Make Even More of a Difference

Every day is a good day to make a difference, but this Saturday, Oct. 24th is the 19th official annual Make A Difference Day.

Created by USA WEEKEND Magazine and held in partnership with HandsOn Network, the national event is touted as a "national day of helping others," open to anyone and everyone looking to, yep, make a difference.

In 2008, three million people volunteered for the special day in thousands of projects large and small across the country.

If it seems a little amorphous to you — like, where do I start and how can I make a difference — then just click on the handy-dandy Idea Generator for suggestions on what to do. All you have to do is answer three multiple choice questions that help identify what kind of project would best suit your interests and presto magico, the Idea Generator will come up with a list of past projects to inspire you.

Last year, volunteers brought movie night to lonely seniors in Huntersville, N.C., they held bone marrow drives to save cancer patients in Monroe, Conn., and they planted trees in Bellingham, Wash. among many, many other charitable activities.

For a guide to the day, including tips on creating and launching a project, click here.

Once you've participated, you can be counted among the millions who lent a helping hand and be considered for an award. All you have to do is send in an entry form.

Each year in April, hundreds of Make A Difference Day project are selected for honors, headlines and charitable donations. For starters, actor Paul Newsman's company Newman's Own will provide $10,000 to each of the charities helped by the 10 national honorees. The 10 honorees will also be featured in USA WEEKEND's April 2010 issue during National Volunteer Week, thereby giving national exposure to the causes involved.

For more information, including rules, click here.

Photo courtesy of Pink Sherbert via Flickr.