What started as a simple effort to connect students with opportunities to serve has evolved into a community-wide movement that brings people of all ages together around a shared commitment to making a difference.
Signal Serves, the community and service branch of the Mountain Education Foundation, creates opportunities for people of all ages to volunteer side-by-side. It is not a club and doesn’t require a long term commitment - just a willingness to show up. Families, friends, students, and organizations are invited to take part in projects that support needs both on and off Signal Mountain while building a stronger culture of compassion and service.
“It’s been humbling to watch the way Signal Mountain answers the call,” said Jenn McGuire, founder of Signal Serves. “I had faith that the people of Signal would show up for whatever was needed.”
For the inaugural event last October, Signal Serves partnered with Northside Neighborhood House to assemble snack bags for Hamilton County students experiencing food insecurity on weekends, holidays, and school breaks. The amount of people who showed up to lend a hand was truly remarkable - more than 75 community members participated and packed over 1,000 bags, with additional groups, clubs, and teams hosting their own packing sessions as team-building service projects.
The spirit continued this spring, when Signal Serves teamed up with Partnership for Families, Children, and Adults to put together summer care packs for families supported by area case managers. Each pack included summer games, flash cards, journals, pens, snacks, socks, and hygiene items - small but thoughtful resources delivered during home visits to offer encouragement and practical support throughout the summer months.
Signal Mountain Middle High School’s Beta Club has played a key role in the program’s growth. Teacher representatives Samantha Bhosale and Stacey Hardison have helped guide student involvement, making service a meaningful and consistent part of school life and strengthening the connection between students and the broader community.
One especially meaningful moment came during a packing event hosted by local high school football players, where younger volunteers watched the older kids with pure admiration.
“It was a powerful reminder that our young people have an impact far beyond the field,” McGuire said, noting how meaningful it was for children to see athletes serving others after practice.
Signal Serves continues to focus on partnering with nonprofits both on and off the mountain, responding to needs as they arise and helping connect people to opportunities to help. Organizers aim to bring students, families, and community members together for two signature service events each year, in the fall and spring, while continuing to support smaller service and volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
“If we see a need, we want to help fill it or help connect people with someone who can,” McGuire said. “Our community wants to help.”
As Signal Serves grows under the Mountain Education Foundation, its vision remains long-term: to instill the value of philanthropic service among our students and families.
“My hope is that by the time Signal students graduate, service and community outreach will simply be part of how they live,” McGuire said. “It will be woven into the fabric of who they are.”
More details about Signal Serves’ plans for the 2026-27 school year will be shared soon, but community members are encouraged to mark their calendars for the fall service event with Northside Neighborhood House on September 30. Those interested in participating, donating or partnering with Signal Serves can contact Jenn McGuire at [email protected].
by Emily Harmon
Signal Serves, the community and service branch of the Mountain Education Foundation, creates opportunities for people of all ages to volunteer side-by-side. It is not a club and doesn’t require a long term commitment - just a willingness to show up. Families, friends, students, and organizations are invited to take part in projects that support needs both on and off Signal Mountain while building a stronger culture of compassion and service.
“It’s been humbling to watch the way Signal Mountain answers the call,” said Jenn McGuire, founder of Signal Serves. “I had faith that the people of Signal would show up for whatever was needed.”
For the inaugural event last October, Signal Serves partnered with Northside Neighborhood House to assemble snack bags for Hamilton County students experiencing food insecurity on weekends, holidays, and school breaks. The amount of people who showed up to lend a hand was truly remarkable - more than 75 community members participated and packed over 1,000 bags, with additional groups, clubs, and teams hosting their own packing sessions as team-building service projects.
The spirit continued this spring, when Signal Serves teamed up with Partnership for Families, Children, and Adults to put together summer care packs for families supported by area case managers. Each pack included summer games, flash cards, journals, pens, snacks, socks, and hygiene items - small but thoughtful resources delivered during home visits to offer encouragement and practical support throughout the summer months.
Signal Mountain Middle High School’s Beta Club has played a key role in the program’s growth. Teacher representatives Samantha Bhosale and Stacey Hardison have helped guide student involvement, making service a meaningful and consistent part of school life and strengthening the connection between students and the broader community.
One especially meaningful moment came during a packing event hosted by local high school football players, where younger volunteers watched the older kids with pure admiration.
“It was a powerful reminder that our young people have an impact far beyond the field,” McGuire said, noting how meaningful it was for children to see athletes serving others after practice.
Signal Serves continues to focus on partnering with nonprofits both on and off the mountain, responding to needs as they arise and helping connect people to opportunities to help. Organizers aim to bring students, families, and community members together for two signature service events each year, in the fall and spring, while continuing to support smaller service and volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
“If we see a need, we want to help fill it or help connect people with someone who can,” McGuire said. “Our community wants to help.”
As Signal Serves grows under the Mountain Education Foundation, its vision remains long-term: to instill the value of philanthropic service among our students and families.
“My hope is that by the time Signal students graduate, service and community outreach will simply be part of how they live,” McGuire said. “It will be woven into the fabric of who they are.”
More details about Signal Serves’ plans for the 2026-27 school year will be shared soon, but community members are encouraged to mark their calendars for the fall service event with Northside Neighborhood House on September 30. Those interested in participating, donating or partnering with Signal Serves can contact Jenn McGuire at [email protected].
by Emily Harmon
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