How can one person with one idea make a difference in one day? By taking part in the nation's largest day of volunteer service, Make A Difference Day, on October 28.
Held annually on the fourth Saturday in October, the event inspires and celebrates neighbors helping neighbors in communities nationwide. Organized by USA WEEKEND magazine and the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network, the day encourages anyone-including the young and old, individuals and groups-to participate by carrying out a volunteer project. In 2005, Make A Difference Day recruited more than 3 million volunteers who helped an estimated 20 million people.
Volunteers' services might be as ambitious as collecting truckloads of clothing for the homeless or as personal as spending an afternoon helping an elderly neighbor or relative. Regardless of the type of effort, anyone who helps others may qualify for the National Make a Difference Awards, sponsored by actor Paul Newman.
To apply for the awards, participants simply send in entry forms describing their projects. A team of judges including Newman will select 10 projects and then donate $10,000 to charities of the winners' choosing.
Those who want to volunteer but don't know how can visit the "idea generator" on the USAWeekend.com Web site. The site will help people match their skills and interests with projects that have proven to be successful in the past.
Here are a few project ideas:
• Create a Card-Design your own greeting, get-well or thank-you cards to send to a children's hospital, veterans' group or senior citizens' home.
• Weekend in the Woods-Provide a Saturday afternoon volunteer project (pulling weeds, painting park facilities, planting shrubs, clearing trails, etc.) in exchange for having camping fees waived for a few families.
• Food Bank Fix-Up-Sort through canned goods and/or package them for distribution at thrift shops or shelters.
Volunteers should register their plans in the Make A Difference DAYtaBANK, a national listing of local projects viewed by interested volunteers, people looking for project ideas and news media looking for good stories to tell.
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To learn more about Make A Difference Day or to register a project for consideration, visit www.makeadifferenceday.com.
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