Learning to Serve

04/28/2026

Proud of our LTS recipients who are organizing collection drives for wildfire victims in South Georgia. ❤️

Cohen Brooks, alongside Graysen Paradise, Lane Rhodes, and Aubri Medders, are organizing a collection drive to support communities in South Georgia impacted by the fires. Donations will be gathered and delivered by truck the week of May 18th. Any support is greatly appreciated as they work to help those in need. Please feel free to use the attached Amazon link for donations.

https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/3Q5TV2MO9Y5I1?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_ggr-subnav-share_JXT2D1R0989HYWP6V9B7

GO TROJANS!

04/02/2026

Renasant Bank recently redirected a portion of their 2026 GA income taxes to LTS to benefit Pinewood Christian Academy (Est. 1970) in Bellville, GA. Their generous contribution will help local students overcome financial barriers to school choice so they can attend the school that is right for them.

“This is a proven opportunity that is a win-win-win for contributors, scholarship recipients, and schools,” says Mandy Hudson, Learning to Serve Executive Director. “Their contribution resulted in a dollar-for-dollar credit towards their 2026 taxes and allowed them to keep their tax dollars local while rewarding students for their service to the community.”

Kevin Cloud, Pinewood Christian Academy Head of School, is grateful for the support from Renasant. “Our local businesses offer tremendous support in many ways,” he says. “Receiving these funds will ease the financial burden on families and empower them to make the best choice for their child’s education.”

For more information on redirecting your GA income taxes to support students in your community, email [email protected].

Pictured L to R: Angie Duckworth, Renasant Bank Market President; Kevin Cloud, Pinewood Christian Academy Head of School; and Mandy Hudson, Learning to Serve Executive Director.

04/01/2026

JaCobe is a 4-year-old LTS recipient who has found a creative way to serve his community of Calhoun, GA.

One Saturday per month, he visits the local laundromat. He helps people by giving them the coins and laundry detergent needed to clean and dry their clothes. He also gives people donuts and water while they are waiting for their clothes to wash and dry. He even helps fold their clothes if they wish.

He says he loves helping others and making their day easier. We love this service project, JaCobe!!

03/16/2026

Jack, a high school freshman and LTS recipient, has found many ways to serve his community.

In addition to donating medical equipment to Pineland Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, he has also volunteered at his church's VBS and even pitched in to help on a farm owned by a relative that was experiencing medical problems. "I was involved in various tasks such as the chicken houses, feeding the animals, and working on the tractors. I learned about agriculture, and hard work. This experience showed me how local farms are really important," he says.

We are honored to be a part of Jack's story!

03/12/2026

There are only 3 days left to submit your 2026-27 Learning to Serve Student Scholarship Application! The deadline is March 15. Apply here: https://www.learningtoserve.org/apply-for-a-scholarship/

03/10/2026

Yasmin, a junior in high school and LTS recipient, served last summer as a group leader at United in Pink Camp, a four-day camp in Central Georgia for children ages 4–18 who have a mother or grandmother diagnosed with breast cancer.

As the campers rotated through music, dance, art, science, physical education, and a time centered around faith and encouragement, Yasmin was struck by how much the campers were dealing with. "On the surface, it looked like a normal summer camp filled with laughter and games," she says. "But underneath that joy was something deeper - these were children carrying worries most kids their age should never have to think about."

Serving at United in Pink Camp taught her that healing goes beyond physical needs. "Sometimes what people need most is not advice or solutions, but someone willing to sit beside them and let them feel seen. This experience strengthened my desire to pursue a career in healthcare because I want to be the kind of professional who cares for the whole person, not just the diagnosis," she says.

"Even in the middle of hardship, joy can still exist and sometimes, giving children space to simply be children is one of the most powerful forms of support we can offer."

We are honored to be part of Yasmin's story and humbled by the work she's doing to serve others!

03/09/2026

This is the LAST WEEK to submit an application for our 2026 Student Scholarship!

Don't miss the opportunity to apply here: https://www.learningtoserve.org/apply-for-a-scholarship/

03/06/2026

Valdosta. Milledgeville. Peachtree Corners. And more than a few stops in between.

Even amidst the craziness of student application season, it was a privilege for our Learning to Serve staff to travel the state this week. We met with schools we currently partner with and new schools we are just getting to know, talked to a few potential partners, read a lot of service essays from our students, talked to a few recipients and counted it all a blessing.

-An admissions director at one of our schools told us she is so burdened when she can’t find a way to help a new student attend their school who really needs it, and she’s so grateful that we can help them.

-One of our recipients moved to the US a couple of years ago. Public school was not a good fit for him, so he had been continuing his overseas school online. He had greatly suffered academically and socially as a result. His parents said he had become a shell of himself. Giving him the opportunity to attend private school helped him thrive again and he is loving being involved in his school community.

-We met with leaders in the foster care community about how to engage businesses who want to redirect their taxes to help students from fostering and adoptive families attend the school that best fits their needs.

We are so grateful we get to do what we do, and especially grateful for the businesses and individuals who redirect their income taxes to make a way for students across GA!!

By the way: don’t forget…

2026 Student Scholarship Application due March 15: https://www.learningtoserve.org/apply-for-a-scholarship/

2026 tax credit contributions due March 15. Mail your check TODAY to:

Learning to Serve
12460 Crabapple Road
Suite 127
Alpharetta, Georgia 30004

Questions? Email [email protected]!

03/04/2026

The goal of education should always be to provide students with the tools to be leaders in their communities. Part of what prepares students to be good leaders is exposure to issues facing their communities and the resources in place to help address those issues. This is why we love seeing our Learning to Serve students serving in their communities and going beyond their comfort zones to help.

Baileigh, a high school junior, learned about food insecurity in her community and worked with the Shepherd's Staff Ministries, Inc. food bank to sort bulk donations and pack meal boxes for members of her community. "For recipients," she says, "the benefit was a reliable source of nutrition and the dignity of knowing their community cares."

Thank you, Baileigh, for showing your community that you care!