For the 19th time, millions of Americans united to improve the lives of others on USA WEEKEND's Make A Difference Day, Saturday, Oct. 24.


From New York to Los Angeles, and in thousands of communities in between, volunteers cleaned and greened their surroundings and fed, clothed and housed their neighbors.

In Lynwood, Calif., actors Brittany Snow and Ryan Rottman helped out at a Habitat for Humanity project. "There's such a sense of camaraderie when you're volunteering with millions of people," Snow says. "You feel like you really can change the world in one day." The duo served Newman's Own breakfast cereal to volunteers working on four certified green homes for low-income families. It was one of 50 Make A Difference Day project sites nationwide receiving free breakfast. The four homes, plus six others, will be completed by December 2010 and will include a pantry stocked with Newman's Own products.

Across Ohio, there were more than 300 projects, such as book drives, school beautification efforts and much more. First lady Frances Strickland co-chairs the state's Make A Difference Day efforts with Ohio State University head football coach Jim Tressel.

In Yazoo City, Miss., Leola Dillard, 97, hosted her 13th Make A Difference Day free flea market, drawing hundreds of needy neighbors.

Many mayors' offices spearheaded efforts: In New York, 1,000 volunteers planted 20,000 trees as part of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's MillionTreesNYC initiative. In Washington, D.C., more than 1,000 volunteers at 19 projects planted gardens, painted walls and shelved library books. Greater DC Cares, City Year, and Serve DC, Mayor Adrian Fenty's volunteer office, organized the projects. Among the workers: U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, his wife and their two kids. The family, which painted murals at an elementary school, was eager for Make A Difference Day. "We love it," Duncan says. "It's inspiring and beautiful to see millions of Americans mobilize."

And mobilize they did. In central California, 2,500 Girl Scouts along with 2,500 family members and friends cleaned beaches, collected coats and made blankets. In Salt Lake City, the Quest for the Gift of Life Foundation registered 241 organ donors in three hours. The group hopes to break the Guinness record of 145, set in 2003. Each registered donor can save up to nine lives. At Florida's Fort Myers Toyota, 28 contenders in a rocking chair marathon competed for a chance to win a new car for themselves and their charity. The winner rocked for 72 straight hours.

America's armed forces inspired many efforts. In Albany, Ore., volunteers stuffed Christmas stockings with food and cards to ship to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. "An Army officer told us the holidays are a really lonely time for the troops," volunteer Robin Galloway says.

May the spirit of giving continue through your holiday season.