Service projects
On Wednesday, August 11, GenNext held its third annual volunteer recognition event. This exclusive, invite-only party recognized those who have participated in a GenNext service project over the past year.
Check out some photos of these awesome volunteers celebrating at Brennan’s.
This year, GenNext is on pace to complete over 2,500 volunteer hours and have over 500 young professionals volunteers. Both of these would be records for organization!
In attendance at the recognition event were sponsors Rodney Kinzinger from Deloitte and John Purcell from Monsanto. Both gave brief remarks about the importance of volunteering and the amazing United Way our community has. United Way president and CEO Gary Dollar was also on hand to thank volunteers for their commitment to the community. Click to learn more
Sign up for one (or more) of the service projects available for August!
Saturday, August 7th, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
YWCA of Metro St. Louis
4150 S. Kingshighway
St. Louis, MO 63109
Volunteers will help assist with enhancing the interior exterior of the facility with clean up as well as some basic landscaping. RSVP >
Sunday, August 8, 2 - 5 p.m.
Epworth Children & Family Services
6816 Washington Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63130
Volunteers will assist with cleaning the agency’s emergency shelter and transitional living housing. RSVPÂ >
Sunday, August 14, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
1867 Lackland Hill Parkway
St. Louis, MO 63146
Volunteers will help prepare over 3,000 registration kits for an agency event. RSVP >Â
Sunday, August 21, 3 - 6 p.m.
Mary Ryder Home
4361 Olive St.
St. Louis, MO 63108
Volunteers will help facilitate fun activities with seniors within this residential facility. RSVP >
So I know everyone loves the Foodbank project (and I love that people love it) but we’ve got three other projects this month where we need a few more volunteers. In order of need for volunteers:
Saturday, June 19, 10 a.m. - noon
Leu Civic Center
213 North Market Street
Mascoutah, IL 62258
SIGN UP
Volunteers will help mulch and plant flowers for the center.
Saturday, June 19, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Illinois Center for Autism
548 Ruby Lane
Fairview Heights, IL 62208
SIGN UP
Volunteers will help with outdoor yardwork and building beautification.Â
Saturday, June 19, 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Emmaus Homes
2200 Randolph Street
St. Charles, MO 63301
SIGN UP
Volunteers will play bingo, make fun crafts and enjoy a brown bag lunch with residents who have cognitive and developmental disabilities. Â
Looking for something to do on the weekend? Join GenNext in June for gardening, getting organized and, everyone’s favorite weekend activity, bingo! Check out our June service projects and sign up quick - summer is our most popular time for volunteering.  Â
Saturday, June 19, 10 a.m. - noon
Leu Civic Center
213 North Market Street
Mascoutah, IL 62258Â
SIGN UP
Volunteers will help improve the exterior appearance of the agency’s facility. We’ll help mulch and plant flowers. Leu Civic Center provides family support services and programs to bring the community together. Find out more at their website www.leuciviccenter.org. Â
Saturday, June 19, 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Emmaus Homes
2200 Randolph Street
St. Charles, MO 63301
SIGN UP
Volunteers will play bingo, make fun crafts and enjoy a brown bag lunch with residents who have cognitive and developmental disabilities. Emmaus Homes serves adults with developmental disabilities through residential, rehabilitative, and recreational programs. Find out more www.emmaushomes.org. Â
Saturday, June 19, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Illinois Center for Autism
548 Ruby Lane
Fairview Heights, IL 62208
SIGN UP
Volunteers will help with outdoor yardwork and building beautification. Illinois Center for Autism helps people with autism reach their highest level of independence in their home, school and community. Find our more www.illinoiscenterforautism.org. Â
Saturday, June 26, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
St. Louis Area Foodbank
70 Corporate Woods Drive
St. Louis, MO 63044
SIGN UP
Volunteers will help prepare boxes of food for metro St. Louis residents by inspecting, sorting, and repackaging donated items. St. Louis Area Foodbank serves thousands of St. Louis residents each year. In 2009, they distributed 22 million pounds of food to people in need. Find out more www.stlfoodbank.org.
On Saturday, about 14 GenNexters went to a dance put on by the St. Louis Arc, which provides support for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The theme was prom, and I was pleasantly surpised to see most of our volunteers dressed up for the occasion. Two lovely ladies even had corsages.Â
The dance was held in a gym, but the lights were turned down and the DJ was having fun playing everything from “New York, New York” to “Baby Got Back.” There wasn’t much to set up so we were really there just to mingle and dance with the members.Â
Things started off with some simple swaying and head bobbing, but by the end of the night I had seen several dance-offs and classic moves broken out such as the lawnmower, shopping cart and the running man. We walked like Egyptians, rode the train, and got our cha cha slide on.Â
The Arc members were so sweet and great dancers. Janice, our agency contact, said that most members leave by 9 p.m., but this time the DJ had to reluctantly announce the end of the dance at 9:30 to a mostly full dance floor.Â
The monthly dances take a break in the summer but start up again in the fall - and I’ll definitely be there when we do! Want to see our awesome dance moves? Check out photos from the dance.