×

Volunteers join Make a Difference Day

Marietta City Councilman Roger Kalter gives instructions to a group of volunteers in front of the chapel in Oak Grove Cemetery. (Photo by Doug Loyer)

Marietta College student Josh Caldwell, 18, of Marietta, pulls out old molding from the chapel in Oak Grove Cemetery. (Photo by Doug Loyer) Make A Difference Day volunteers clean out ditches in Oak Grove Cemetery in front of the chapel. (Photo by Doug Loyer) AmeriCorps College Guide Alana Kpegba from Washington State Community College spreads mulch at the Harvest of Hope Community Garden. (Photo by Doug Loyer)

MARIETTA — A chill was in the air, but so was a positive can-do attitude as volunteers throughout the community dug into projects to make a difference Saturday morning.

Marietta was filled with students, education and civic leaders and caring citizens working together to that the local “Make a Difference Day” was a success as part of a national effort held each year that encourages people to get out and make a difference by volunteering.

The National Make A Difference Day is always the fourth Saturday in October. It is an annual community service event that has millions of people united in a common goal to improve their communities and the lives of others.

According to the “Make A Difference Day” mission statement, one day every year, they want to inspire everyone to make a difference. It is one of the largest annual single days of service nationwide. Whether it’s a project to help one person or one that benefits a whole community, every contribution really can a difference, organizers said.

Locally, Marietta College’s Office of Civic Engagement has organized many projects in the community for the past 10 years. The office, along with local civic leaders and leadership students, digs into projects that help the community.

Washington State Community College is also involved with Make A Difference Day. On Saturday, WSCC had five AmeriCorps College Guides volunteering as well as students and administrators.

Saturday’s projects involved volunteers helping Marietta Cemeteries Coming Alive, Harvest of Hope, Marietta in Bloom, Ely Chapman Education Foundation, The Castle, The Boys and Girls Club and others.

Marietta City Councilman Roger Kalter spearheaded several groups in Oak Grove Cemetery. He broke the students into teams and instructed them on what to do. He told them be safe, work hard and have fun.

“Although today is ‘Make A Difference Day,’ we’ve actually been working for about a month,” said Kalter. “We’ve already replaced all of the plexiglass in the chapel. Everyday should be Make A Difference Day. It takes constant effort.”

The chapel in Oak Grove Cemetery is over 100 years old and has been used to store equipment and supplies for many years. Marietta Cemeteries Coming Alive is a volunteer group that was started four years ago. The group is striving to clean and fix up the chapel with the ultimate goal of having services in there again.

On Saturday, volunteers were tearing out old ceiling material and molding in the cemetery chapel. Many other groups worked in other parts of the cemetery with general maintenance such as picking up branches and destroyed flower displays and cleaning out ditches and drains.

One of the volunteers in the chapel was MC student Josh Caldwell,18, of Marietta, who helped pull out old molding. Caldwell thinks it is important to participate in “Make A Difference Day.”

“I’ve been volunteering that all of my life. I enjoy it,” he said.

Prince sisters, Alyssa, 18, and Celeste, 20, both MC students from Hillard, Ohio, volunteered at Oak Grove Cemetery. Alyssa served as one of the five coordinators Saturday.

“I’m really excited. Our leadership class has been working on this for about a month and a half. It’s really great to see how many people showed up. We’re excited to get things done,” she said.

“We definitely try to be involved in our community as a whole and I think this is a good way for us to be involved,” Celeste said.

There were also many volunteers at the Harvest of Hope Gardens near Don Drumm Stadium cleaning up things for the end of the growing season.

“We started this garden eight years ago. It’s great getting this help. If we didn’t have this help, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish this,” said Karen Kumpf, retired executive director of Harvest of Hope.

The Harvest Hope Gardens were started on a piece of MC property in 2000. The gardens now have about 36 garden beds and help produce food and serve hungry people and families in the community.

“We’re thankful for the involvement of Marietta College and Washington State Community College,” said Kumpf. “Their help and ‘Make a Difference Day’ makes it possible to produce these gardens.”

“We have AmeriCorps College Guides from Washington State and some students helping out today,” said Mark Nutter, WSCC vice president for academic affairs and a Harvest of Hope boardmember.

“Our students always want to help in the community. We’re very pleased that they stepped up to this opportunity assist,” said WSCC President Bradley Ebersole. “We’re pleased to have Washington State represented here (Saturday).”

Alana Kpegba of Findlay, Ohio was one of the AmeriCorps College Guides from Washington State volunteering.

“It feels good to help out the community like this,” said Kpegba. “By trying to make a difference with effort.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today