Volunteer now for OU's Make A Difference Day, set for Oct. 22

Hundreds of Oakland University students, staff and alumni are joining together with the United Way for Southeastern Michigan for a day of community service on Saturday, Oct. 22, known nationally as Make A Different Day (MADD).

As a celebration of “neighbors helping neighbors,” MADD seeks to make positive changes in the community and to raise awareness of the power of service across the country.

This is Oakland’s eighth year of participation, and event organizers anticipate it to be the biggest yet. More than 450 participants from OU and Oakland Community College are set to volunteer, which includes an additional 50 spots over last year’s event, in response to an overwhelming number of students interested in participating.

Local students will work with community partners on various service projects filling the needs of the community.

This year’s projects include beautification work around the grounds of Pontiac High School, sorting items for the Salvation Army, working in the organic garden and in various projects for the Baldwin Center, sorting recycled materials for Arts & Scraps, acting as book buddies for Beyond Basics, and volunteer training for College Positive.

The Oakland University Alumni Association has recruited several area alumni to partner with the students, and to sponsor t-shirts for the event.

On Make A Difference Day, millions of Americans are rallied into a single day of action to help change the world. OU students and alumni are encouraged to participate and become a part of the OU legacy by giving back to the community.

This year’s MADD event will begin at Pontiac High School, located at 1051 Arlene Ave. in Pontiac, MI. The project will run from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., with breakfast, lunch and transportation provided.

For more information or to register online, view the website at oakland.edu/MakeADifferenceDay, or contact Ambriah Brown, Oakland’s Michigan Campus Compact AmeriCorps representative at akbrown@oakland.edu.