SORORITY HONORED FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE

When members of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, AmeriCorps and First Presbyterian Church helped clean up the Cape Girardeau Civic Center last October during Make A Difference Day, they didn't do it for the recognition.

They did it to help their community, but the recognition came anyway.

"We were overwhelmed," said Melanie Rudolph, a sorority member who helped organize the event.

The clean-up project was recognized as a local winner in a contest sponsored by USA Weekend magazine and the Southeast Missourian. The Civic Center received a $500 donation from the newspaper.

More than 865,000 people helped their friends, neighbors and communities Oct. 28, 1995. The national volunteer day will be held again this fall.

"It makes you realize what you can do when you pull people together," Rudolph said.

Although it started as a small group project to help spruce up the Civic Center building, it "snowballed," she said.

About 65 people washed windows, replaced ceiling tiles, carpet and cleaned the outside of the building before the day was over. They each worked about three hours.

For many volunteers, it was their first visit to the Civic Center. It also was the first time a large group had offered to help clean up the building.

"We'd never had that many before," Civic Center president Ed Slaughter said of the volunteer group. In the past, only a few people from clubs and church groups had offered help.

Members at First Presbyterian Church, located across the street from the center, had been looking for a way to get involved in the community.

Make A Difference Day and the clean up project provided that opportunity, said Don Drews, Christian education director at the church.

And their work clearly made a difference at the Civic Center. The building looks almost brand new, Slaughter said.

Almost two years ago, it was filled with old kitchen equipment and falling ceiling tiles, he said. Now it has new carpet and freshly painted walls.

While the volunteer work has been appreciated, Slaughter would like to see more people get involved with community projects.

"You don't need a special day to get involved in the community," Slaughter said. Projects like Random Acts of Kindness should help bring more attention to the everyday volunteers, he added.

Other local projects that were nominated for Make A Difference awards include a student council fund raising project for Cape Girardeau teenager Kevin Lossing who awaits a heart transplant, a quilting bee to benefit children with the AIDS virus, raking leaves for senior citizens, planting trees and organizing a volunteer fair.

Make A Difference Day began five years ago as a partnership between USA Weekend magazine and the Points of Light Foundation. The sixth annual event will be held Oct. 26.