Celebrate 250 Years of America By Giving Back

This summer, the United States turns 250, and communities and individuals will be celebrating with fireworks, parades, and cookouts. But amid the celebrations, there’s something even more memorable and impactful taking shape across the country: a nationwide effort to make 2026 a record-setting year for volunteer service.

This effort is led by America Gives —an initiative of America250 inviting individuals and organizations to increase their service and impact in 2026. Whether you volunteer regularly or are just starting to get involved, JustServe is the go-to place to help you support the America Gives initiative.

The goal of America Gives is simple: honor America’s 250th anniversary with the largest volunteer effort in U.S. history. Millions of volunteer hours have already been logged with many more to come.

Whether you’re supporting veterans, cleaning up a local park, mentoring youth, stocking a food pantry, or simply checking in on a neighbor, every hour of service you give adds to that number and adds to the story of who we are as a nation.

You might already know why you want to serve. The harder question is often “where do I start”?

That’s where JustServe comes in. With thousands of volunteer opportunities across the United States, from hands-on community projects to virtual opportunities you can do from home, JustServe is the easy place to find service projects that can fit your schedule, skills, and interests.

If you look around your community and don’t see a project that fits your situation, post one instead! JustServe makes it just as easy to create a volunteer opportunity as it is to find one.

One of the biggest things that holds people back from volunteering is the feeling that it has to be a big commitment. Service doesn’t have to be complicated; it can be simple.

America Gives is about neighbors helping neighbors and showing up for your community in whatever way you can on an afternoon, on a weekend, or after work. JustServe has opportunities that fit every schedule and every situation, including:

• In-person projects in your own area.
• Virtual opportunities you can do from your couch.
• Family-friendly projects that make serving a shared memory.
• Group efforts for teams, clubs, or community organizations.

As part of the America Gives effort, community volunteers in Marana, Arizona , staffed a traveling museum featuring a replica of the Liberty Bell, giving hundreds of visitors a chance to experience a piece of American history over two days. Guests shared their hopes for the country’s future on postcards, and if they were lucky, got to hear the bell ring.

In Rapid City, South Dakota , 25 volunteers packed 500 boxes of food at Feeding South Dakota’s distribution center as part of a nationwide effort to support 250 food pantries in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. After the event, several volunteers were so moved by the experience that they committed to coming back every week.

Once you serve, don’t forget to log your volunteer hours . Every hour you report through JustServe contributes to the national America Gives count and helps tell the story of what Americans are doing for each other in this milestone year.

Those hours aren’t just a statistic—rather, they represent individuals whose lives were touched and real communities that were strengthened.

This summer, America250 celebrations will be everywhere. If you’re already planning to be part of the festivities, consider adding a few hours of service to the mix. It’s one of the most meaningful ways to honor 250 years of a nation built by people who show up for each other.

JustServe is here to help.

Find a volunteer opportunity near you →

Already have a service project to share? Post it on JustServe and give others a chance to join you!