Maryland Associationof Student Councils
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Maryland AssociationGive your school's delegates the chance to attend MASC events and benefit from MASC's leadership, advocacy, and communication activities! Join Now
Please note: Some links on this page lead to external websites. MASC does not own or control these third-party resources and is not responsible for their content.Seasonal Shift: Remembrance, Adjustments, and Awareness! September is a very important month that calls for remembrance, educational empowerment, and a need for awareness for a diverse group of causes.
With school back in session, September offers us meaningful opportunities to not only serve our communities but also serve one another. As we settle back into our routines, it’s the perfect time to focus on service. Whether it’s supporting important causes, raising awareness about things near and dear to our hearts, or simply spreading kindness. Any action, no matter the size, can make a big difference.
Let’s use this month to come together, grow stronger as a community, and create positive change through service!
Remembering With Action:
Each year, September 11th is honored as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. It is a time to reflect on the importance of unity, compassion, and community. By serving others, we not only pay tribute to those whose lives were lost but also carry forward a spirit of resilience and kindness. This day reminds us that even in the face of tragedy, acts of service can bring hope and healing.
Letter Writing Campaigns: Write letters to veterans, first responders, and active military members. It is a simple but powerful way to show appreciation. These messages of gratitude help remind them that their sacrifices and service are recognized and valued.
School-Wide Donation Drive: Organize a donation drive that brings the entire school community together. To make it even more engaging, think about making it a class competition. It’s an opportunity to collect essential items while also teaching students the importance of generosity and collective impact.
Remembrance Garden: Create a remembrance garden that offers a lasting space for reflection, honor, and peace. It serves as a living tribute that encourages mindfulness and reminds the community of the importance of unity and hope. Use flowers, flags, or painted rocks to symbolize a united community full of resilience and compassion!
Adjusting to the Cycle:
As the school year begins, students and staff focus on readjusting to the rhythm and routines of the academic cycle. Activities during this transition help everyone reconnect, build momentum for the year ahead, and support a positive, productive start to the school year!
Peer Connection Projects: Pair upperclassmen with younger students as mentors for both academics and school adjustment. This provides mentorship, guidance, and a sense of belonging!
Homework Helpers: Host an after-school tutoring club where volunteers assist with assignments while building confidence and stronger academic skills among peers.
Skill-Sharing Saturdays: Invite volunteers to lead short workshops on life skills, budgeting, time management, or even resume-building for older students. Empower students with practical life skills beyond the classroom!
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month:
September is recognized as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, promote mental health, and encourage supportive conversations. Activities during this month focus on education, understanding, and fostering a community where individuals feel seen, heard, and supported. The goal is to reduce stigma, increase resources, and empower everyone to look out for one another’s well-being!
Kindness Note Campaign: Have students write anonymous, encouraging notes and post them around school or slip them into lockers. These simple messages could really make someone smile!
Resource Awareness Posters: Create posters or social media graphics with crisis hotline numbers and mental health resources. Making resources accessible to those around you is a very important step, not only for awareness but for prevention.
Community Pledge: Host a pledge wall where students can sign their name and commit to kindness. Post the pledge all around your school, make sure it is seen and known!
Awareness Days to Inspire Action:
• September 1st: Labor Day
• September 15th – October 15th: Hispanic Heritage Month
• September 21st: International Day of Peace
• September 26th: National Family Day
New beginnings in August make a lasting impact!
August is an ideal time to launch back-to-school initiatives—such as school supply drives—as well as wrap up late-summer projects like community clean-up days.
Back-to-School: The school year begins in August, calling for fostering high school spirit, as well as ensuring that everyone has the necessary resources that they need to learn! This is where school-based actions come into place. Hosting school supply drives or creating teacher appreciation kits can create a much bigger impact than you even imagined! Making sure that everyone feels welcome and appreciated during the start of the school year sets a great foundation for the rest of the year.
School Supply Drive: Host a school supplies drive for your school or around your community. Plan the event asking for items like backpacks, pencils, journals, and other supplies. Backpacks would not have to be new, just in good condition. A school supply drive is a great way to assist your peers and others in your community in beginning their school year.
Teacher Appreciation Kits: To start off the school year on a high note with your teachers, think of making small gift bags with items like pens, coffee gift cards, and thank-you notes for teachers returning to school. These items could be collected through donations and used to bring the whole community together. Simple acts to show your gratitude go a long way!
Campus Clean-Up Day: Organize a clean-up day to show that your school cares about the building and the place in which you learn! Tidy up outdoor spaces by picking up litter. Provide your volunteers with resources, like gloves and trash bags.
Mental Health Mondays (Back-to-School Edition) Launch a campaign promoting healthy habits, mindfulness, and check-ins during the back-to-school transition. Ideas:
• Daily affirmations on morning announcements
• Positive Post-It Takeovers
• Yoga or journaling stations during lunch
• Partner with your school counselor or health teacher!
Digital Literacy Mentor: Plan out a course detailing technology basics for anyone who needs it! These courses could go over simple information about using specific apps, like social media, or going over professional uses of technology in the workplace. Host and advertise a zoom where you would present this course!
