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Washington D.C. - Hundreds of AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers from across the nation took part in service projects as part of Make A Difference Day on October 23.

Created by USA WEEKEND Magazine, Make A Difference Day is an annual service event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. Organizers estimate that upwards of 3 million Americans will participate in this year's event. Projects are eligible to receive honors and charitable awards, including $100,000 from actor Paul Newman and smaller awards that will be spotlighted in an April 2004 issue of USA WEEKEND coinciding with National Volunteer week.

One Make A Difference Day project focused on providing ongoing service to families whose home were damaged by hurricanes in Florida. AmeriCorps members who have been repairing hurricane damage since August continued their efforts on the day of service. Serving with the Christians Contractors Association, they covered damaged roofs with plastic sheeting, protecting the building interiors until permanent repairs can be made. On Make A Difference Day, they targeted three counties-Hillsborough, Citrus, and Pasco-with a goal of placing sheeting on at least 100 homes.

Ohio led the nation in number of projects, with 350 projects throughout the state. First Lady of Ohio Hope Taft, Jim Tressel, Head Football Coach, The Ohio State University, the Ohio Community Service Council, and a statewide Steering Committee led the efforts to provide information, promote, and recognize outstanding volunteers throughout the state. Last year, 90,000 Ohio residents turned out to volunteer for the event.

In Washington, D.C., more than 300 people assembled for a massive landscaping and grounds cleanup at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in the city’s Anacostia neighborhood. Volunteer activities included landscaping, painting and other grounds work at the nine-acre site that was the home of the nation’s leading 19th-century African-American spokesman.
Dozens of other projects had Senior Corps volunteers, AmeriCorps members, and Service-Learning participants leading or participating in the activities, including:

AmeriCorps members, Foster Grandparents, and other volunteers went door-to-door in Wichita, Kansas, asking for donations of non-perishable foods, coats, blankets, and new toys to donate to Operation Holiday, which provides food boxes, food vouchers, blankets, and warm coats to over 11,000 individuals and families annually.
Students at the University of Southern Mississippi are spending a week performing service throughout Hattiesburg, Mississippi, including a canned food drive, clothing drive, volunteering at two after-school programs, a breast cancer awareness program, and serving lunch at a local soup kitchen.
AmeriCorps members in the Eureka, California, area, organized a “Health and Harvest Festival” at the Eureka Teen Center, focusing on underserved youth. The festival’s goal is to promote healthy living in the community, through an active lifestyle and nutritious diet, in a fun and festive autumn harvest atmosphere.
In Aberdeen, South Dakota, RSVP volunteers, Foster Grandparents and AmeriCorps*VISTA members collected much-needed items of winter clothing for local Head Start and Even Start programs. Books, baby items, non-perishable foods, and cleaning supplies were also be collected.
RSVP volunteers in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, visited local assisted living centers to play games, read, sing songs, participate in crafts and offer companionship to the residents of these facilities.

The Corporation for National and Community Service provides opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and country through three programs: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. The Corporation and its programs are part of USA Freedom Corps, a White House initiative to foster a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility, and to help all Americans answer the President's Call to Service. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.org.