Did you know the fourth Saturday in October is a holiday? A national holiday in fact! And a really great one! People in every state will be devoting time to helping others by doing volunteer work in their communities. Since 1990, when this holiday became official, every October people gather on the last Saturday to do something positive for someone or some cause. And since Portage News is all about being positive, we wanted to encourage you to get out there and make your community an even better place to live!
The activity can be almost anything. On this day, millions of Americans participate in community improvement projects. It takes the form of cleanup, fix-up, painting, picking up in your local parks and municipal facilities. It doesn’t matter what project you take on. It doesn’t matter whether you help a non-profit organization, the community, an animal shelter, your town, nursing home, a church, a food kitchen, or any other group in need. What matters is that you participate.
Need some ideas about where you might help?
Animal shelters: Rose’s Rescue, Portage APL, People Care Pet Pantry, Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary – give them a call and see what you can do.
Center of Hope/Christian Cupboard in Ravenna
Volunteer Match has some ideas for you too with lots of opportunities, short and long term.
Close-to-Home Ideas
Give a mom a break! Watch her kids for a few hours
Offer to rake the elderly neighbor’s yard
Change the oil in the car for a single mom
Cut wood and take it over to a needy family or overly busy friend
Volunteer to do the dishes, laundry or even – dare I say – clean the whole house!
Take a trash bag and take a hike along one of the beautiful trails of the Portage Park District – enjoy the gorgeous outdoors and do it with a purpose.
It doesn’t matter what the task – what matters is recognizing it is a privilege and joy to serve and it makes Portage County a home, not just a place to live.
Make a commitment to help others for just one day. Make a difference on Make a Difference Day!
What will you do on Saturday to be a part of Make a Difference Day?
Do you know of an event or organization that could use volunteers on Saturday?
Share in the comments below.