Volunteers sought for annual 'Make A Difference Day' effort
The Augusta Chronicle is compiling a list of local groups and efforts that need volunteers on "Make a Difference Day," Saturday, Oct. 26. Go to AugustaChronicle.com/feedback to submit a name to our list.
It's a single day to make a big impact, the 12th Make A Difference Day sponsored by USA Weekend Magazine and its 600 carrier newspapers, including The Augusta Chronicle.
On Saturday, Oct. 26, millions of volunteers across the country will collect food for the needy, pick up trash, visit hospitals, help the elderly and perform other good deeds.
The Augusta Chronicle is compiling a list of local groups and efforts that need volunteers on Make a Difference Day. Several organizations have scheduled volunteer opportunities.
Mercy Ministries has several projects planned, including renovating a day shelter for the homeless, having a car wash to raise money to buy shoes and work boots for the homeless and performing light yard work for the elderly.
The staff and residents at Harison Heights are collecting shoeboxes and filling them with toys and goodies for children in hospitals and shelters. On Make A Difference Day, they will distribute these boxes.
Christ Episcopal Church on Greene Street is seeking volunteers between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to help at the church's weekly soup kitchen.
In Aiken, students and youth groups will be paired with businesses, churches and other organizations to perform projects such as collecting food for Golden Harvest Food Bank, serving lunch at area nursing homes and raising money for charities through car washes and golf caddying.
The Martinez-Evans Rotary Club will clean up Furys Ferry Road.
Also, Evelyn Browne is holding her annual It's Spooky To Be Hungry food drive.
"This is our eighth year, and coincidentally, it's always been on Make a Difference Day," she said.
What began in three Columbia County neighborhoods has expanded throughout Richmond, Columbia and Aiken counties to Greenwood, Columbia and Summerville, S.C., with more than 35,000 pounds of food and $18,000 collected to benefit Golden Harvest Food Bank last year.
A labor of love this month may result in money for future good works.
In April, 10 Make a Difference Day projects from across the nation are selected to receive a $10,000 award. Actor Paul Newman, who donates all the after-tax profits from sales of Newman's Own products to educational and charitable purposes, donates the $10,000 prizes.
Winners of last year's prizes included Lisa Giannini of Mundelein, Ill., who nearly died Oct. 27, 2000, from gall bladder surgery complications.
On the anniversary, she made a difference in the life of a 3-year-old cancer patient she'd read about in the newspaper, by raising $7,000 for the girl's treatment.
Another winner included a 9-year-old cancer patient Nicholas Marriam of Edgewater, Md., who collected more than $7,500 in products to create treat bags for hospitalized children.
For more information about Make A Difference Day, tips, or to register an event in the DAYtaBANK, visit Web site, usaweekend.com/diffday/index.html.
MAKING A LISTThe Augusta Chronicle is compiling a list of local groups and efforts that need volunteers on Make a Difference Day, Saturday, Oct. 26. To be included, e-mail the name of the organization, a description of the activity and its time and place to Neighbors Editor Ed Scott at escott@augustachronicle.com. Or fax to 722-7403. Please include the coordinator's name and telephone number. The Chronicle will publish the list of volunteer opportunities the week prior to the event.
NEEDING HELPThe following local activities taking place for Make A Difference Day, Oct. 26, need volunteers:
IT'S SPOOKY TO BE HUNGRY
Since its inception seven years ago with three neighborhoods, the neighbor-to-neighbor food drive to benefit Golden Harvest Food Bank has grown to more than 1,000 volunteers who collected more that 35,000 pounds of food and $18,000 last year. The program is sponsored by Big Changes Start Small, Inc. Volunteers are needed to be neighborhood captains, food collectors and sorters. For more information about being a part of the event, call Lisa Kelly at 855-7750 or e-mail lisa_kelly@knology.net.
The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 192 of Evans will collect nonperishable food items atits post off Owens Road. For more information, call Miriam Stein at 863-7249 or 863-8728.
ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY CLEANUP
The Martinez-Evans Rotary Club is organizing a cleanup along a portion of Furys Ferry Road. For more information, call 855-8920.
MERCY MINISTRIES
Mercy Ministries Inc. plans to supervise renovation on a homeless day center at 113 Laney Walker Blvd., hold a car wash to buy shoes and work boots for the homeless, build a wheelchair ramp and clean yards for the handicapped and elderly. For more information, call 860-8658.
HARISON HEIGHTS
The residents and staff of Harison Heights are planning to collect shoe boxes and fill them with gifts for a child and pass the boxes out to children in area hospitals and shelters. For more information, call 733-9557.
EAST AIKEN ELEMENTARY
The school will be teaming up with other area organizations for projects that include a garage sale with proceeds to aid teachers with classroom material, collecting food for Golden Harvest Food Bank, cleaning roadsides, serving lunch to residents in nursing homes and pumping gas for donations to charities. For more information, call 641-2450.
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Christ Episcopal Church on Greene Street, which operates a weekly soup kitchen, needs volunteers at the church for as much time as they can spare between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Volunteers are needed to set up tables, prepare and serve food and clean up. For more information, call 736-5165.