Make a Difference Day - do you want to?

This Saturday, Sept. 26, is Make a Difference Day nationwide. Many organizations around Middle Tennessee have organized opportunities for those ready and willing to do just that.
You can be one of more than 1,000 volunteers for Hands On Nashville Day, the community's largest day of service to Metro Nashville Public Schools. Last year 1,400 participants gave a total of 6,000 hours – the largest effort ever. Fifty-five Metro schools have requested volunteers this year.
Painting hallways, wood trim, and wooden bleachers are some of the projects high on schools’ priority lists. Cane Ridge High School has a great project that can involve an entire family. Volunteers will clear the school’s soccer field of rocks, making it safe for the players. Other opportunities include pressure washing windows, general cleaning, bleacher repair, and landscaping. A list of projects is available by clicking here or visit their website at www.hon.org.
Closer by, "Mixins 'n Fixins" will be held at the Elks Lodge, #72 at 485 Oak Meadow Drive in Franklin on Sept. 25. The event, which starts at 6:30 pm., features a barbecue dinner, entertainment, silent auction, door prizes and dancing. Tickets are $25, and all proceeds will be divided between Graceworks Ministries and Meals on Wheels.
Graceworks is an ecumenical, nonprofit ministry funded primarily by Williamson County churches, individuals, businesses, civic group and the Graceworks Thrift Store. Graceworks helps 7000 people in our community every year and has served over 100,000 people since its opening in 1995. At Christmas alone, 750 families are reached by this organization.
Graceworks has seen a 66 percent increase in the number of requests in the first six months of 2009 compared to 2008.
An ongoing need is food for the food pantry and donations to the thrift store, proceeds from which provide a large percentage of the Graceworks’ funding. So, if you are cleaning out the garage this weekend, remember Graceworks.
Also this weekend is Safe Haven Family Shelter’s fifth annual Hike for the Homeless at Edwin Warner Park. Walkers will meet at picnic shelter No. 9. Choose from two easy rated paved trails varying in length from 2.8-3.1 miles. Trails accommodate dogs and strollers, so bring the whole family!
Register to hike as an individual or a team – dog teams welcome! Enjoy food, games, inflatables and more all in support of homeless families in Middle Tennessee. See their website for more information at http://hikeforthehomeless.kintera.org.
Kelly Gilfillan is co-founder of Brentwood Home Page. Her passion is community service and mission work and hopes that through this column, others may seek to do good in the community. Contact her at kelly@brentwoodhomepage.com.