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Making a Difference -- For Just One Day!

© Lisa Stambaugh

So you don't have time for a regular volunteer gig. That's OK - we're all busy. But here's a way you can make a difference, for just one day. And everyone can spare one day. It's "Make a Difference Day," which takes place on the fourth Saturday of October, every year. This year, the 12th Annual MADD will be held on October 26. And for people who can't participate on a Saturday due to religious reasons, you can do your project on a Sunday.

Make A Difference Day is sponsored by USA WEEKEND Magazine and its nearly 600 carrier newspapers, and is held in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation. In recent years, 2.2 million people cared enough to volunteer in their own communities on that day, accomplishing thousands of projects in towns and cities all over the country. An estimated 25 million people were impacted by their efforts.

One of the neat things about MADD - also billed as "The National Day of Doing Good" - is that your project can be large, or small, or anything in between. It can impact an organization, a single family, or even just one person. The MADD website even has an Idea Generator, which asks you a series of questions, and helps you identify a project. See http://usaweekend.com/diffday/index.html for more information.

The website also has a project databank, where you can search for projects in your zip code. If you're not quite ready to set up your own project, it's easy to join an existing one that's listed.

Who can participate in Make a Difference Day?

Anyone. Individuals, groups, anyone who wants to work on a volunteer project that helps other people. Projects might include collecting food and supplies for the homeless, or helping elderly relatives do some repair work around the house. You could organize a group of students to clean up a local park, or visit a senior center. Mentor students. Read to children. Install the wiring to network a school or non-profit organization's office. Do chores for a housebound neighbor. Plant trees at a local park or school.

Some of the groups who participate in MADD include organizations such as the AARP, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Americorps, Camp Fire Boys & Girls, Girl Scouts, Goodwill Industries, Kiwanis, National 4-H Council, Salvation Army and VISTA. In addition, many private companies sponsor teams to do good deeds in their community on this day, including J.C. Penney, Capitol Records, State Farm Insurance, and others.

The copyright of the article Making a Difference -- For Just One Day! in Volunteering is owned by Lisa Stambaugh. Permission to republish Making a Difference -- For Just One Day! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.