October 18, 2024
What is National Make a Difference Day? It’s the largest day of community service in the United States, and it’s celebrated on the fourth Saturday in October. Created in 1992 by USA Weekend magazine and joined by Points of Light—a non-profit organization founded by former U.S. President George H. W. Bush—the two entities have sponsored the largest national day of community service for more than twenty years.
Make a Difference Day is a time when people from all walks of life step up and take action to make positive changes in their communities and celebrate neighbors helping neighbors. Children and families are encouraged to volunteer and serve their local communities to improve the lives of others. Activities on this day have ranged from small acts of kindness, like collecting toys for children, to large-scale efforts, such as disaster relief operations, much like those organized after Hurricane Sandy.
How can I celebrate Make a Difference Day 2024?
Celebrating Make a Difference Day 2024 is all about making a positive impact in your local community, whatever form that may take. The day encourages everyone to volunteer their time, donate money or contribute resources to help those in need. There’s no pressure to go beyond your means; the focus is on doing whatever is within your reach to make a difference.
Some ways you can participate include:
- Volunteering at a local soup kitchen or any other organization that helps those in need
- Donating to a charity
- Helping a neighbor with yard work or other chores
- Cleaning up around your neighborhood
- Committing to acts of kindness
- Being a mentor; helping a youth or another professional to gain new skills
- Saying a kind word of support to someone who is struggling
- Putting your skills to work; sometimes our hobbies can bring joy to others in ways we least expect it.
Making a difference doesn’t need to be confined to one day a year. You can make a difference throughout the year by:
- Smiling at a stranger. It costs nothing and is something we can all do.
- Call up an old friend.
- Help out an elderly neighbor.
- Showing someone you believe in them.
- Be there to talk to someone when they are struggling.
- Teach someone a new skill.
Start making a difference today!