Today marks Make a Difference Day, when volunteers and national service members take on community service projects across the country.
Every October, on the fourth Saturday, people implement service projects to improve their communities — anything from “beautification” projects to improve the grounds of schools, urban areas, and public gardens to canvassing neighborhoods door to door on behalf of breast cancer awareness (October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month).
In many places, national service groups are encouraged to lead community volunteers in special one-day projects in addition to their regular service assignments. For example, this weekend:
- Public Allies in Miami, FL, are leading local volunteers in a service project to help maintain community gardens and nurseries.
- LIFE/Project LINC AmeriCorps members in Jackson, MS, are leveraging community volunteers to clean up a local park, and improve its accessibility for people of all abilities.
- AmeriCorps members, professionals, and 70 community volunteers are getting together to weatherize homes of low-income people in West Asheville, NC.
For service project leaders today and everyday, check out these discussion prompts that help volunteers reflect on their service experience and connect their efforts to social impact careers.
The New Service 
I wish I would have known about this because I would tried to do something here in Baltimore, Maryland.
It’s an annual event — consider putting something together for 2010! The next big service day is MLK Day, and you can read more at http://www.mlkday.gov.