Millions volunteer across USA for Make A Difference Day

McLEAN, Va. — Millions of people took part in the nation's largest day of volunteerism Saturday as Make A Difference Day kicked off with thousands of projects around the country.

From cleaning parks to working with local animal rescues, events planned across the country comprise efforts from individuals, corporations, universities, communities, states and nonprofit organizations. Make A Difference Day is sponsored by Gannett's USA WEEKEND Magazine, in partnership with Points of Light, the country's largest group dedicated to volunteer service.

The event started in 1992 when Leap Day fell on a Saturday and USA WEEKEND asked its readers to spend their extra day doing something good for someone else. The response was overwhelming and has since expanded.

Gannett, which also owns USA TODAY, is leading nearly 100 volunteer projects with $490,000 in grant funding from the Gannett Foundation. Points of Light's HandsOn affiliates will be coordinating projects as well. Newman's Own, a longtime supporter, provides financial support for the Make A Difference Day Awards, which will showcase several of the projects at a luncheon in Washington in April.

NBC has also joined forces with Today show's Shine A Light Campaign and Making A Difference series featured on the nightly news.

"Make A Difference Day is a chance for Americans to come together for the common purpose of doing good and helping others," says Gracia Martore, Gannett's president and chief executive officer. "As a company, Gannett is built on serving our local communities, and with Make A Difference Day, we're proud to make a positive impact in the communities we serve and hope it inspires continued volunteerism throughout the year."

At the company's headquarters in McLean, Va., on Saturday almost 200 volunteers put together 6,200 food packs which will be distributed to five schools in local Fairfax County for children who get reduced or free lunches during the week.

"Make A Difference Day has become such a great opportunity for volunteers to change lives," says Tracy Hoover, president of Points of Light.

Around the country Saturday:

• Employees of The Greenville (S.C.) News and their families painted the computer room at the Triune Mercy Center to prepare for six new computers that will help people who are looking for jobs. The center is a crisis ministry in downtown Greenville for the homeless.

• Members from The (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press and the Southwest Florida Literacy Council visited eight libraries across Southwest Florida, reading their favorite children's books to local kids. "I think it's great to give back to the community and this is an important thing for us," said Executive Editor Terry Eberle.

• In Montgomery, Ala., an estimated 60 volunteers used hammers, ladders, and sweat equity to begin cleaning the inside of a house that has been vacant for years. "The next phase will help us transform this into a house fit for a family," said Mike Bunce, executive director of House to House.

• The (Shreveport, La.) Times and the Robinson Film Center offered free screenings of the Australian documentary I Am Eleven, a film about what it means to be 11-years-old in the world today. Abigail Lawrence, 11, noted the economic disparity between kids like her living in the United States and those living in poverty. "I could see the difference and it was kind of sad," she said.

• In Palm Springs, Calif., the 29th annual Palm Springs Aerial Tram Road Challenge, held in conjunction with Make a Difference Day,drew nearly 2,000 runners and walkers, from ages 4 to 91. The event raised an estimated $60,000, which will benefit United Way of the Desert.

• Volunteers in Rochester, N.Y., have set a goal to collect winter coats for at least 300 children who come from needy families.

• A Fountain Hills, Ariz., group will be helping the elderly and other homebound residents with various projects, including building ramps, landscaping and painting.

• Rebuilding a playground and improving a park is the goal of volunteers in Richmond, Calif.

• And in Brooklyn, P.S. 81 elementary school will get a facelift with new paint and other improvements.

In Nashville, about 60 members of The Tennessean staff spruced up the Looby Branch Library and adjoining community center — painting colorful murals, renovating old cabinetry and building benches for the gym.

"It's incredible for us," said Larry Price, associate director for branch services with the Nashville Public Library. Price said the 40-year-old library and community center serves more than 11,000 visitors each month, most of them children from the surrounding low-income neighborhood who often have no place else to go after school.

Staff repainted dreary blue walls in a meeting room, hauled out old furniture and installed new counter tops in an activity room.

Meghan Emery, the 12-year-old daughter of Tennessean community content specialist Misty Emery, joined other staff children in painting well-worn pint-sized wooden chairs in bright colors.

"It feels nice to give kids things I have but they don't," she said.

Jessica Carscadden of San Diego was 11 when she started the "We Care Bears" project a few years ago. Jessica, who lived in an orphanage in China before she was adopted, had a teddy bear collection that kept her company when she was lonely.

Thinking the stuffed bears might help other children, she created a website and enlisted the help of local police and firefighters to collect 580 bags of bears for children who might be injured or frightened in an emergency. The community was so moved by her project that people donated another 3,000 stuffed bears.

Today, police and firefighters who respond to emergency calls are also equipped with teddy bears in case there is a child in need.

Contributing: Anita Wadhwani of The Tennessean; Eric Connor of The Greenville News; Denise Goolsby of The (Palm Springs, Calif.) Desert Sun; Alvin Benn of the Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser; Alexandria Burris, The (Shreveport, La.) Times