Event Toolkit

Helping Hands Afternoon: Young Men Serving Together

Theme & Purpose

This activity helps young men strengthen brotherhood and community by connecting inner reflection with outward service. It begins with the #MillionMaskMovement, where participants reflect on the strengths and values they usually don’t let others see about themselves — qualities like kindness, patience, or compassion.

Those inner values then guide the Helping Hands service project. By turning hidden strengths into visible actions — writing thank-you notes, packing care kits, or cleaning a community space — young men see how what’s on the inside can create impact on the outside.

Benefits for Young Men

  1. Self-Awareness – Recognize personal strengths that often go unspoken or unseen.

  2. Brotherhood in Action – Put hidden values into practice through acts of service alongside peers.

  3. Leadership & Impact – Learn that small, authentic actions can create real change in their schools and communities.

Materials

  • Table and chairs for group work

  • Basic supplies for the chosen project (e.g., paper, pens, envelopes, cleaning supplies, small gift bags, snacks for volunteers)

  • Camera/phone for documenting the activity (optional)

  • Mask Cards: millionmask.org or digital millionmask.org/drawboard

  • Box or envelope for mask shuffle

Group Size

6–20 participants (plus audience if open to the public)..

Time Needed

60–90 minutes total.

 

STEP-BY-STEP Program

Helping Hands Afternoon: Young Men Serving Together

1. Welcome & Purpose (5 minutes)

Host Script:
“Today we’re giving back. Before we start our service project, we’ll reflect on the strengths we don’t always show through the #MillionMaskMovement. These hidden qualities — like kindness, generosity, or care — will guide the way we serve today. Helping hands come from honest hearts.”

2. Create a Mask (15 minutes)

Hand out mask cards.

  • Invite participants to draw/write:

    • Front (outside): what they show the world.

    • Back (inside): what they don’t let others see about themselves.

  • Mask Links:

  • Collect masks face down in a box, shuffle, and redistribute.

  • Reflection: “These are the strengths that make us helpers and heroes in everyday life. Today, our project is a chance to bring them forward.”

3. Choose the Project (5–10 minutes)

Offer 2–3 options based on time/resources. Examples:

  • Writing thank-you cards to teachers, mentors, or first responders.

  • Packing simple care kits for neighbors in need.

  • Cleaning up or organizing a shared space at school or in the community.
    Let the group decide together.

4. Do the Project (30–40 minutes)

  • Work together in small groups.

  • Encourage conversation: “Which strengths from your masks are showing up as you do this project?”

5. Reflection Circle (10–15 minutes)

Discussion prompts:

  • What values showed up in action today?

  • Which hidden strengths came forward during the project?

  • How did serving as a group feel different than serving alone?

6. Closing & Commitment (5–10 minutes)

  • Each participant writes down one act of service they’ll do in the next month that connects to their inner strengths.

  • Optional: Take a group photo.

Host Closing Script:
“Our masks revealed the strengths we don’t always let others see. Today, you turned those values into action. This is what brotherhood looks like — bringing what’s inside out to make a difference.”

7. SHARE MASKS POST EVENT (10 minutes)

Take pictures of each mask and email them to millionmask@everforwardclub.org to join our #MillionMaskMovement and help us reach 100,000 people by this November!

Optional Add-ons

  • Helping Hands Pledge Wall: Post commitments from participants as a visual reminder.

  • Partner with a Civic Group: Add visibility and scale to the impact.

  • Monthly Tradition: Rotate projects to make service a consistent practice.

For any questions, please contact millionmask@everforwardclub.org

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