Zane Hollar won a gift card during National Library Card Sign Up Month at the Warsaw Community Public Library. Photo provided by Warsaw Community Public Library.

By Melissa Chapman
Cataloging Supervisor
Warsaw Community Public Library

WARSAW — Make a Difference Day is celebrated annually on the fourth Saturday of October — Oct. 28 this year. If you have ever wondered if your actions make a difference, the answer is yes. If you have wondered where to start, the answer is Make a Difference Day.

Many people believe that their efforts won’t make a difference. They do. Make a Difference Day makes a case for the power of individual contribution to the greater good.

This observance day was created by USA Weekend magazine in 1992 to offer community support and encourage volunteerism. Points of Light, a nonprofit organization founded by former President George H. W. Bush, is the official co-sponsor of Make a Difference Day.
From gathering stuffed toys for firefighters to organizing a nationwide relief effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Make a Difference Day has offered instrumental humanitarian aid nationally.

How can you celebrate this day? Be vocal for local; volunteer locally. Places like community centers, municipal offices, animal shelters or old age homes can always use a set of extra hands. Along with donating your labor, raise awareness about the needs of your community as well. Organize a fundraiser. Do you have a cause you’re passionate about? Organize a fundraiser for your cause and encourage people in your town to join in. Are you someone who loves social media? A week before the big day, plan a social media campaign with updated posts under hashtag #MakeaDifferenceDay.

Some facts about volunteering are it releases endorphins. Multiple studies have shown that a single act of volunteering can help you lead a happier life. Many people take up volunteering to be part of a team. Historically, females have been more active in volunteering their time than males. College students between the age of 18-24 are excellent at volunteering their time. And lastly, 40 percent of all volunteers rise to the occasion after being influenced by a friend or loved one.

Make a Difference Day raises awareness about the local and global charity and fundraising efforts that anyone can be a part of. Being in a position to help others is, indeed, a great privilege. Make a Difference Day strives to change the narrative that volunteering is an obligation, when it is actually an honor and a privilege.

Make a difference. Together we can create a better world, one act of kindness at a time.