National Make a Difference Day in 2024 will be on Saturday, October 26. This annual event is celebrated annually on the fourth Saturday of October.

 

Originally created by USA Today in 1992, National Make a Difference Day was designed to encourage people to make a positive impact on their communities through acts of kindness, volunteer work, and community service projects. No longer sponsored officially, citizens have continued to celebrate its purpose each year knowing that many small acts of kindness can make a global difference. It continues to be recognized as a national day. 

 

What better way to carry on this annual tradition than with ideas from Generation Alpha? These middle schoolers will be the ones to carry this annual event into the 22nd Century. I asked a few how we could make a difference in our community on a single day. Their ideas were thoughtful, humorous, and inspiring.  

 

Lindsey Desselle, 7th grade: Create a fundraiser to raise money for hospitals and nursing homes

 

Marlee Elliott, 8th grade: Give everyone in your neighborhood matching stuffed animals

 

Mia Burns, 7th grade: Set up a community movie day where all concessions purchased during the show go toward a charity

 

Arriyanna Farris, 8th grade: Surprise people with a banana shake from Chick-Fil-A and watch everyone Go Bananas!

 

Alyssa Christmas, 8th grade: Pick up trash and walk dogs for elderly couples

 

Jaiya Williams, 8th grade: Distribute lunches to the homeless 

 

Ra’Mayah Harrell, 7th grade: Create a day of “communication” where people learn how to communicate instead of resorting to violence to solve conflicts

 

Tiana Taylor, 7th grade: Adopt a road in your community and spend the day picking up trash and planting flowers and trees along the road

 

Taniya Braden, 8th grade: Host a free car wash for the community and collect donations for charity