SEEDS OF CARING

IN 2025, SEEDS OF CARING PROVIDED 57,109 CHILD VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES THAT HELPED CHILDREN DEVELOP EMPATHY, CIVIC AWARENESS, AND A SENSE OF CONNECTION TO THEIR COMMUNITY. THROUGH HANDS-ON, AGE-APPROPRIATE SERVICE, CHILDREN LEARNED TO NOTICE COMMUNITY NEEDS, CONSIDER PERSPECTIVES BEYOND THEIR OWN, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN PLAY A MEANINGFUL ROLE IN HELPING OTHERS AND STRENGTHENING THEIR COMMUNITIES. THESE EARLY EXPERIENCES ARE DESIGNED TO BUILD THE FOUNDATION FOR LIFELONG CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, AND PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR. SEEDS OF CARING PARTNERED WITH 77 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO MOBILIZE 71,683 HOURS OF SERVICE ACROSS OHIO AND INDIANA, ALIGNING YOUTH SERVICE WITH REAL, COMMUNITY-IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES SUCH AS FOOD INSECURITY, SOCIAL ISOLATION AMONG OLDER ADULTS, AND ACCESS TO BASIC NECESSITIES. THESE PARTNERSHIPS ENSURED THAT CHILDRENS SERVICE WAS DIRECTLY RESPONSIVE TO LOCAL NEEDS AND THAT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED TANGIBLE SUPPORT THAT ADVANCED THEIR MISSIONS. DURING THE YEAR, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES PREPARED 9,357 SACK LUNCHES FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HUNGER OR HOMELESSNESS, ASSEMBLED 8,351 COMPASSION KITS WITH ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES, AND CREATED 6,775 CARE CARDS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, AMONG MANY OTHER PROJECTS. IN TOTAL, THESE SERVICE-LEARNING EFFORTS GENERATED 168,206 IN DONATED GOODS FOR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AT THE SAME TIME, PARTICIPATING YOUTH STRENGTHENED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS SUCH AS SOCIAL AWARENESS, PERSPECTIVE-TAKING, AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY- CAPACITIES THAT RESEARCH ASSOCIATES WITH POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH, STRONGER SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND LONG-TERM ECONOMIC AND CIVIC BENEFITS FOR COMMUNITIES.