Wednesday is the last day to register for Make a Difference Day — an annual service event sponsored by the University of Idaho ASUI Center for Volunteerism and Social Action.
The annual event began in 2000 and provides service to organizations and people in need in the Moscow community.
“It’s really a great experience for students who haven’t volunteered before,” said Sam Hermann, outreach coordinator for the Volunteer Center. “It’s a great way to get to know other UI students, as well as getting to know your community.”
At 9 a.m. Oct. 26, participating students will meet in the Student Union Building Ballroom to participate in three hours of service in and around the Palouse area, Hermann said. Last year, Hermann said, Make a Difference Day placed about 500 students in various service projects, including Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill and Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute. This year there are 25 sites and students will be asked to do a variety of tasks depending on what the site needs.
Registration for site leaders will also be open until Wednesday. Site leaders direct and coordinate a group of volunteers, and Hermann said the opportunity gives students the chance to gain leadership skills.
This year a prize will be given to the living group with the most volunteers, said Micaela Iveson, outreach and recruitment coordinator for the Volunteer Center.
“It’s really important to me that people from all groups get involved in service groups and realize how important it is to get involved,” Iveson said.
Hermann said UI has diverse groups of people — from the Greek community to off-campus students and events like Make a Difference Day can bring those groups together.
“I think at UI we have great Vandal pride but we don’t know a lot of the issues that are going on in the surrounding community and this really helps to open our eyes as well as opening our eyes to what service can be done in a community like Moscow,” Hermann said.
“This community gives a lot to UI and contributes a lot to our experience and I think the best way to help the community is through service work,” Iveson said.
Emily Aizawa
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