Sat Jul 31 2010
by Jeff Saunders
Reporter
Nordonia Hills -- For the third straight year, the school district is asking area residents to help make a difference.
The district is participating this month in Make a Difference Day on Oct. 24, a nationwide program designed to encourage volunteerism.
"It's a way to make school staff and students become aware of volunteer opportunities in the area," said Barbara Opatka, financial officer at Nordonia High School.
Opatka said that to observe the day, volunteers are planning a variety of activities at the high school, with the centerpiece of the observance the collection for military personnel serving overseas of such things as personal care items, such as soap and shampoo, and socks and snacks, at the district's six buildings.
Opatka said that she is collecting names of relatives and friends of school staff, with students also welcome to submit names.
"Last year, we probably had 10 or 12 names," she said.
Other fundraising planned is expected to benefit the Emergency Assistance Center in Northfield Village, which provides temporary help, including food, for area families and individuals in need, and HM Life, an Akron social services agency.
Students and school staff are also expected to volunteer at Brentwood Health Care Center in Sagamore Hills for about an hour on Oct. 24.
According to the Make a Difference Day Web site, the event was created by USA Weekend Magazine in 1991 as a "national day to help others," with about three million participating in 2008.
Participants do not have to confine their activities exclusively to Make a Difference Day, which occurs on the fourth Saturday of October, but need to primarily take place then in order to be considered for a possible award. This year, Newman's Own, the non-profit philanthropic food products company founded by actor Paul Newman, is providing $10,000 grants to be awarded to the projects of 10 participants.
Opatka said she found out about Make a Difference Day in 2007 because the United Way was promoting it.
"I happened to see it on there Web site and looked into it," she said.
Opatka said she went to then Assistant Superintendent John Schwartzhoff, who approved the district's participation.
E-mail: jsaunders@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3169
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