Illustration by Ruth Tam

Giving back to the community is on most people’s to-do list, but it takes time and a commitment. A recent study from the National Conference on Citizenship shows that Millennials and teens are more likely to volunteer than other recent generations, and are more civically engaged.

Youth reporters in PBS NewsHour’s Student Reporting Labs program went out into their communities to find and tell the stories of young people making a difference. They found students training to become volunteer firefighters, running pet rescues on Facebook, creating local TEDxYouths, holding math tutoring programs and mentoring peers with special needs.

Connor Morgan volunteers at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, transporting patients to appointments and delivering lab specimens. Connor, a high school senior at Judge Memorial Catholic High School, said the work combines his love of medicine and military history

“Veterans have done so much for us, and most people, I don’t think, truly believe that or appreciate that, so I wanted to do something to help them,” he said.

At Central Hardin High School, students highlighted Trajan Tushkan, a high school sophomore who mentors elementary school children at the Mission Hope for Kids in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

“Those kids look up to me, and I’m always there for them,” Trajan said.

Here are more stories inspired by young people who are actively giving back.

Peer tutor inspires special needs students

Teen firefighter has ‘heart and soul’ to get job done

Michigan student gives back in more than one way

Empowering students is the solution

Produced by Evan Aquinde, Hadassah Ballarta, John Fabella and Noah Pilotin, students at Maui Waena Intermediate School in Kahului, Hawaii.

Giving time to animals in need

Wisconsin teen serves up Thanksgiving celebration for community

Produced by Hailey Collins, a junior at Black River Falls High School in Black River Falls, Wisconsin.

Student missionaries gain more than they give

Produced by Trey Burwell and Kendra Lipps, students at Richwood High School in Richwood, West Virginia.

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Student Reporting Labs connects classes with public media resources to teach journalism, digital literacy and civic engagement and is supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.