NATCHEZ — Ylani Hayes has kissed babies, shaken hands, delivered Christmas gifts to nursing homes and rolled up her sleeves to do some yard work. But she isn’t campaigning for office.

Hayes has been putting in the community service hours as a member of the Mayor’s Youth Council.

And now that the school year and her time as a member of the council are almost up, Hayes said she doesn’t regret one hour she has spent volunteering.

“This group is always busy,” she said. “It is one of the few groups that that is always doing community service projects.

“Some of my best times in high school have been with the Mayor’s Youth Council.”

The Mayor’s Youth Council is a group of high school students from all grade levels who participate in community service days and make recommendations to the City of Natchez concerning the needs of the youth in the community.

The youth council is open to two students in each grade at Adams County Christian School, Cathedral High School and Trinity Episcopal Day School and four students from each grade at Natchez High School.

Participants are chosen through an application process.

Hayes, a soon-to-be graduate of Natchez High School, said this year’s youth council tried to have service projects each month, but, to her, a few were more memorable.

“I think out biggest thing we have done this year, at least for me, is volunteering at the children’s home,” Hayes said. “I really enjoy spending time with the children.”

Hayes said the group of over 30 Adams County high school students has visited the Natchez Children’s Home multiple times, with the last visit including a movie night and pizza party.

“We were really able to bond with the children,” Hayes said.

Hayes said the group also had a clean-up day at the Watkins Street Cemetery. She said that day was a special time for her.

“My family has a plot there so that was a special day, too,” she said.

Youth council President Chantelle Knight, like Hayes, said her time on the youth council was special. Knight, a three-year member of the community service organization, said the experience has been unlike any other club.

“It has been a great experience and has given me the chance to help out in the community and get involved with the issues we have here in Natchez,” Knight said.

And while the year is almost over, Knight said there is one more youth council event that she is looking forward to — the annual community day.

“That’s always a big project,” she said.

Knight’s original interest in the youth council came about because she wanted to study political science after high school. Now, she said, she wants to be a nurse, but the experience she has gained as a member of the youth council will be valuable in that career choice as well.

“It is a chance to make a difference,” she said. “Even if it is just one person’s life, you can make a difference.”