Youth Service Project (YSP)
Each summer, a team of youth and adult volunteers from First UMC Santa Monica take time out of their summer vacations to go on a week-long mission trip. During the trip, youth learn about themselves and build relationships with people from all over the U.S., they learn teamwork and how to use power tools, and they are given the opportunity to help people to gain a safe, warm, and dry home to live in through their work. This service leadership opportunity helps youth to grow in their faith through serving others. We collaborate with reputable youth-centered service organizations, and while the location of the trips varies each year, the mission remains the same: Be in community and of service to those in need.
July 2023: It’s not to late to give towards the YSP!
Sunday, September 24, 2023: Youth Service Project Report-Back
Save the Date! We are excited to hear from the YSP team about their recent trip in June to Jonesville, Virginia, helping residents by repairing homes through the organization Appalachia Service Project.
Summer 2023: Appalachia Service Project
“We accept people right where they are, just the way they are.” ASP Founder Glenn “Tex” Evans
A group of 20 youth and adult volunteers from First UMC Santa Monica will be spending a week this summer (June 17-25, 2023) helping residents in Jonesville, VA, working with an organization called Appalachia Service Project. ASP has been active in the Appalachian Mountains for over 50 years.
The youth group is looking forward to helping people gain a safe, warm and dry home to live in, and most of all, they are looking forward to growing in faith through this service leadership opportunity. The youth who have worked on service projects come back from their experience transformed, as you can see from pictures and videos at the bottom of this page.
Past Youth Service Projects:
2022 Youth Service Project – Epworth Project, New Orleans
UMYF Santa Monica Appalachia Service Project 2017 – Bland County, VA, Video by Adam Guerrero
To see more service trip and youth group videos, visit: https://www.youtube.com/@bradajo/videos
Youth Service Project – Radio Feature
While the youth were on their trip, the local Smith River Community Radio station did a feature about the service project, and First UMC Youth Emily Plukas was part of the group that was interviewed. Listen Here