Make a Difference this Saturday with Habitat for Humanity

TOMS RIVER, NJ - USA TODAY and Points of Light have joined together to sponsor Make A Difference Day, the largest national day of community service. Points of Light leads thousands of projects each year involving corporations, communities, nonprofit organizations, entire states and individuals. For more than two decades, Make A Difference Day has been celebrated annually on the fourth Saturday in October and connects people with opportunities to serve, increases the strength of communities and promotes civic engagement.

The nationwide undertaking includes revitalizing community centers, rehabilitating parks, improving low-income homes, creating community art projects, mentoring, serving meals, developing community gardens and much more. Here in Ocean County, we will celebrate Make A Difference Day by working on a Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity construction site.

Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing ministry that brings people together to build homes, communities and hope for low-income residents in northern Ocean County. To date, the Northern Ocean County affiliate has completed 16 new homes, 60 Hurricane Sandy critical home repairs and over 130  home repairs through its ‘A Brush with Kindness’ program.

Currently, they are completing another home in the Manitou Park section of Berkeley Township and are actively raising funds for a Toms River home through their Building Homes from the Heart initiative. Northern Ocean Habitat also operates the ReStore, a furniture thrift shop located at 1201 Lakewood Road in Toms River.

By coming together to address the problems we all face, we are building a stronger, more vibrant community.

If you are interested in volunteering on the project, please click here to register. All volunteers must be 18 or older; no exceptions. No walk-ons, space is limited.