A local group consisting of seven local nonprofit organizations invites all nonprofit organizations in Darke, Logan, Miami and Shelby Counties to submit their volunteer project ideas for the group’s celebration of Make a Difference Day, a national day of volunteering that takes place annually in October.
Darke County United Way, Logan County United Way, HandsOn West Central Ohio, Piqua Area United Way, Shelby County United Way, Tipp City Area United Way and United Way of Troy will again join forces to coordinate community service opportunities benefitting social service agencies throughout Darke, Logan, Miami and Shelby Counties on October 22 and 23. Building upon the success of the group’s inaugural Make a Difference Day event held in October 2009 in three counties, the group is expanding its efforts to include service projects in Logan County. The steering committee hopes to expand engage hundreds of volunteers from local churches, businesses, schools and more in service projects that help nonprofit organizations better serve area residents in need.
Make a Difference Day is a national day of volunteering sponsored by USA Weekend. More than 3,000,000 volunteers nationwide participated in Make a Difference Day 2009, held annually on the fourth Saturday of October since 1992. Ohio has led the nation in the number of service projects sponsored in conjunction with Make a Difference Day since 2000. Last year, more than 40,000 volunteers completed over 1,000 community service projects in Ohio for this national day of helping others. One hundred thirty volunteers assisted with the first-ever regional Make a Difference Day event in Darke, Miami and Shelby Counties last year to complete nearly 20 service projects for local organizations.
The group will recruit and assign volunteers to a variety of projects throughout Darke, Logan, Miami and Shelby Counties. All nonprofit organizations serving these counties are encouraged to submit project proposals for approval via www.handsonwestcentralohio.org/MakeADifferenceDay.htm or by calling HandsOn West Central Ohio at (937) 778-5220, ext. 461. Projects will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. or 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on both October 22 and 23. All projects will focus on one of four key areas: Education, Health, Financial Stability and Environment. Participating nonprofit organizations will be provided with basic group volunteer management training, access to appropriate resources for creating group volunteer projects and more. All project proposals must be received by August 6. Volunteers interested in participating in this event may begin signing up on September 7.
In addition to the steering committee members, Make a Difference Day is also sponsored by the following: Hits 105.5, Community Merchant, Daily Advocate, Piqua Daily Call, Sidney Daily News and Troy Daily News.
To learn more about this event, visit www.handsonwestcentralohio.org.
