Service in Action in Zionsville Community Schools
What began as a student idea has grown into one of the most cherished traditions in Zionsville Community Schools.
Today, Do Days engages students in acts of service that support the community while teaching students the importance of helping others.
The initiative began in 2019 when a small group of students at Zionsville Community High School set out to organize a 24-hour day of service. Inspired by Indianapolis’ Indy Do Day, the students hoped to participate in the citywide event. However, many of the service projects were located too far away, required volunteers to be 18 or older or required adult supervision, making it very hard for students to participate.
So, the students and their advisers decided to create something of their own.
They began planning a day of service focused on meeting needs within the local community. The first Do Days event in 2019 was a success and demonstrated the powerful impact students make when given the opportunity to serve.
Plans to expand the initiative in 2020 were interrupted when the pandemic disrupted normal school activities. Even so, students continued to find ways to help others. They organized neighborhood cleanups, wrote letters of encouragement, and volunteered safely wherever possible.
By 2021, the effort evolved into Do Days, expanding from a single day to three days of service. The change allowed more flexibility for students, staff, and families to participate and opened the door for more classrooms and organizations to get involved.
Since then, the initiative has continued to grow.
For the 2026 Do Days, students across the district participated in a wide range of service projects designed to meet community needs. Major initiatives included partnering with the Boys & Girls Club to help stuff backpacks for the Indy Hygiene Hub, assisting with park cleanups at Lions Park and Whitestown Park, volunteering with the Humane Society, collecting donations for organizations such as the Shalom House, The Caring Center, Isaiah House and the Zionsville Food Pantry, and packing meals with Million Meal Movement sponsored by the Zionsville Rotary.
Many teachers also incorporated service directly into classroom learning. Students wrote letters to veterans at the American Legion, participants in Indy Honor Flight and patients at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital.
These projects highlight the many ways service can take shape. Some are organized through partnerships with local nonprofits and community organizations that identify needs in the community. Others begin in classrooms, where teachers and students work together on projects.
The most impactful projects often begin with a simple question: Who could use help right now?
Do Days is also strengthened through partnerships with community organizations. Zionsville Community Schools works alongside local civic groups, including the Rotary Club, Lions Club and Optimist Club, which help support service opportunities and participate alongside students.
For students, the experience is memorable.
Students consistently embrace the opportunity to serve. Many enjoy the chance to step outside the classroom and take part in something that makes a difference in someone else’s life. Through service, students begin to understand how even small acts of kindness can make a big impact.
Just as important, Do Days creates a sense of connection. Students see the results of their work within their own community. They understand that actions contribute to something larger than themselves.
That sense of purpose is one of the greatest outcomes of the experience.
Looking ahead, Zionsville Community Schools expects Do Days to continue growing. What began as a small, student-led idea has become a districtwide effort involving thousands of students each year.
As more classrooms, clubs and community partners become involved, the possibilities for service continue to expand. New ideas and partnerships emerge each year, often driven by the creativity and initiative of an entire community.
And while the projects may evolve, the heart of Do Days remains the same.
Students are learning that service is not just an activity. It is a way of seeing the needs around them and making a choice to help.
In Zionsville Community Schools, that lesson continues to shape a generation of students who understand the power of community and the difference they can make in the place they call home.
