description
Work with people in the community to identify needs that the youth could help meet. Youth could meet with community leaders, local government officials, or attend a community event such as a city council meeting. Organize a service project to meet community needs. Some possibilities include beautifying parks or public places, reading to schoolchildren, visiting patients in a hospital, organizing a food drive or blood drive, and so on. If necessary, plan for ongoing maintenance. Discuss the questions: What is our responsibility in our community? Why do we serve? (See Mosiah 2:17.)
Resources
Red Cross, Yuma Cross Roads Mission, Amberly’s Place, Precious Treasure, Light the World
Service for Father's Day
Purpose
Build and express appreciation for fathers
Description
Watch together one of the following videos: “Earthly Father, Heavenly Father” or “Fathers and Sons.” Share with each other what your fathers mean to you. As a quorum or class, plan ways to show gratitude for fathers in your ward or branch. Here are some ideas:
Invite your fathers to attend Mutual and play a sport or game with you.
Make or decorate neckties.
Make a video where you tell your fathers how much you love them. Invite your fathers to watch the video with you.
Do yard work or a home improvement project for a father in the ward or branch.
Volunteer to take care of small children so a few fathers in the ward or branch can spend an evening alone with their wives.
Prepare a special dinner honoring fathers.
Hold a competition among the youth to see who can complete the most service for their fathers in a week.
Learn a song honoring fathers that you could sing during sacrament meeting on Father’s Day.
Write notes of gratitude expressing how your fathers have influenced your lives.
Service for Mother's Day
Purpose
Build and express appreciation for mothers
Description
Watch together a video about mothers, such as “It Was Mom,” “To Every Mother,” “Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!” or “Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God.” Share your mothers mean to you. As a quorum or class, plan and carry out an act of service to show gratitude for mothers in your ward some ideas:
Create a scrapbook with images and messages that express your gratitude for your mothers.
Make a video where you tell your mothers how much you love them. Invite your mothers to come watch the video with you.
Volunteer to help a few mothers in the ward by taking care of their children for an evening.
Prepare a special dinner honoring mothers.
Invite your moms to attend Mutual and play a sport or game with you.
Learn a song honoring mothers that you could sing during sacrament meeting on Mother’s Day.
Hold a competition among the youth to see who can complete the most household chores for their mothers in a week.
Skills We Can Use to Serve
Purpose
Learn skills that will help prepare the youth for lifelong service
Description
Ask the youth or bishop who in the ward, branch, or community needs help (make sure not to discuss anything confidential). Make a list of the skills necessary to meet these needs. Then ask the youth to identify skills they don’t have (could include painting, simple construction, sewing, gardening, and so on). Ask the youth which skills they would like to learn to meet these needs. Make plans for how the youth will learn these skills. This could include asking an expert for help, finding and using training videos, getting a book on the subject, and so on.
Visit and Serve the Elderly
Purpose
Help the elderly feel loved and appreciated
Description
Visit the elderly (this could be on a special occasion or holiday). Youth could visit individuals in their homes or visit an assisted-living or retirement facility. Consider preparing a short musical presentation or talent show to share. Take each elderly person a small gift or treat, or prepare songs or games to share. If visiting a facility, get approval first. You could also turn this into a service activity in which each youth performs small acts of service or kindness for an older member of the ward. Afterward, ask the youth to talk about the experience.