Hattiesburg, Mississippi – This year, Make a Difference Day is scheduled for Saturday, October 23, and the City of Hattiesburg is issuing the call for neighborhood associations, civic groups, student organizations and more to take on the challenge to host or participate in service projects all throughout the Hub City. 

“Make a Difference Day is a Hattiesburg tradition where neighbors from all over participate in clean-ups, beautification efforts at parks or host one-off specialty projects,” said Mayor Toby Barker. “It’s a powerful movement, and we look forward to hosting it again this year.”

Since 2017, the City of Hattiesburg has hosted a full Saturday of service projects across several different sites to celebrate the annual event. Throughout the years, the day has expanded into a week-long celebration to support employers who are promoting civic engagement. Last year, the City also hosted opportunities to make a difference through socially distanced activities to aid COVID-19 protocols. 

Barker added, “Understanding that COVID-19 is still in our community, the events hosted this year will be a blend of both traditional and distanced activities.”

To sign up, interested participants can visit: https://bit.ly/maddhburg2021. After completing the form, Betsy Mercier in the Mayor’s Office will contact project captains for more information. Team Captains/Hosts will have a safety meeting on Wednesday, October 20 to receive supplies, assignments and review safety protocol.

##