Make a Difference, Westport

Home 2009 Project List Volunteer Info Donation Information Registration Form Photo Album2003 Photo Album 2000 Last Year's Day

2009 Project List
Volunteer Info
Donation Information
Registration Form
Photo Album2003
Photo Album 2000
Last Year's Day

 

Chairperson-

Barbara Pearson- Rac

Members:

Zach Bomes

Siri Carr

Elise Cotton

Annie Harnick

Jan King

Nancy Lewis

Barbara Murray

Stephanie Nussbaum

Craig Skinner

Courtney Thomas

Nell Weber

Ex-Officio

Amy Riggion

Pat Scully - Selectman's Office

 

October 17-25, 2009

 

EVERYONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

VOLUNTEER

ANY AMOUNT OF TIME YOU CAN SPARE WOULD BE APPRECIATED!!!!

SPECIAL PROJECTS

 

JOIN US AT OUR HEADQUARTER SITE - THE CENTER FOR SENIOR ACTIVITIES ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 9AM - noon

 

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Create hygiene bags for the Norwalk Community Shelter clients

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Create comfort bags for battered and abused women for the Domestic Violence Crisis Center

 

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE

1st Annual Breast Cancer Survival Center Zumba-thon

October 17, 2009

Participant Registration at

http://www.breastcancersurvival.org/Zumbathon.html

 

"Change will not come if we wait for some person or some other time.  We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.  We are the change that we seek." -Barak Obama

 

What is "Make A Difference Day?"

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National Day of service on the fourth Saturday of each October.

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Encourages individuals and organization to help others in need and make a in their lives.

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Offers the opportunity--through organized projects--to lend a helping hand to an individual, a family, a cause and particularly a neighbor.  Many ways of service are possible.

 

Since this is a national "Day," who organizes and promotes it on a national level?

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The "day" is sponsored nationally by USA Weekend in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation.  Monetary grants for charitable causes are awarded to the best projects.  In 1999, two million people participated.   In 1996 and 1997, Westport was given a Regional Award in recognition of our efforts as a community!

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In 1999 Westport was a regional honoree and received a $2000 award from the Wal-Mart Foundation.  We were one of 158 awards given out nationwide.  In 1996, 1997, 1999 2000 2001and 2004 we were recognized with a local hero award.  2005 Westport received the prestigious National Award and $10,000 from Paul Newman.

Who organizes the "Day" in Westport?

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The "Make A Difference Day" organizing committee, appointed by the First Selectman, coordinates the projects and volunteers.

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Here the "Day" is extended to one week, beginning on Oct. 17 and ending Oct. 25.

TOWN OF WESTPORT HONORED

WITH NATIONAL AWARD

FOR 2005 MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY!

Town builds 10-year tradition
Westport, Conn.
Making A Difference in Westport, Conn.
Bryan Wrapp, far left, and Barbara Pearson-Rac were two of the thousands of people from one town giving a boost to others, including, from front to back, Mikell Washington, Matthew Elliott and Andrew Washington.

Each October, Greg and Emilie Wrapp's basement in Westport, Conn., is deluged with sports equipment -- thousands of shoes, balls, bats, lacrosse sticks and pads -- gathered by sons Paul and Bryan to give to needy kids. "We live in a town that is so privileged, and we drive by places that aren't," says Bryan, a high school senior. "When we bring this stuff to those towns, the kids are so grateful."

He's just one of 3,500 Westport residents who gear up each year for Make A Difference Day. For the past 10 years, the town has declared the last week of October "Make A Difference Week," and much of southwestern Connecticut has benefited.

Projects this year included a computer collection for poor children in Bridgeport, a sewing project in which 35 Girl Scout troops made 370 fleece pillows for ill children (see photo below), a coat drive by Coleytown Middle School students and a canned-goods collection to fill area food pantries.

"It's just the right thing to do," says organizer Barbara Pearson-Rac of their efforts. "We really want to foster a sense of giving in our community."

They certainly succeeded.

 

 

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E-mail us with project suggestions, comments and questions!

Makadif@aol.com


 

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Make A Difference Day, Westport, CT 2005©
For problems or questions regarding this web contact Makadif@aol.com
Last updated: July 31, 2009.