The 13th annual Make a Difference Day (MADD) at Saint Louis University brought 2,778 people together to volunteer a total of 13,890 hours in various areas around the city of St. Louis on Oct. 23.
“Each and every one of us has a tremendous ability to impact the lives of others in a positive way. Every day we have the ability to do that and we can always find ways to help others, and improve the quality of life for our entire community. That is what make a difference day is all about,” keynote speaker Mayor Francis Slay, a graduate of SLU and the mayor of St. Louis for nine years, said.
Over 130 student organizations were represented, as teams came prepared to tackle some of the volunteer work to be done.
The entire SLU community bonded over the shared impact of working together to make a tangible difference in the lives of others, as the participating student organizations ranged from Greek life organizations to academic honor societies.
“This is truly an event that brings our SLU community together. For 364 other days in the year, we may be engaging in community service individually or in small groups but at least for this one day we stand united in service,” Oscar Vazquez, the master of ceremonies at MADD and the Vice President for Diversity and Social Justice in SGA, said.
Vazquez said that SLU participants work with past service sites as well as new organizations each year, both on and off campus.
MADD coordinator Rob Wessel, the assistant director for the Center for Community Service and Engagement, said that the day-long event fosters service throughout the whole year.
“That is the whole point of the day— that they have such a good experience with the organization that they continue to volunteer with that organization on a regular basis or at least just volunteer on a regular basis,” Wessel said.
Students said that the presence that SLU brings into the community on this one day a year is recognized on personal, local and national levels as a meeting of values within the Jesuit mission.
Students at SLU have commented on the personal development that MADD brings to their lives.
“I love spending time with my friends while serving groups all over the St. Louis area. Each year I’ve had a great time and have made memories that my friends and I still talk about,” junior Katie Kuemmel said.
