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Make A Difference Day gives back to the county
Fort Collins Coloradoan
October 19, 2002
Columns
One of the best things about giving to your community is the way that it can make you feel.
"It was a great feeling to step back and realize that I had really made a difference!" said a youth volunteer from last year’s Make A Difference Day.
"It was a fun and enjoyable experience that makes our group very proud," said another volunteer group of the same day.
Make A Difference Day is coming up soon, on October 25-26th, 2002 in Larimer County. It’s a day that anyone – individuals or businesses – can participate in the rewarding process of giving back to their community.
The event, sponsored by United Way, Hewlett-Packard and First National Bank is coordinated by FirstCall, a United Way-funded agency. Besides being the information and referral agency for people needing help in Larimer County, FirstCall also serves as a volunteer service, organizing events and projects for people who want to contribute. It works with other non-profits to unite the volunteer workforce with volunteer needs across the county.
Mary Robertson, the Executive Director of FirstCall explains the benefits of the concept. "When people volunteer, they can learn what the real needs are in the community, needs that they may not necessarily be exposed to otherwise. It brings people together, enjoying the benefits of teambuilding camaraderie and also giving them a sense of togetherness, that it’s not a ‘them or us’ situation. Who knows, it could be any of us any time for all we know."
October 25-26th you or your "team" can offer your time and skills to make a difference to any number of charities or people in need. Last year, for example, Credit Consumer Counseling Service desperately needed to have a computer network that could function more efficiently to better serve their clients. However, it was too expensive for them to achieve. On Make A Difference Day, volunteers from Hewlett-Packard (HP) came in and reworked the entire network.
HP’s Public Relations Director, Renée Benzel, said they did this because the spirit of giving remains steadfast at the company.
"Participating in Make A Difference Day gives our employees an opportunity to volunteer their time and energy while learning first-hand about United Way agencies and the people they serve," Benzel said. "By volunteering, HP, United Way and the community all benefit."
Whether it is building ramps for people with disabilities, helping Neighbor to Neighbor clients landscape their homes, or weather-proofing playground equipment for the Environmental Learning Center, there are plenty of ways you can contribute to making your community a better place. Last year, a group of developmentally disabled non-profit clients worked on a volunteer gardening project to give back to the community that had helped them.
To find out how you can get involved this year, call (970) 407-7066 or register online at www.firstcall-vc.org
Help improve the quality of life for everyone in your community. Make your own day by making someone else’s this October 25th!
-By Meg Brown a.k.a.: Sophie Waghorn
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