Making a Difference for the Community

Making a Difference for the Community

Hundreds attend the “Make a Difference” festival to “GIVE BACK” to their community.

Mayor Jack Balch welcomed the Exhibitors by thanking them for being there and that they are the ones who are really making a difference in our community.

I was in church this morning and the opening song was "Scatter Sunshine" and that caused me to think of the festival. Each of the people representing their non-profits were scattering sunshine by being there that day. Their smiles and enthusiasm were contagious and it spread throughout the entire room. The purpose of the festival is to connect non-profit organizations with those in our community who want to help. At the booth of "Guide Dogs for the Blind" was a couple who learned about them at last year's festival. A couple helping to run another exhibit told about learning about Special Olympics at festival a few years ago, now their autistic son has friends, he has activity, he is participating and winning medals and has a newfound enthusiasm, self-worth and well-being, he even had a girl call him recently.

The service projects at the festival made over 300 hygiene kits for the homeless and needy, tied blankets for "Blankets for Kids", who distribute them to the homeless and abused, made cards for CityServe's senior population, sorted crayons for "The Crayon Initiative" who give them to hospitals for children's activities and colored pictures for "Color a Smile" for children, seniors and military abroad.

Many thanks to our committee, those running the service projects and exhibits, free coffee and hot chocolate, exhibitor lunch and hundreds who attended, especially the youth and other volunteers who helped unload cars and run the event and projects.

A list of exhibitors is available at www.MAD4P.org and thanks to our sponsors who include: Accusplit, The City of Pleasanton, Library and Recreation Department, Community of Character, Carlson & Lane, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

If you want to learn more of local service opportunities: Go to www.JustServe.org

Thanks to those who provided exhibits for Emergency Preparedness: Pleasanton’s Fire and Police Departments, and Department of Emergency Preparedness, Eden I&R, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the San Francisco Community Agencies Responding to Disaster (SF CARD).