Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Gulf Shores City Schools is planning a big community day of service to honor a beloved local pastor and unite students and residents across the city. The event, called Gulf Shores Gives Back 2026, will highlight kindness, service, and hands-on projects that assist others. Organizers say the day will include students from all grade levels, along with parents, staff, and community partners. The school system encourages people of all ages to participate, sponsor projects, or perform their own acts of service.

The 2026 Gulf Shores Gives Back event is dedicated to the memory of Reverend Chrisy Ennen of First Presbyterian Church of Gulf Shores, who passed away suddenly during the holidays. Reverend Ennen was known for supporting students as a Kids Hope mentor and helping families with after-school pickup needs. The main day of service is scheduled for Thursday, February 26, 2026, with a rain date of February 27, 2026. Activities will be held throughout Gulf Shores at schools, parks, churches, and community sites.

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To start the day, Gulf Shores City Schools will host a high-energy kickoff pep rally at the middle school field at 8:30 a.m. Parent and community volunteers are invited to attend and “help set the tone for an inspiring day of service.” After the rally, students, staff, and volunteers will disperse across the city to participate in various service projects. These projects are designed to address real needs and to “make a visible difference” in the community.

This year’s event is organized by the Gulf Shores City Schools’ Mental Health Advisory Committee, which helped establish the Gulf Shores Gives Back initiative. The committee views service as a way to foster connection, pride, and emotional well-being for students and families. Dr. Stephanie Harrison, assistant superintendent and chair of the event, is listed as the primary point of contact for Gulf Shores Gives Back 2026. The effort also involves school leaders, student representatives, and community partners from the city, Gulf State Park, and the Gulf Center for Ecotourism and Sustainability.

Organizers say Reverend Ennen’s actions exemplify the character they want students to develop. When the state park had to restrict parking for parents picking up their children, she offered the church’s parking lot so families could still meet their children after school. This enabled many students to walk safely from school to the church, supporting school goals of exercise, outdoor activity, and community building. She also arranged special moments for students, such as handing out popsicles after school and, in October, dressing in costume with her dog and church members to distribute goodie bags.

Gulf Shores Gives Back 2026 will include numerous projects for students from pre-K through 12th grade. Examples are planting sea oats to help protect local beaches, cleaning and revitalizing community parks, and preparing and distributing meals to families in need. Other activities will include making cards, delivering flowers to nursing home residents, organizing food drives, washing school buses and vehicles, and assisting with landscaping and painting. Many students and staff have already signed up for these opportunities, but the school system says it remains “always open to more great ideas.”

One of the projects is led by elementary school student representative Liliana Sumerlin. The school system invites those interested in participating or donating to her project to follow the details shared in a promotional flyer. Students with additional ideas for service projects are encouraged to meet with their school counselor. Organizers say this encourages students to take ownership of their service and develop leadership skills.

The list of potential service efforts is extensive and diverse, offering volunteers many options. Planned activities include creating casseroles, blessing boxes, cleaning spaces used by displaced families, yard work at The Lighthouse, general cleanups, blood pressure checks, and beach and trail cleanups. Volunteers may also assist with mulching and landscaping, building bluebird houses, improving the edge of the Gopher Tortoise Trail, pressure washing the pier, cleaning the amphitheater, and supporting turtle conservation projects. Other efforts comprise community garden work, choral performances at retirement communities, kindness rocks, snack baskets, Hope Bag projects, and aid for local organizations such as the Veterans Home, Bon Secour Nature Preserve, Foster Closet, and South Baldwin Hospital.

The school system emphasizes that Gulf Shores Gives Back is “a community-wide day of service” and not just a school event. Residents who cannot participate in the school-led projects are encouraged to do their own service activities in their neighborhood, community, or with their family. They are asked to share their plans so the district can “celebrate your efforts” on its website. After completing projects, groups can upload photos to Google Photos, email them to the district, or share them online with the hashtag #GSGB26.

Businesses, organizations, and individuals can also sponsor student-led service projects to help “bring a student service project to life.” Donations will help fund gloves for students picking up trash, supplies and ingredients for meal preparation, snacks for gift baskets for first responders, and other project needs. Supporters can donate online, by phone at 251-968-9873, or by dropping off checks at the Gulf Shores City Schools Central Office. Organizers say this support “helps us build a stronger, kinder community — together.”

Community members interested in volunteering in person can sign up for specific projects through an online community project volunteer form. The school system mentions there is “something for everyone,” from outdoor cleanups to creative activities such as crafts, bookmarks, and kindness-themed projects. Volunteers will work alongside students, staff, and community partners from the city, Gulf State Park, churches, and local organizations. The announcement includes a long list of committee members and partners, demonstrating broad support across the city.

In its message to the community, Gulf Shores City Schools offers “a heartfelt thank you to all the community members who have stepped up for GS Gives Back Day.” The district praises those who have shared service ideas, volunteered their time, or sponsored projects with money or supplies. Organizers say the day is “a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together as a community.” They encourage everyone to make February 26 their own day of service, saying, “Together, we’re making a difference — one good deed at a time.”