On a rainy Saturday afternoon, students and a chaperone from Woodberry Forest School arrived at Kidspace, House of Ruth’s child and family development center. Their mission? To lend a hand to the Kidspace staff—literally!
The students tackled physical and much needed projects. They carried over 100 cases of food donations and playground equipment from a second-floor classroom down to the community room. Once everything was in place, they sorted the food, set up distribution tables, and packed 50 food boxes for Kidspace families to take home. Then, they assembled playground equipment, ensuring that when the rain cleared, the children at Kidspace would have new outdoor play options. Finally, they broke down all the empty boxes and carried them to recycling, leaving the space neat and organized.
Their efforts lifted a huge burden off the Kidspace staff. These are jobs that, without volunteers, would have taken weeks to complete. Thanks to the dedication and teamwork of these young volunteers, our staff can focus on providing trauma-informed care and education to the children we serve.
The Power of Youth Volunteerism: A New Generation of Helpers
More than ever, young people are stepping up to support social service organizations. Whether it’s through school-led initiatives, service-learning programs, or personal passion, today’s youth are showing an incredible commitment to making a difference in their communities. At House of Ruth, we see this growing movement firsthand. Young volunteers, like the students from Woodberry Forest, are proving that kindness, generosity, and service have no age limit.
When young people help other young people—kids supporting kids—it fosters something truly special: a cycle of giving that can last a lifetime. By stepping into service at a young age, these students are not only helping families in need today but are also building the foundation for a future rooted in compassion and social responsibility.
Join the Movement: How You Can Help
If you’re a parent or student looking for ways to get involved, there are many opportunities to support House of Ruth. Throughout the year, we run volunteer initiatives that directly impact families in our programs, such as:
Service Projects – Organizing donation supply drives, assembling care packages, and more! Check out https://houseofruth.org/inkind/ for our most urgent needs and wish lists.
Back-to-School Campaign – Helping ensure children have the supplies and uniforms they need to start the school year with confidence.
Gifts for Families Program – Providing holiday gifts and essentials to brighten the season for survivors and their children.
Let’s continue to inspire the next generation of volunteers. Kids helping kids. Neighbors helping neighbors. Together, we create a stronger, more compassionate community.
