Monthly Feature October 2006: You can make a difference!

On Saturday, October 28, you can make a difference during Make A Difference Day, an annual celebration of service! The event is sponsored by USA WEEKEND Magazine in partnership with Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network and supported by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman.

In 2005, three million people participated in volunteer projects on this day, both nationally and internationally. It’s a great opportunity to step up your regular volunteer project by planning an extra effort, or to get involved in volunteering for the first time ever

To contribute, look around your community for ideas about where help is needed, or contact area nonprofits that coordinate volunteers. Volunteer centers can serve as referring agencies or may collaborate with other groups to focus on a single issue or a multi-faceted one. Call 1-800-865-8683 to find a volunteer center near you. Visit Make A Difference Day or call hotline at 1-800-416-3824 for free help planning a project or recruiting volunteers.

Many volunteer centers have found new sources of volunteers through partnerships built on this day. Effective ways to form partnerships include combining Make A Difference Day with another community service day; expanding on a pre-existing commitment; teaming up with other civic organizations (such as AmeriCorps or AmeriCorps*VISTA); leveraging community resources by serving as a host to another project or event; responding to a newsworthy need either locally or nationally; and thinking about permanent volunteer loyalty by collecting contact information and distributing materials about current programs.

Past volunteers serving for Make A Difference Day have cleaned up the Kinnickinnic Riverbed on Milwaukee's South Side neighborhood; painted and landscaped a suburban homeless shelter outside Chicago; donated desks to a hurricane-ravaged school; and cleared debris from a teacher's home devastated by Hurricane Katrina. These are just a few of the hundreds of projects you can read about on the website; or use the "Idea Generator" to come up with a unique project relevant to your location. Look for the USA WEEKEND cover story in mid-October that features dozens of planned Make A Difference Day projects.

As part of your volunteer endeavor, be sure to report your experiences by sending in an entry form (downloadable form at the website). Not only will this help organizers track overall progress, but your idea could also benefit other communities in need of solutions, and reporting your results could create publicity for your cause. Each year several organizations are eligible for an award and a $10,000.00 cash donation to a charitable cause

From the Resource Center Lending Library

From the Effective Practices Collection