Y’all!

I wanted to clue you in to some of the best-kept secrets of the WYD newsletter. At the top of each email, you’ll see my lil’ intro, along with fantastic member stories and photos in the Community Spotlight and Picture Perfect sections. Sweet.

But don’t stop there! Keep scrolling for even more goods, like our Quick Hitters section, featuring scholarship opportunities, action guides, Black joy, news updates, and DOGS. (And sometimes cats and horses and chickens but almost always DOGS.) Then at the *very* bottom of the email, you can see even more member-submitted impact...and brag to us about the amazing stuff you’re doing too!

Oh, and as always, every time you upload a photo to complete a DoSomething campaign, you have the chance of being featured in WYD. So keep reading, because you might end up reading about yourself.

Let’s Do This!

Ben, Editor-in-chief

For Me, Recycling Is About My Family, Our Planet, and Survival

By DoSomething member Denzen, California

Recycling means a lot to me. It's more than just helping keep my community clean or making money, it's something that my family has been doing since my grandfather.

My earliest memories of recycling started at the age of 4, spending hot summer days organizing, sorting, and smashing tons of cans, bottles, and plastic. It was a father and son time, even if it wasn't an activity a young child would like to do.

Nonetheless, my dad and I have continued recycling 14 years later. We still spend our summer collecting and organizing until we are ready to go turn them in after a year's worth saving. Recycling for my grandfather dated back to the late 70s/early 80s by way of necessity. He did it to help raise 7 kids (including my dad) on minimum wage in Southern California, where the cost of living can be expensive.

The extra income helped my grandfather not rely on government help and taught his children and future grandchildren responsibility. Recycling's perspective has come so far from the days when my dad was a kid. He encountered moments when they used to call him "Trash Digger '' for going through people's trash cans and looking for recyclables, to now helping the environment. Recycling is dear to my heart because of the history and values it has instilled in me. I continue to recycle to do my part in something good for our environment and help combat polluting our Earth.

DoSomething members with their collected cans

Join Denzen and recycle through the 5 Cans Challenge.

Older adults have a greater likelihood of heart disease, depression, and a weakened immune system as a result of social isolation during COVID-19. That’s why DoSomething members like Gabrielle, 19, have used our guides to swap 29,955 stories with Senior Homies in their life.

Gabrielle talked to her grandpa about their cultural traditions and shared this #tbt photo of her grandmother and grandfather at Gabrielle’s first pow wow.

“One new thing that I learned about my culture when listening to the stories is that when a family member dies, the funeral is about 4 days long, each with their own purpose,” she said, “and at the end when leaving, every guest shakes the hands of the family in a line.”

Join Gabrielle and swap stories through our Senior Homies campaign.

Get Started

DoSomething member Lucas is in the New York Times… for picking and donating local citrus!

DoSomething member Aaron is recycling… while on X-Games mode.

We’ve got Black History Month reading recommendations… based on your favorite movies and shows.

This week in Black joy… a 9-year-old CEO is empowering Black girls to love their hair, an 11-year-old started a candle business to save tuition for his dream HBCU, a Florida man used his stimulus check to a “generational food” community garden, and Ryan Coogler is set to create a Wakanda spinoff series.

This week in Pets of DoSomething… pups from DoSomething members Nichelle, Maylee, and Gisselle!

14 Scholarships We *Love* (And You Will Too!)

More Amazing Impact From the DoSomething Community!

We asked you to brag about the amazing stuff you’re doing, and you did not disappoint. Here are some of our favorite answers from the DoSomething community. (Psst...submit yours here!)

“I'm currently in the process of putting nice notes and quotes around my school. I've got the P.E. teacher helping me and a few friends. I'm happy with it so far, and I'm excited to see how it goes over.”

- DoSomething member Chase, 16, Indiana

“Thanks to the DoSomething Club Program, I will be starting a youth program in my community launching this month!”

- DoSomething member Kimberly, 17, California

“I finally started to go back to teen court, where I get to sit on a jury of my peers and help teens who have done something wrong in the community give back.”

- DoSomething member Abbey, 17, Wisconsin