"Every little bit helps."

When I had my son, Travis, in 1989, I had that "Aha!" moment that the environment is important not only for us, but also for the future of our kids and our grandkids. During that time, there was momentum about how we were depleting our resources and what we could do. Had we made the changes that we needed to make then, we'd be in a much better situation now.

One of my biggest peeves is plastic. Not just that we use too much, but also that making it creates greenhouse gases. Plastic will last longer than the pyramids -- great languages will fade away, and we will still have that plastic water bottle that you really needed while you were taking your spinning class.

I see other examples in the least likely places. I go to a beautiful farmers' market in Santa Monica, Calif., and everybody's feeding themselves so well with organic fruits and vegetables. And then they give away plastic bags to hold your fresh oranges! It makes me crazy.

But there are things we can do. As a mom, I've tried to instill that attitude in my own family.

Part of being a good citizen is to be mindful of your waste. For example, there are coffeehouses everywhere, and people use plastic cups and throw them away. My kids may still use one occasionally, but when they do, there's a pang of guilt, which frankly is not a bad thing. They're also mindful when they buy their school supplies. We get refillable pens instead of the disposables that will end up in the ocean. We use paper towels, garbage bags and toilet paper made from recycled material. My daughter, Sosie, takes a stainless-steel water bottle to school, and she's determined to get her high school to stop making plastic bottles available to buy.

I encourage everyone to think about doing something for the environment on Make A Difference Day or through the I Participate program (iparticipateusa.org). Start simply: Gather your family members and friends and clean a stream or pick up trash in a park. Plant trees or a garden.

There's so much we can do, and every little bit does help. It's one day at a time, one right action at a time.

5 reasons to visit makeadifferenceday.com

Tell us your plans
Get tips about planning a volunteer project, then register your plans in the Make A Difference DAYtaBANK. This searchable database will help you recruit volunteers and get recognition for your efforts.

Get free cereal
Once your project is registered in the DAYtaBANK, you're eligible to be one of 50 projects (one per state) chosen to receive free cereal from Newman's Own.

Volunteer as a family
Disney FamilyFun magazine funds a new $2,500 award to encourage and recognize family volunteering. The money goes to the family's charity of choice.

Help older people
AARP Create the Good funds two new $5,000 charitable awards to recognize projects that help older people stay in their homes.

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About USA WEEKEND's Make A Difference Day, Oct. 24

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Join us on Oct. 24 for Make A Difference Day

Now, more than ever, people need your help. That's why USA WEEKEND Magazine and the Entertainment Industry Foundation -- Hollywood's leading charity -- are joining forces for Make A Difference Day 2009. This month, read essays from entertainers who are lending their support to I Participate (iparticipateusa.org), a multiyear campaign led by EIF to increase service. The campaign reaches full throttle Oct. 19 to 25, when the four major broadcast networks -- ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC -- will devote the week to airing messages about volunteering. You can turn that TV inspiration into real-life action on Make A Difference Day, Oct. 24, when millions of Americans will volunteer.