Since 1992, the fourth Saturday in October has been known nationwide as Make a Difference Day. It’s become the largest community-service day in the nation.
This year, Vancouver and Clark County are offering three volunteer opportunities that are appropriate for everyone — groups of all sizes as well as individuals of all ages. To get involved, visit http://tinyurl.com/2014MADD, or call Hailey Heath, the city’s volunteer coordinator, at 360-487-8316. These are all outdoorsy activities, so be prepared for weather and wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Minors will need parental consent forms, available at each site. You are also urged to bring work gloves, hand tools and water bottles.
• Uptown Village cleanup and presentation of the Ryan Woods Grassroots Community Award, 9 a.m. to noon at 1919 Main St., downtown Vancouver. Woods was a “strong community builder” who died of cancer in 2012, according to the city. This year’s award winner is Michele McKeag Larson, founder of the Joy Team. The award presentation and the dedication of a witness tree will begin the day’s activities; after that, volunteers will put on their gloves and clean up Uptown Village. For more information, contact Jill Brown in the Office of the Mayor, 360-487-8641, or jill.brown@cityofvancouver.us.
• Luke Jensen Sports Park and other park cleanups (“The Butt Stops Here”), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 4000 N.E. 78th St., Hazel Dell. Following a short orientation and coffee donated by Starbucks, volunteers will break into small groups and fan out to parks and public areas in Vancouver and Clark County in search of cigarette butts and other litter. Volunteers need to provide their own transportation to and from different sites. At 12:30 p.m., volunteers will return to Jensen Park to weigh bags of litter and enjoy free pizza donated by Blind Onion.
