Hattiesburg, Mississippi – The City of Hattiesburg’s annual celebration of Make a Difference Day encourages neighborhood associations, civic groups, student organizations and more to take on the challenge of hosting or participating in service projects all throughout the Hub City. 

Scheduled for Saturday, October 22 from 8 a.m. until Noon, project hosts and teams will tackle litter pick-up and beautification efforts in all parts of the city. 

“As an October staple, we encourage our neighbors from all over to sign up to host or volunteer for a project site,” said Mayor Toby Barker. “What began in 2017 with one project in each ward has quickly grown into multiple services sites across multiple today to allow everyone to participate. From picking up litter along a road in your neighborhood to helping put down mulch and plants at a local park, there’s something for everyone.” 

For the past six years, 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 want to promote civic engagement. In 2020 and 2021, the City also hosted opportunities to make a difference through socially distanced activities to aid COVID-19 protocols. 

In 2021, there were 10 project sites with more than 200 volunteers. In addition to neighborhood associations, the following groups participated: Hattiesburg Public School District, Americorps, Girl Scouts of Mississippi, Mayor’s Youth Council, Hattiesburg Fire Department Station #1 and Spirit Girls.

Barker added, “Service to and for one another is a community value. We look forward to highlighting that each year through this event.”

To sign up as a project captain or host, you can visit https://bit.ly/maddhburg2022. 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 19 to receive supplies, assignments and review safety protocol.

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