What is Make a Difference Day, and Why Does it Matter?

October 19, 2020 by Angie Long

On one day of the year, there’s a day that celebrates volunteerism, community service and simply making a difference somehow. That day is Make a Difference Day, and it’s been observed on the fourth Saturday of October every year for over 20 years. While it has been sponsored by different organizations, it is the general public who keep its spirit alive every year, uniting to make it the largest national day of community service.

Make a Difference Day

How Did Make a Difference Day Get Started?

This well-respected holiday was founded in 1992 when a newspaper called USA Weekend recommended an idea to its readers. At the time, it was the second-largest national newspaper, and 1992 was a leap year. So when it suggested that readers take that extra day of the year and use the 24 hours to do something beneficial for society, people listened. 

Why is Make a Difference Day Important?

Although it may not be as popular as it was when it had the promotion from USA Weekend or the backing of an organization called Points of Life, well-meaning people still make a point to recognize this holiday. Like any event, advertising is key, so it is important that people use this day to share what they’re doing to inspire others to do the same.

Another reason that Make a Difference Day is so important is that there aren’t any specific rules, which makes it easier for people to do more. There’s no specific entity asking for money, there aren’t any rules about how to participate and there aren’t any rules about a time and place people need to be. Making a difference can simply mean bringing a smile to someone’s face, or it could mean donating your time to pick up litter in the neighborhood. Or, it could involve providing cosmetic updates to the local library or school. The options are endless, and people are more prone to participate when they can make their own rules. 

Make a Difference Day is also an opportunity for nonprofits to ask for help when they may not have a specific day of the year or cause that people commonly resonate with. For example, causes involving health research tend to get a lot of attention because people may know someone affected by a health condition and may be inclined to donate their time or money. But there are plenty of charities out there that aren’t even asking for money and just need a little bit of recognition to make a difference in their own way. Check out the charity organizations we partner with to help you decide where to donate time or money this October.

Part of getting that recognition in today’s day and age could be as simple as posting on social media. For example, if you volunteer somewhere, you can post a picture of a good deed with the tag #MakeADifferenceDay. If there’s a specific charity or cause you’re advocating for, tag them on it as well. Word of mouth is huge, and the positivity that Make a Difference Day presents is what people need today more than ever. 

When is Make a Difference Day?

Make a Difference Day is the fourth Saturday of October. In 2020, that happens to be October 24th, the weekend before Halloween. Even if you can’t think of any ways to make a difference in your community off the top of your head, keep this date in mind and spread the word about making difference during a year that could really use one.