Students and community members will have an opportunity to "make a difference" through Outreach Days, which will be held today and Saturday.

Make A Difference Outreach Days are an interfaith effort to bring the Champaign-Urbana community together through service. A steering committee headed by Sister Anna Flanigan from the Newman Foundation is planning the event.

Participants from around campus can help serve at locations including the Eastern Illinois Food Bank, Urbana Park District, Champaign County Nursing Home, Crisis Pregnancy Center and Restoration Urban Ministries.

In serving together, students are offered an opportunity to draw closer to and praise God, said Sister Flanigan.

"Make a Difference Outreach Day is our attempt to bring students together to serve our God by serving and working with each other," Sister Flanigan said. "It is open to any student of any faith or simply those who wish to make a difference in this community."

The committee has researched service agencies that need volunteerism. People who register for Outreach Days can sign up for the various work locations.

Invitations were sent to Religious Workers Association (RWA) and other organizations that might be interested in service.

Sister Flanigan said people in the steering committee also come from several organizations, making it an interfaith effort.

Deborah Owen, member of the the McKinley Foundation's steering committee, said this was a wonderful opportunity for students to get a hands-on experience.

"The giving of self changes you and changes the community," Owen said. "When you engage, it allows you to feel like a member of this community. You can gain a new perspective, whether picking up trash or working with older adults."

Saturday is the main Outreach Day. Check-in begins at 8 a.m. at the E2 Parking Lot, which is at the corner of Sixth Street and Peabody Drive. Color-coded cards containing directions to and descriptions of the services will be available upon check-in.

From 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., volunteers will be working on service projects around the community. A "tailgate" gathering with food and music will begin at 1 p.m. at the E2 Parking Lot.

Today is the alternate day for students to serve the community. Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Newman Foundation, and students can serve from 6:15 to 9 p.m.

"We believe that working together is a great way of building community," Sister Flanigan said. "It is our hope that by serving together, we will all grow in understanding of each other and come to realize that there are many more things that unite us than divide us."

Make a Difference Outreach Day is a takeoff from the National Make a Difference Day on Oct. 25, which is also Homecoming day at the University. In order to keep students from having to choose an activity, Sister Flanigan said they decided on a different date for Outreach Day.

The Newman Foundation is also promoting a Make a Difference Drive from Oct. 13 to Oct. 24. Many local businesses and schools have started collections for the event.

The organization is asking for items such as lotion, diapers, toothbrushes, new socks and underwear. The purpose of the event is to assist human service agencies in Champaign County.

BREAKOUT BOX: For more information on the Make a Difference Drive, call 352-5151.