Make a Difference Day

Make a Difference Day is one of the largest days of service, where thousands each year adopt local volunteer projects to help advance the common good in local communities.

In Flagler and Volusia Counties, United Way’s Volunteer Center helps local agencies get connected with volunteer groups to help accomplish great things in one day!

ADOPT a Make a Difference Day Project! 

Project: An Act of Kindness: The Butterfly Effect Event Volunteer

Project Summary:  Christmas Come True of Flagler Beach is looking for 18-24 community members to participate in their Make a Difference Day fundraiser!   Volunteers are needed for event set up, assisting vendors, event management, and more! This event will last from 8 AM to 6 PM with various volunteer shifts  available.   

Project: Home Fire Campaign

Project Summary: The American Red Cross needs 5-10 volunteers on October 24th from 8 AM- 12 PM to assist with their Home Fire Campaign in New Smyrna Beach. The Red Cross in coordination with the NSB Fire Dept, will canvas a neighborhood, which has been identified by the fire dept. as being “at risk,” to identify homes in which a smoke detector is needed, new batteries are needed for an existing detector or the home already has a functioning smoke detector. Pairs or groups of volunteers will knock on doors, collect information and possibly help with home installations. Volunteers must be 18 years old to participate unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, able to walk/take down information, and have reliable transportation.

Project: Peanut Butter and Apple Sauce Food Drive

Adopted by Rossi's Diner

Project Summary: YMCA’s in Volusia County are having a food drive for Apple Sauce and Peanut Butter! The drive will run from October 17th- October 24th. All items will be delivered on national Make A Difference Day (October 24th) starting at 10 AM to these locations: 

• DeLand Family YMCA: 761 E. Int'l Speedway Blvd DeLand, FL 32724
• Four Townes Family YMCA: 280 Wolf Pack Run Deltona, FL 32725
• Ormond Beach: 500 Sterthaus Ave Ormond Beach, FL 32174
• Port Orange: 4701 City Center Pkwy Port Orange, FL 32129
• Southeast Volusia: 148 West Turgot Edgewater, FL 32132

Project: Joey’s Gift Respite Care

Adopted by Delta Upsilon at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Project Summary: Easter Seals of Volusia and Flagler Counties are looking for a group of 12-15 volunteers who have patience, play skills, and high energy for the Joey's Gift Respite Care Program! This program is child care for children with special needs, and their siblings, so that parents with very involved caregiving responsibilities can take a “healthy break.” New volunteers should arrive at 9:15 A.M on October 24th for paperwork and an orientation to the event. Lunch will be provided for volunteers, make sure you arrive dressed comfortably to play! Volunteers are placed in classrooms blended by client age range, and are directly supervised by Easter Seals staff. Background checks are required and provided by the agency.

Project: Family Care Package Drive

Adopted by ProNet groups of CareerSource Flagler-Volusia - Still looking for another organization to participate

Project Summary: The House Next Door, in DeLand is looking for a group to do a collection of essential items for the families of their Family Coach program. Family Coach is an intensive in-home prevention program designed for families that are struggling to make ends meet, having difficulty with family management and need parenting support. Many of these families are considered “working poor” and received government assistance through SNAP Benefits. We are looking for necessary items that cannot be purchased using their benefits. Items such as: diapers, toilet paper, deodorant, sanitary items, soaps, toothpaste, shampoo, household cleaners, toilet brush, buckets, mops, paper towels, sponges, laundry soap, dish soap. All items for the drive will be delivered to The House Next Door on October 24th for Make a Difference Day!

Project: Bridge of Hope Hot Meal Program

Adopted by River to Sea TPO and the City of Ormond Beach

Project Summary: Halifax Urban Ministries needs a group of 15 or more volunteers to assist with their Bridge of Hope Hot Meal Program! Volunteers will be working for an estimated 4 hours from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM on October 24th. Volunteers will help at the Bridge of Hope to prepare a nutritious hot meal for approximately 300 of our homeless guests. Duties will include but not be limited to preparation of food and supplies; serving meals, salads, drinks and dessert; providing utensils and silverware; cleaning up; washing dishes and assisting with trash.

Project: Hygiene Bag Packing

Adopted by Publix (#814 Daytona Beach)

Project Summary: The Jewish Federation’s Jerry Doliner Food Bank is in need of around 4 volunteers on October 24th to sort and pack hygiene bags! This project will last for about 3 hours from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The hygiene bags will be distributed to those in need free of charge!
Location: Ormond Beach

Project: Mural Painting and more!

Adopted by Publix (#1450 Port Orange)

Project Summary: The People For Drug Free Youth’s Thrift Store is in need of 4-6 volunteers on October 24th for Make A Difference Day! They are interested in talented artists who would be willing to lend their skills to help paint a mural in their store that captures the New Smyrna Beach community! Other volunteer opportunities on Oct 24th are sorting donations, organizing and cleaning, and creating displays in the store. All materials will be provided, however any contributions are highly appreciated. This project will last for about 4 hours and will begin at 9 AM.

Project: Painting meeting room

Adopted by Publix (#1450 Port Orange)

Project Summary: Stewart Marchman Act Behavioral Healthcare is looking for 4-6 volunteers on Make a Difference Day to help paint their meeting room! This project starts at 8:00 AM and all materials will be provided by the facility. Come help this vital community service agency make their facility beautiful in South Daytona.

Project: Buddy Walk & Family Fun Day

Adopted by Frontier Communications 

Project Summary: The Arc Volusia is looking for 30-40 volunteers for their annual Buddy Walk & Family Fun Day fundraising event at Stetson University in DeLand from 8 AM until 2 PM. Volunteers can help setup the event (tents, tables, chairs, games, signs), work check in tables, serve food, provide directions, supervise games, help with parking, and tear down the event when complete. Friendly, enthusiastic, and smiling faces are all that is required to be a volunteer!

Project: Bay Lawn Makeover  

Adopted by: Target of Port Orange

Project Summary: Halifax Urban Ministries is in need of volunteers to give their front lawn a makeover. Volunteers will be working for an estimated 4 hours landscaping and pulling weeds to make this area of our community as nice as possible. Volunteers must be comfortable repeatedly bending over and standing for long periods of time. We recommend volunteers arrive early to beat the Florida heat.

Project: Books for Family Renew Community Library

Adopted by 2 Individuals

Project Summary: Family Renew Community would like the library at their homeless shelter site spruced up with posters and donated books. Project should take approximately 3 hours.  

To adopt a project, please contact Danielle Lewis, Volunteer Engagement Supervisor at 386-275-1941 or dlewis@uwvfc.org