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What is Make A Difference Day?
Known as the “national day of doing good” Make A Difference Day is a national effort designed to mobilize citizens in communities across the country in volunteer service—Neighbors helping Neighbors. Created and sponsored nationally by USA Weekend, this is the 19th Annual Make A Difference Day. Thousands of people, young and old, are committed to spending Saturday, October 24th making a difference through service projects in Volusia and Flagler Counties.
Projects can range from fund-raising walks to donation drives of those desperately-needed supplies for foster families, to collecting gently worn clothing for the homeless, to landscaping and painting projects. Reports confirmed that over 7,800 people in Flagler & Volusia counties participated in this event last year.
The United Way Volunteer Center’s efforts are so well received because the Volunteer Center takes care of everything—volunteer recruitment, publicity, and even taking care of your paperwork to register the project with USA Weekend. This is an incredible opportunity for individuals who usually do not work together to do so. It is also an opportunity for families to demonstrate good family values by participating together in worthy causes.
| Why get
involved? What others are saying about Make A Difference
Day... |
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At ITT, volunteering is not only an opportunity to help others through our actions, but to bring us together as a strong team. We learn more about each other and about ourselves along the way. Participating in a Make a Difference Day project provides a great opportunity for everyone to learn more about the agency that you have adopted and also see first hand where your donations make a difference in someone’s life. The Volunteer Center provides the vital role of connecting those in need with those who can help. They make it easy to sign up and participate. If you are wondering "How can I help?"; volunteering for a Make a Difference Day project is the answer.
Linda J. Mahran
ITT Coorporation
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"Make A Difference Day provides us with an opportunity to give back to community, foster teamwork, and increases associate retention & loyalty. Everyone that participated enjoyed the opportunity and found it to be incredibly rewarding. "
Leslie Everett
Bank of America
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“Make a Difference day really makes a difference in our community and our lives and allows us to make the American dream of home ownership a reality.”
Joanna Folsom
Flagler Habitat for Humanity
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How to
participate?
It is easy! 7 steps to Making a Difference!
1.
First, review the
list of available projects with your
group.
2. Download
the
Volunteer Planning Guide. This includes tips and information to
help you select a project.
3.
Complete the
Participation Acknowledgement Form and return it to the
Volunteer Center.
Please keep in mind that projects are adopted on a
first-come-first-serve basis until the maximum number of volunteers
requested has been confirmed. So, get your forms in early!
4. Finalize
your plans with the agency before the 24th to make sure everything
will run smoothly.
5. Order any
supplies you may need such as t-shirts, etc. Live United
t-shirts are available through the United Way as well as other
options for Make a Difference Day t-shirts. Contact the United
Way's Director of Marketing, Crystal Elkins for
more information.
6. Complete your
project on Make a Difference Day. Be sure to have volunteers and staff sign the release and waiver of liability form.
7. Complete
the Project
Reflection Form and return it to the
Volunteer Center no later than October 30, 2009. We will then compile this
information with the other projects and submit your project for
consideration for local, state and national recognition.
Some
Important Dates to Remember
October 2
Volunteer Registration Closes
October 24
Make A Difference Day 2009
October 30
Project
Reflection forms due back to UWVFC
Help us show our
community what it means to LIVE UNITED! We look forward to your
participation in Make A Difference Day 200.
For more information contact
Laura Zublionis,
Volunteer Center Director (386) 253-0563 ext 239.
Download the
Volunteer Guide - includes information and all forms required. (Word document, Right Click --> Save As)
If your group has an incredible idea or already has a project and would like to participate, please complete and return the Volunteer Project Proposal Form to register your project.
See pictures from last year's Make a Difference
Day!
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