Community Service Spotlight: Simon Says “Give,” Citron gives

Citron+is+the+Director+of+the+Simon+Says+Give+youth+board.+By+brightening+someone%E2%80%99s+day+we+might+only+have+a+small+impact%2C+but+later+on+in+their+life+what+we+did+could+really+influence+them%2C%E2%80%9D+Citron+said.

Submitted by Jessica Citron

Citron is the Director of the Simon Says Give youth board. “By brightening someone’s day we might only have a small impact, but later on in their life what we did could really influence them,” Citron said.

Simon says “give” back to the community, and senior Jessica Citron responds. Many students at SPA participate and volunteer with organizations to better the community, but Citron helps run the non-profit organization Simon Says Give as Director of the youth board. Simon Says Give was founded in 2012 by then-7-year-old, Mandi Simon, Citron’s neighbor.

“I went on to the board in my freshman year [2014] as the Marketing Director. I mostly just ran the Instagram. Now, I’m the Director and the oldest youth on the youth board,” Citron said.

The organization’s tagline is “Kids Celebrating Kids,” and some of its most impactful events are throwing birthday parties for kids and holding a backpack drive.

“Our main goal is to provide for youth in our own community who don’t have the basic resources other people do,” Citron said.

Currently, Citron is organizing the Give Awards, which celebrates youth who have made a positive impact on their community.

Simon Says Give brings awareness to children in poverty specifically in communities right around us.

— Jessica Citron

“I am working on the nominations [for the awards ceremony]. A lot of it just involved talking to a variety of people and looking out for people who are doing, even small things, that have had a really big effect,” Citron said.

Citron elaborated on the importance of the work that Simon Says Give does, even though hosting birthday parties for other kids might not seem like it has a significant effect.

“Chances are we can’t help drastically improve the living conditions of other youth, but something even as small as a birthday party, or a new backpack with all the school supplies [they] might need can really cheer others up. By brightening someone’s day we might only have a small impact, but later on in their life what we did could really influence them,” Citron said.

There are a variety of service opportunities that students can participate in, such as the summer backpack drive or collecting items such as blankets or toys for kids for their birthdays.

“The organization is slower over the school year since it is run by people who are in school, but over the summer, it is really active and it is a great and easy way for students to contribute to their community,” Citron said.

Citron believes that in addition being an organization run by youth that helps other youth, the local impact of Simon Says Give has a profound significance.

“[Simon Says Give] brings awareness to children in poverty specifically in communities right around us. There are organizations like Feed My Starving Children that work to bring awareness to children in poverty around the world, but Simon Says Give takes care of the kids right in Minnesota, those who may even be our next door neighbors,” Citron said.