In recent years, we have heard about much crime and wrongdoing from our youth. Fortunately for us, there are also stories of the good youth have done not only in our area but around the country as well.

It was reported last week how Ray Capes and his stepfather Mike Mixson grew their hair to donate to the Locks-of-Love program after a friend of theirs died of cancer. The Locks-of-Love program is a good way for anyone to help cancer patient victims by donating at least 10 inches of their hair for wigs made for cancer patients who may have lost their hair due to chemo or radiation therapy. My daughter did this as well and the feeling you have after doing such a great deed is incredible. Another youth in the county doing service is Trent Caldwell of Daphne. He is working on his Eagle Scout project fixing and painting the fence at Daphne Elementary School. This is something he has taken on himself and has rallied his friends and neighbors to help finish it off so by the time schools starts; students will have a new fixed fence.

There are more stories of youth donating time during their summer break participating in camp counseling programs, cleaning up old cemeteries, reading to children in libraries, cutting grass for people who can’t get out and tutoring other students in summer school programs. This seems to be the growing trend in many areas. After a little digging in the Internet, I found an organization called Youth Service America at www.ysa.org. This website sponsors a Global Youth Service day, which was April 24-26 of this year. There are lists of events from all over the world and a calendar of when you can participate in a project.

More organizations are popping up in other areas as well to keep this service theme going. One that I found is called Nations of Service. Nations of Service is a worldwide organization, which mobilize people as they say, "who are committed to growing goodness in today's world". It provides an opportunity for people to serve others while learning the importance of charity. One day out of 365 is picked that we unite as citizens of the world and give back. This year the Nations of Service day will be August 8th.

Even in our own backyard there are places to do volunteer work. Volunteer Action of the Eastern Shore in Fairhope at 928-0509, Habitat for Humanity in Foley: 943-7268 and the local YMCA program in Daphne: 626-0888 to name a few. Service projects are a great way to spend the summer when typically youth are bored especially right before school starts.

So the lazy days of summer don’t have to be lazy anymore. Especially if you can help someone else and our keep our youth busy so they can learn from the example of others why it is so important to give.

Loxley resident Valerie J. Steimle is the author of two books, “Home Is Where The Heart Is, A look at strengthening the American Family,” and her latest book, “Home Is Where The Learning Is” (www.amazon.com/gp/product/1403379637). Contact her at valeriesteimle@yahoo.com or visit her website at www.stengthenyourhome.com.