Around 300 Grand Valley students, faculty and staff are expected to participate in the nationally recognized Make a Difference Day on October 23. Grand Valley participants are doing their part to give back to the community on the nation's largest single day of volunteering. Make a Difference Day, promoted by USA Today, is entering its 14th year.
The projects include packaging emergency meals and doing chores for senior citizens, working in the Heartside Garden, doing yardwork cleaning and organizing for the YWCA. Participants are scheduled to arrive at Grand Valley's Pew Grand Rapids Campus at 10 a.m., when they will listen to a motivational speech by Johnnie Title. Helpers will then be bused to various sites throughout the greater Grand Rapids area to work on different community service projects from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. After the community service is completed, contributors will regroup downtown. Participants will use this time to reflect on their experiences from the day.
Make A Difference Day not only provides students with a great volunteering opportunity, but also leadership experience. Participants have the option to become site leaders. Roberta Payne, a student and site leader for the Bridge Street Clean-up said, "Make a Difference Day is a great day because it connects Grand Valley to the surrounding community. We put our needs on hold for a day to make a difference in the lives of others."
The community service project is a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. "Make A Difference Day provides a great opportunity for people to see how their efforts can directly affect the community around them," said Kacy Parker, the service-learning graduate assistant from Grand Valley. "The day is especially important for students, because we can show the community how much ability and strength we hold as young people."
For more information, contact Kacy Parker at [email protected] or (616) 331-2345.
