National Make A Difference Day

Northern Michigan University students gave up some of their time on Family Weekend to make a difference in the community.

Saturday was National Make A Difference Day, a time for neighbors to help neighbors. NMU’s Volunteer Center coordinates the effort in the Marquette area. Members of the NMU swim and dive team did yard care work for residents on Birch Street in Marquette.

“We do a bunch of different things,” NMU freshman diver Julia Mead said. “We get involved with volunteering at football games, hockey games, and so we’ve just come out here and wanted to rake some leaves for some couples.”

Members of NMU’s brand–new Respiratory Therapy Club cleaned up the yard at Sandy Knoll Elementary School. The volunteers dealt with chilly temperatures, rain and snow.

“They assign you a place, and because there are so many of us, they chose Sandy Knoll, but they’ve been really great, so it’s been a good experience,” NMU senior Jessica Noble said.

“We’re always on campus doing stuff for school, so it’s a good thing to come off and do something good for the community,” Mead said.

Make A Difference Day has been held nationwide every year since 1990. It’s the largest national day of community service in the U.S.