Oct. 27 designated as Make a Difference Day

Volunteer Ascension is looking for residents and groups interested in taking part in Make a Difference Day, a national day of volunteering sponsored by the Points of Light Institute and Hands On Network.

Oct. 27 marks the 15th year that Volunteer Ascension participates in Make a Difference Day, said Sherry Denig, Volunteer Ascension executive director.

The day is designed to challenge volunteers nationwide to spend time making a difference in their communities and in the lives of others, she said. Millions have participated in the nationwide effort, Denig said. Last year, more than 3 million people “cared enough about their communities to volunteer on that day, accomplishing thousands of projects in hundreds of towns across America,” she said.

Last year, Denig said, Ascension Parish registered more than 900 volunteers who donated some 4,000 hours of service to make a difference in the community.

“Last year was an outstanding year for community projects,” Denig said. “How can we top that? With the help of civic organizations, youth groups, civic service clubs, families and individuals, we can do it.”

As the Hands on Network affiliate in Ascension Parish, Volunteer Ascension encourages residents to pick a project and register it with Volunteer Ascension.

Some Make a Difference Day projects take place earlier in the year due to planning and group availability, but those projects are highlighted along with the projects on Oct. 27.

“In conjunction with Make a Difference Day, we want to be certain to identify, register and recognize all of the local efforts,” she said.

Projects can range from the simple to the complex, she said, including a food drive, home repairs for elderly and disabled residents; litter pick up, entertaining or visiting nursing home residents; collecting clothing for the area agencies; sprucing up neighborhoods, roads and parks; or filling wish lists of children in need of clothing and shoes.

“This is a perfect opportunity for each of us to do something that matters to someone else,” she said. “We urge you to set aside this day, (or any day between now and October 27th), to join forces with your neighbors and with our nation to Make a Difference in the lives of others.”

To register a project, call Volunteer Ascension at [phone] or email [e-mail].