Make A Difference Day  |See the pictures|

The 13^th annual Make A Difference Day was quite a success!  Over 340 volunteers dedicated their day to improving the environment and the overall lives of people in southern Illinois on October 23^rd, 2004.  The Beautify Southern Illinois Student Alliance coordinated a day of doing good to help promote environmental awareness, anti-litter efforts, beautification activities, and community togetherness. 

Ten activities were scheduled in southern Illinois ranging from kid projects to senior citizen activities.  Throughout the day over 900 people were positively influenced from the various events.  The projects that involved the children were Read for the Environment, which was held in Herrin, Carbondale, and Murphysboro, “It’s Your World” workshop, which attracted over 130 girl scouts, and the Pet Parade, which help find abandoned animals homes.  Southern Illinois University- Carbondale students were able to do their share by participating in a Campus Clean that cleared the SIUC campus as well as Carbondale of litter, as well as contributing to the overall coordinating and implementation of all the Make A Difference Day projects.  SIUC students also volunteered at the Marion Wetland Project site, which created a mini wetland with ove 150 trees.  Families were able to participate in the Hazardous Waste Collection Day, which collected hazardous wastes from residents of Jackson County and properly disposed of the materials.  Senior citizens were also a focus of the group as Free Again Wildlife, Inc. presented a demonstration of injured wild birds as an attempt to bring the outdoors, indoors for the residents.

Special thanks to all of the student groups and volunteers who helped make this day possible.  There were over 20 student groups who dedicated their day to helping the environment and those impacted by it.  Over 400 hours of service time was logged on Make A Difference Day, so thank you to everyone involved.  We look forward to doing the project again next year.