Florida Gulf Coast University and Wells Fargo will team up Saturday, Oct. 28 to complete more than a dozen Make a Difference Day projects for nonprofit organizations throughout Southwest Florida.
About 350 students, alumni, faculty and staff members and Well Fargo representatives will gather on campus at 8 a.m. and fan out across the region to do volunteer work in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs and Naples on this annual national day of service.
The projects scheduled are:
- Helping with outdoor beautification projects at the Bonita Springs YMCA
- Clearing mountain bike trails at Collier County Parks and Recreation’s Pepper Ranch Preserve in Immokalee
- Indoor beautification and activities with residents at Cypress Cove Retirement Center in Fort Myers
- Gardening at the Food Forest and tree planting on the FGCU campus
- Planting and painting at Gulf Coast Humane Society in Fort Myers
- Assisting at Habitat for Humanity South Fort Myers ReStore
- Sorting food at Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers
- Painting, landscaping and building planters at Quality Life Center in Fort Myers
- Constructing and refurbishing sensory trail stations and assisting with outdoor beautification at Special Equestrians in Fort Myers
- Collecting trash and debris in Fish Trap Bay at FGCU’s Vester Marine and Environmental Science Research Field Station in Bonita Springs
FGCU Alumni Association chapters also will participate in volunteer work in Fort Myers, Sarasota, Denver, Hillsborough County, Atlanta, Austin and Los Angeles.
The FGCU Foundation, Alumni Association and Office of Civic Engagement and Service-Learning coordinate Make a Difference Day activities.
“Make a Difference Day is one of the most meaningful traditions we have on campus,” said Christopher Simoneau, FGCU Foundation Executive Director and Vice President for University Advancement. “In these days of divisiveness, it’s a great opportunity to reach out and help our neighbors and the outstanding charitable organizations in our local communities. Students, alumni, faculty, parents and other volunteers set aside their differences and promote unity through service. This is at the core of what Florida Gulf Coast University does every day – The FGCU Effect.”
This is the sixth year FGCU and Wells Fargo have worked together for Make a Difference Day, an event created by USA Weekend Magazine in 1992 to encourage volunteerism and demonstrate the impact it can have. Millions of people around the country are expected to participate in the annual event.