Tioga County's First

Make A Difference Day

Tioga County is participating in the 8th Annual "Make A Difference Day" on Saturday, October 24. Created by USA Weekend Magazine in 1991, the event is a nationally recognized day of doing good by helping others. It takes place on the fourth Saturday in October.

On Make A Difference Day last year, 1,300,000 people volunteered for projects in towns across the country. For example, at Chenango Bridge Elementary School volunteers held a computer drop-off day and received donations of 13 complete systems for the students to use. In the Ithaca area, 150 volunteers planted 1,200 daffodils and 1,400 crocuses at a hospice.

This year, Tioga County hopes to "have 200 projects happening across the county, involving 999 youth and adults, giving at least two hours of community service," according to Fran Leavenworth, Chair of the Tioga County Legislature.

A county-wide "Thank You" celebration is planned for Sunday, October 25 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, at the Youth Building on the Tioga County Fairgrounds in Owego. All Make A Difference Day participants are welcome to attend.

Everyone is invited to take part in Make A Difference Day - young and old, individuals or groups. The following list contains some of the existing projects in Tioga County. Call the contact person if you would like to join the project.

Tioga County Chamber of Commerce is collecting 999 jars of peanut butter and 999 jars of jelly to donate to the Tioga County Rural Ministry. They would also welcome donations that will be matched to purchase the items. Contact Joan Engelhart, 687-4020.

Tioga County Council on the Arts is painting a mural at the Owego Boys and Girls Club. Contact Annette Schweiger, 687-0785.

Tioga County Rural Ministry would welcome prayers, monetary donations, non-perishable food and household product donations, and volunteers to do a number of tasks in their office. Contact Sister Lisette O'Brien, 687-3021.

Owego Boys & Girls Club would welcome volunteers to paint or landscape the grounds. Contact Lou Sauerbrey, 687-0690.

Open Door Mission would welcome donations of non-perishable food, clothing and other household supplies.

Contact Rev. Tim Sanders, 687-1121.

Blooming in Tioga is implementing a county-wide clean-up effort and would welcome volunteers interested in cleaning up country roadsides. Contact Doyle Gibbs, 687-7440.

Blue Ribbon Campaign would welcome volunteers to work on a county-wide campaign to raise awareness of the need to prevent child abuse. Contact Tioga County Dept. Of Social Service, Gail Barton, 687-8305.

Meals on Wheels would appreciate donations of money or food. Contact Office of the Aging, 687-4121.

Newark Valley Historical Society Bement-Billings House is open for free to the public from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm that day. Contact KimMayhew, 642-8487.

Girl Scout Troops in Waverly are making and distributing baby quilts. Contact Diana Bennett, 687-8600.

Play Yard Concepts, a non-profit day care center, would welcome volunteers to help fundraise, clean-up or renovate the facilities. Contact Chris Benjamin, 625-5654.

Make A Difference Day is sponsored by USA Weekend Magazine in partnership with The Points of Light Foundation and its network of 501 Volunteer Centers.

999 Jars of Peanut Butter....

and Jelly, Too

The Tioga County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a project during Tioga County's first Make A Difference Day on Saturday, October 24. The chamber's "Project Peanut Butter & Jelly" will collect jars of peanut butter and jars of jelly for the food cupboard of the Tioga County Rural Ministry. Their goal is 999 jars of peanut butter and 999 jars of jelly.

Contributions of peanut butter and jelly or money to purchase them are most welcome. The chamber has contributed $500 toward this effort. For more information, call the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce at (607) 687-2020.

YAP (Youth Art Project)

Mural Project Will Make A Difference

The Tioga County Council on the Arts (TCCA) Decentralization Program is sponsoring the Mural Project, a Youth Art Project (YAP) during Make A Difference Day on Saturday, October 24. Volunteers between the ages of 12 and 20 will design and paint exterior murals at the Tioga County Boys & Girls Club. According to the registered project plan, the Mural Program "hopes to unite youth from the entire county in a combined effort, teaching self-esteem, team building and outreach to their community. As an added benefit, the youth will be learning new techniques in this intergenerational cooperative venture. The end result will be a mural with many goals - the evaluation of which will be assessed by the positive reaction of a much-improved building.

TCCA is looking for interested youth to get involved and make a difference. If you would like to participate, call TCCA at 687-0785.