(Posted September 4, 2001)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata College is hoping to bring out 100 volunteers from the college's students, faculty, administrators and staff to participate in service projects in and around the Huntingdon community for the 11th annual Make A Difference Day, to be held Saturday, Sept. 15, 2001.
"This is an opportunity for students to actively engage with the community surrounding the campus by serving various needs within that community," says Jenell Patton, director of service-learning and volunteer programs at Juniata College.

Last year, Juniata volunteers were honored by the Altoona Mirror and USA Weekend, the nationally distributed newspaper insert magazine that sponsors Make A Difference Day. More than 2.2 million volunteers nationwide participated in Make A Difference Day last year. Juniata received one of 529 2001 Outstanding Local Project newspaper awards that were given out nationally by USA Weekend.

Juniata, in its first year of participation in the program, received the award for sending 65 volunteers to sites all over Huntingdon County to complete service projects.

This year, Juniata's volunteers will follow the same game plan of completing many different service projects, rather than concentrating on a single large project. Among the service projects targeted by the Juniata College volunteer team are:

--Sending volunteers to help out with a Health Screening sponsored by the Kiwanis Club at Dubois Business College in Huntingdon.

--Traveling to Juniata's Raystown Field Station to complete a list of maintenance projects.

--Performing cleanup and maintenance projects at Handicapper Horsepower Farm, a therapeutic riding center near Huntingdon.

--Taking on cleanup and maintenance work at private homes of seniors who have asked for help through local churches.

For more information on Juniata College's participation in Make A Difference Day, please call Jenell Patton at (814) 641-3365, or Diana Goodley at (814) 641-6357.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.