Heartwell to kick off Grand Valley's largest day of community service

More than 300 volunteers from Grand Valley State University are expected to participate in the nation’s largest day of community service October 17. 

During Make a Difference Day, students will perform service work at more than 20 area organizations for the day. Volunteers will have the opportunity to work with many groups, including youth and senior citizens. Participants will also perform volunteer duties such as trail and park clean up. 

Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell will kick off the day at 9:30 a.m. in the Grand River Room of the Kirkhof Center on the Allendale Campus. Grand Valley President Thomas J. Haas and Student Senate President Maddie Cleghorn will introduce Heartwell. Participants will then be bused to various sites throughout the Grand Rapids area to work on community service projects until 3 p.m. 

While the national day officially takes place October 24, Grand Valley is celebrating October 17 because the university's homecoming football game is October 24. 

The event is sponsored by the Community Service Learning Center at Grand Valley. 

For more information, contact Brendan Gallagher in the Office of Student Life at Grand Valley at (616) 331-2345.