The Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement will be hosting it’s fourth annual Make a Difference Day Saturday, Oct. 28.

From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., students will be going out into the community to volunteer their time with specific organizations. The event will be followed with a pizza social at the Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement’s new home in the Schwartz Center.

“Make a Difference Day is all about volunteering,” said Lisa Morde The Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement coordinator. “This is one of the largest annual days of service nationwide.”

This year, the event will involve a few organizations the office has worked with for a number of volunteered groups throughout the years. One group, Center of Hope, is an organization dedicated to feeding low-income people of Portage County where food pantries are not available.

Other organizations include: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Kent Historical Society, Goodwill (Kent), the Freedom House, Loaves and Fishes and Brookdale Senior Living.

“For us (The Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement) what Make a Difference Day is really about, is awareness and connections,” Morde said. “So awareness (about) the different organizations doing meaningful work in the community, and self-awareness learning about your own interests and passions. Connections, going out into the community and meet(ing) organizations…connecting to people who are into making a difference in the same way you are.”

The Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement’s next day of service event will be Saturday, Nov. 18 for National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week.

For more information on how to get involved visit the Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement website at https://www.kent.edu/oeece.

Alexandra Tinline is the parking and transportation reporter. Contact her at [email protected].