Raising a Generation of Givers: Why Volunteering Matters

In a world that often encourages individual success over collective impact, we have the power to change the narrative for the next generation. When we teach young people to serve their communities, we aren’t just helping those in need—we’re shaping future leaders with compassion, resilience, and gratitude.

At Taking Shape Star Leadership, one of our core values is Serve—learning to put others before ourselves and make an impact in our communities. We believe service isn’t just something you do once a year—it’s a way of life. And when kids and teens experience the joy of giving back, something incredible happens: they grow into leaders who see the world beyond themselves.

Our Star Leaders in Action

Star Leaders volunteer with Uplift Organization in Kansas City to deliver hot meals to the house less.

We don’t just talk about serving—we live it. Through our Star Leadership program, young leaders have taken part in hands-on service projects that make a real difference, including:

✨ Feeding the homeless at Uplift.org in Kansas City, Missouri – Packing meals, handing out supplies, and connecting with those who often feel invisible in their own city. Watching our young leaders step up to serve has been nothing short of inspiring.

✨ Partnering with our local YMCA – Volunteering at community events, mentoring younger children, and helping with programs that bring families together. Seeing our youth take the lead in supporting others is what servant leadership is all about.

Visiting the elderly, reading to residents and sharing genuine kindness at nursing homes is a rewarding way to serve.

✨ Visiting local nursing homes – Brightening the day of senior citizens through performances, conversations, and acts of kindness. Watching our dancers and leaders spend time with residents, many of whom don’t get visitors often, is a reminder of how small moments of connection can have a big impact.

And the best part? We have the pictures to prove it! Our Star Leaders in action, their smiles, and their servant hearts tell the story of why giving back matters.

Why Gratitude and Service Go Hand in Hand

Something amazing happens when kids and teens serve others—they start to see their own lives differently. Instead of focusing on what they don’t have, they appreciate what they do have.

That’s the power of gratitude.

Studies show that young people who volunteer feel happier, more connected, and even do better in school.

✔ 76% of teens who volunteer say it boosts their self-esteem.

✔ Kids who practice gratitude perform better academically and are more engaged in activities.

✔ Young people who give back are more likely to develop strong leadership skills and be involved in their communities as adults.

It’s a simple equation: Serve Others → Feel Grateful → Become a Better Leader.

Lead by Example: Make Service a Habit

The best way to inspire kids to serve? Show them how it’s done. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or mentor, making service a regular part of life sets the foundation for a lifetime of giving. That might mean volunteering together as a family, starting a service project at school, or simply encouraging kids to look for ways to help others in their everyday lives.

Volunteering with local community organizations such as YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, Parks and Recreation, create successful partnerships.

One of the most powerful things we can do for the next generation is to normalize giving—to make community service something they see as second nature, rather than something they "have to do" for school credit or a résumé. When we do that, we create leaders who will change the world.

At Taking Shape Star Leadership, we’re honored to help young people build a heart for service. And we can’t wait to see how their servant leadership shapes their futures—and the world around them.

So, let’s keep encouraging our kids to step up, serve, and lead with their hearts. Because when they do, the world becomes a better place—for all of us.