Make a Difference Day is a do-good and feel-good event that takes place every year on the fourth Saturday in October. Originally created by USA WEEKEND magazine, this unique holiday has grown into an all-encompassing celebration of neighbors helping neighbors, both near and far.
In addition to supporting the health and happiness of others through acts of service, one of the best aspects of this event is that anyone can make a difference! Plus, the personal benefits of doing so are profound. Volunteering can be as impactful for the giver as the recipient, offering a sense of purpose and fulfillment, as well as the opportunity to meet likeminded people who are working with you to better your community. In fact, volunteering is one of the most popular Meetup topics, with more than 1.3 million members in over 1,700 groups across the globe!
If you feel called to make a difference but you’re not sure where to start, check out this list of volunteering ideas you can put to use on Saturday, October 22, and beyond.
Community cleanups
Working to help protect the environment is an amazing and ever-more-necessary way to benefit your local community and the world at large. Simple actions like litter pickup can go a long way in restoring the balance between human beings and nature.
For example, every Thursday morning, the Fort Lauderdale Kayak, SUP, and Adventure Club gathers for a “Clean Water Clean Life” paddle where they remove trash from different waterways. This Meetup of more than 1,500 members is making a tangible impact on the health of local marine life. As a bonus, taking part in one of these events guarantees you a discounted kayak rental rate every time you come back!
To participate in a similar activity on Make a Difference Day itself, you could join a group like the Nashville Black Millenials, who will be partnering with Recycle&Reinvest on a community cleanup in the neighborhood of Napier. On Saturday, October 22, this Meetup group of more than 1,000 members will spend the morning in the streets and parks picking up trash, then celebrate in the afternoon at a block party for neighbors and volunteers.
Food drives
One of the most essential ways to benefit someone in need is by providing nutritious meals. Meetup groups like Atheists Volunteer – Greater Los Angeles (part of the largest grassroots atheist nonprofit in California) gather regularly in partnership with local food banks to distribute meals. They’re always looking for more volunteers of all backgrounds to join them in setup, assembling and organizing care packages, distribution, and clean up. At each of their food drives they distribute around 3,000 pounds of nourishment to the food-insecure population.
These direct impact volunteering events draw some of the largest and most active Meetup communities. Groups like the Chicago Fun Volunteers (8,000 members) and Random Acts of Kindness Volunteer / Non-Profit Meetup (20,000 members) host regular gatherings where they actually prepare foods from scratch before delivering them to people in need.
Fundraising
Organizations that do vital work in the community need money to help support their staff and raise awareness for their cause.
One of the great things about fundraising is that there are so many different ways to do it, from straightforward donation seeking to sponsoring all kinds of awesome events. The latter method is most popular on Meetup because it’s effective for generating money and generating new friendships at the same time! Here are just a few examples of upcoming events that really put the fun in fundraiser:
- SPCA neon dog walk in Sunset Park, Las Vegas with live music, pet vendors, and a beer garden
- Cornhole tournament at a Los Angeles pub to benefit poor families battling breast cancer
- 5k through the Boston Commons to accelerate research into Myelodysplastic Syndromes
- Halloween drag bingo night to support local wheelchair accessibility improvements in Philly
- Cycling in the scenic West Valley to raise money for the Phoenix Children’s Hope Fund
- Thanksgiving Day “turkey trot” through San Diego’s Balboa Park to support meal programs
Another simple but powerful way to give back is to thank community builders on Meetup with the new fundraising with Pledge feature. If one of your Meetup groups has an active fundraiser, you can show the group’s organizer your support by making a donation.
How to make a habit out of making a difference
Giving back is a special part of the human experience, but you can do it pretty much any time anywhere. There are countless charitable organizations who could use your support, as well as smaller local groups striking out on their own to create positive change.
If you’re new to volunteering, remember that the possibilities are limitless—the above suggestions barely scratch the surface. Follow a cause that speaks to you, whether it’s political advocacy, mutual aid, animal rescue, environmentalism, youth outreach, or anything else. All of these causes are worthwhile, but when you’re making a difference in an area that really tugs at your heartstrings, you’re more likely to feel deeply fulfilled and want to return to those volunteering efforts.
The last thing to keep in mind is the old adage: strength in numbers. With so many trials and tribulations on Earth and in our society, it can feel daunting to even attempt doing some good. So don’t go it alone, and instead join a group of conscientious people working together. If you can’t find the right volunteering group near you, be the change you want to see in the world, and create your own Meetup group to start making your community a better place.
Last modified on September 22, 2023
