National “Make a Difference Day”

By Chuck Stewart, Jr.

(Newburgh) - More than 150 youth and adults participated in “Make a Difference Day” in Newburgh last Saturday.

“Make A Difference Day” is the most encompassing national day of helping others - a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Originally created by USA WEEKEND Magazine, “Make A Difference Day” is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. In the City of Newburgh, Ramona Burton has organized the event for the past six years. “Each year, for the past six years, we prepare and serve up hot lunches to the seniors,” Burton explained.

This year Burton expanded the event from Burton Towers to Elant Choice. “We needed a bigger kitchen to work in due to the increased number of seniors we are preparing meals for,” she said. Burton also increased the number of sites to accommodate more seniors. “This year the Orange County Community College Center for Youth Development Liberty Partnership program teamed up with the City of Newburgh Youth Bureau. In doing so we are able to have two walk-in lunch sites - one at Elant Choice and one at Ebenezer Baptist Church.”

City of Newburgh Youth Bureau Coordinator Joy Pittman headed up the Ebenezer Baptist Church site. The day started early for Pittman who said their work began at six o’clock in the morning, preparing food. She estimated that over 250 people had received hot lunches, either delivered or walk-ins from that site alone. “Mr. John Duck did a wonderful job preparing the food. I have to commend him and all of the volunteers who donated their time today. They truly have made a difference,” Pittman said.

Students from Ms. Fleming’s Senior Government Class at Newburgh Free Academy also volunteered as part of their community service project “Senior to Senior.” They received special training through a service learning activity sponsored by the National Council for Social Studies and the FDR historical site program “Teaching the Hudson Valley.” There they were trained on senior citizen issues and decided to team up with Burton at the Elant Choice site to put that training to use during the “Make a Difference Day.”

The NFA students baked cookies, played Bingo and Scrabble with the seniors. Pumpkin painting was a huge success, as was the musical sing-a-long. Ms. Morales of Elant Choice said, “The seniors had a wonderful day today thanks to all the hard work of Ramona Burton, and all of these other wonderful volunteers.”

Morales words remind us that anyone, young or old, individuals or groups, can carry out a volunteer project that helps others. That’s what “Make a Difference Day” is all about.

Pictured Above: Seniors from Elant Choice enjoy this years “Make a Difference Day” celebration.