Social Media Service Campaign: Run a week of awareness posts highlighting causes, nonprofits, or heroes. Pair up your passions with online graphics to spread information!
Virtual Tutoring Squad: Get with a group of people and offer weekly homework help! These Zooms could be in several formats, whether it’s dedicating them to specific topics, like math or english, or you could answer questions based on requests.
August 17th National Nonprofit Day: Support the unsung heroes making change year-round. Volunteer with local nonprofits, share their mission to social media, or host a mini fundraiser. National nonprofit day
Looking for a challenge? The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Student Visionaries of the Year is now accepting applications for 2025–2026! It’s a 7-week campaign to raise funds and awareness while building your leadership resume.
August 26th Women’s Equality Day: Honor the fight for gender equity while empowering the next generation. Here’s how you can get involved: Women’s Equality Day
• Host a trivia game or history walk about the 19th Amendment
• Create posters, art displays, or digital campaigns highlighting trailblazing women
• Volunteer with a local women’s shelter or mentorship program
• Start conversations about equity in your school or club
Summer is the perfect time to get more involved!July offers a powerful opportunity to reflect, reset, and refocus on the impact we can make. With school out and more flexible schedules, it’s the perfect time to engage in meaningful service, learn new skills, and strengthen connections within your community. The resources below offer valuable guidance on channeling summer energy into meaningful action. Every effort counts and contributes to lasting impact.
July is an ideal time for service projects that support our veterans, assist with summer food programs, and promote safety during extreme heat.
Supporting Veterans: As July is the month where we recognize the independence of our country, we should give back to those who have fought and continue to fight for our country. Veterans are a vulnerable population due to many factors, such as mental health challenges and the transition back into civilian life. Here are some creative ways to support our veterans:
• Create Care Packages: These packages are meant to provide comfort and show appreciation to local veterans for their service and sacrifice. Each package should include everyday essentials like socks, snacks, toiletries, and water bottles, as well as handwritten thank-you cards.
• Organize Fundraisers: Countless organizations around our state and country directly support our veterans. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and organize a fundraiser! Some organizations include the Wounded Warrior Project, DAV, Disabled American Veterans, Tunnels to Towers Foundation, and Homes for Our Troops.
Summer Food Service programs: Summer break can be exciting, but for many children and families, it also means losing access to daily school meals. That’s where the summer food programs come in. These programs provide free meals for kids and teens in need, and you can play a role in supporting them!
• Volunteer at a local meal site: Summer food sites are located in schools, churches, parks, and community centers! By being that helping hand that your community needs, you can help distribute meals, assist with cleanup, or support fun activities that keep kids engaged while they eat!
• Host a canned food drive: Organizing a food drive is a powerful way to raise awareness and provide real help to families in need. Here’s how to make yours a success!
– Collecting with a local pantry or shelter to turn one’s small goal in helping people in need, into a big community success.
– Choosing a drop spot with permission from businesses or local areas and placing bins with a sign, to show that this can be used as a donation box!
• Spread the word: One of the biggest challenges summer food programs face is awareness—many families simply don’t know they’re available. You can help change that!
– Design and print flyers or posters that include meals, locations, and times (etc)
– Use social media to share links, graphics, and reminders about information!
– Talk about it, simply sharing what you know with friends, classmates (etc.) leads to more exposure!
Combatting the Summer Heat: Summer is the hottest time of year! Temperatures can climb into the 90s, increasing the possibility of heat strokes and dehydration-based issues. With that, you should be prepared so you can have a safe and service-filled summer!
• Create Cooling Kits: Each cooling kit would include bottled water, a handheld fan, sunscreen, electrolyte drink packets, and cooling wipes. Adding a kind note of encouragement would be a nice touch. These kits can be given to those around you, as well as unhoused individuals, to help them stay safe and cool during the hot summer months.
• Host Pop-Up Hydration Stations: Set up Hydration Stations in high-traffic areas. Stations should offer free cold water, sports drinks, and cooling essentials like misting spray bottles and sunscreen. Additionally, you can hand out information on how to prevent heat exhaustion and where to find local resources.
• Words of wisdom: Never underestimate the power of your time, creativity, and compassion. Real change doesn’t always come from a big event, fancy title, or public recognition; it starts with one person who chooses to act. Whether you’re leading a food drive, helping a neighbor, or simply sharing helpful information online, you are demonstrating leadership. Being a changemaker means recognizing a need and stepping up, even when it’s something small. These small acts inspire others to join in! Not sure where to start? These platforms offer great ideas and real opportunities:
– https://dosomething.org: Join youth-led campaigns focused on social justice, mental health, sustainability, and more. Many projects are virtual and easy to do from home.
– https://www.volunteermatch.org: Find in-person or remote volunteer opportunities in your local area. You can filter by age, interest, or cause.
– https://www.pointsoflight.org/youthandfamily/: A youth-focused service site with ideas for families, schools, and student leaders. This resource offers toolkits for starting your service projects.