Make a Difference Day motivates students to help out

By Ana Barajas

It was that time of that year again! What could it possibly be? It was Make a Difference Day: National Day of Doing Good! It took place on October 24, 2009 on Saturday. It began at 10:00AM to 4:00PM at Northgate Park. The planned activities were to spread mulch on the playground, walkways and garden; build garden boxes for raised beds out of wood; pick up trash from the park and the neighboring streets; and to join the work teams in the new Northgate Peace Garden.

Here is just some random history of Make a Difference Day on random states:
October 25 1990-Make a Difference Day started
October 28, 1995-More than half a million people volunteered
Sep 14, 1997 - The City of Chicago Heights invited residents to a meeting to plan the year's Make a Difference Day program in the city.
Oct 27, 1998 - Members of the East Windsor Historical Society spent Saturday -- national "Make a Difference Day" -- razing the walls and ceilings of a former school. The work day was part of a $100, 000 project to restore the 180- year-old East Windsor Academy building
Mar 14, 1999 – Make a Difference Day earns national recognition event that promoted volunteerism that had been honored in Washington.

It was a fun day to help out the community, especially if you invited friends and family! It gives a great feeling to know that you helped make Northgate Park look near and clean while meeting others there. My thought on Make a Difference Day is that it is a good way to combine friends and family, with helping Salem and Keizer become better, friendlier places to live. It was all thanks to the families, friends, and neighbors that participated in the Make a Difference Day. Can’t wait ‘til next year’s Make a Difference Day!