How? Paint a building, pick up litter, help at a home for the elderly, refurbish a community center, plant flowers in the park or any other good deed that makes a difference.
If you’re participating, be sure to let your local newspapers and TV stations know. They often cover these events because you are the “local angle” to the national story. Also, create video of your good deeds and post to YouTube and to your website. If TV stations won’t cover your volunteer efforts, submit the video anyway to your local TV stations.
This year, USA Weekend is giving volunteers a chance to win a vacation and save sea turtles in Costa Rica, teach English in Vietnam or help out at an orphange in Russia. Simply keep a photo diary of the day’s activities, then submit one picture that best illustrates your Make a Difference Day giving. A selection committee will pick one winner (and guest) to go on a paid volunteer vacation to the destination of his or her choice through Travelocity’s Travel for Good Program.
Make sure the photo doesn’t look amateurish. See “How to Use Photos & Graphics in Your Publicity Campaign.”