Make a Difference Day Returns for Fifth Year With 15 Volunteer Projects Across Douglas County

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - Make a Difference Day is returning for its fifth year on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 9 a.m. to noon, bringing volunteers together across Douglas County to support local organizations, improve public spaces, and help meet community needs.

This year's event will feature 15 volunteer projects throughout the county, offering opportunities for individuals, families, businesses, youth groups, and service organizations to get involved.

The projects range from building beds for children and helping construct a home to improving school grounds, supporting veterans, preparing medical supplies, and restoring natural habitats.

Organizers say the annual event is intended to encourage volunteerism while helping residents build connections within their communities.

"Make a Difference Day is about more than completing projects. It is about building stronger communities through service and creating opportunities for people of all ages to make a positive impact," organizers said. "As we celebrate our fifth year, we are grateful for the volunteers and community partners who continue to demonstrate that together we can make a real difference."

15 Projects Planned Throughout Douglas County

Volunteers can choose from a variety of projects based on their interests and the needs of participating organizations.

• HIV Alliance: Preparing wound care kits.
• FamilySearch Center: Interviewing retirees and preserving personal stories and memories for future generations.
• Umpqua Valley Habitat for Humanity: Assisting with construction of a home in a Riddle neighborhood.
• Sleep in Heavenly Peace: Building beds for local children.
• Green Elementary School: Refurbishing tricycles and helping complete construction of the school's new greenhouse.
• Saving Grace Humane Society: Improving and beautifying a dog walking area.
• Fremont Middle School: Performing maintenance and care in the school's atrium.
• Roseburg Rotary: Helping with cleanup and landscaping preparations for the Festival of Lights.
• City of Reedsport - Lions Park: Spreading new playground bark mulch and performing general landscape maintenance.
• Roseburg VA Medical Center: Installing weed barrier and distributing rock landscaping materials.
• Sunrise Enterprises: Painting kindness rocks to be distributed throughout the community.
• Glide Elementary School: Installing drip irrigation lines around trees in the Paw Patch Orchard.
• City of Roseburg Parks & Recreation: Planting in and around the small parking lot between the YMCA and Stewart Park Golf Course.
• Triple Oak Vineyard: Removing invasive species and helping restore white oak habitat.
• Phoenix School: Helping create 20 new preschool spaces for local families.

The projects address a wide range of community needs, from housing and education to recreation, public health, and environmental conservation.

Some will provide immediate assistance, such as preparing wound care supplies and building beds, while others are focused on longer-term improvements, including expanding preschool capacity, improving playgrounds, and restoring native habitats.

Volunteers Encouraged to Participate

Organizers emphasize that Make a Difference Day is intended to be a welcoming, family-friendly event, with opportunities for people of different ages and backgrounds to contribute.

Residents do not need to belong to a particular organization to participate. Individuals, families, local businesses, youth groups, and community service organizations are all encouraged to volunteer.

Now in its fifth year, Make a Difference Day continues to bring together community partners and residents who share an interest in improving Douglas County through hands-on service.

The event will take place Saturday, October 24, from 9 a.m. to noon. Those interested in participating can learn more about available projects and register through the official Make a Difference Day website.

For additional information, contact Make a Difference Day Committee Chair Jerry Medlar at 541-430-3200 or grayeaglejr@gmail.com.