Issue Date: September 24, 2006

Marysol Castro: Why I Volunteer Will you help others? "Grey's Anatomy" actor Isaiah Washington on volunteering Denzel Washington a life changing prophesy

Good Morning America is the exclusive broadcast partner for USA WEEKEND's Make A Difference Day 2006. Through October, read inspirational words from the show's anchors and correspondents in this magazine and watch the show for on-air messages about Make A Difference Day.

Build a future By Isaiah Washington
He once was jobless and slept in his car. Now, he's a "Grey's Anatomy" doctor who asks you to help others.

When I was in my early 20s, I had what I call a premature midlife crisis. My job was unfulfilling, and I quit without knowing what to do next.

In the process, I managed to isolate myself from family members and friends, and I ended up sleeping in my car all over the Washington, D.C., area.

When things got really tough and hunger became an issue, I would drive to a gas station and change into one of the suits from my working days that I kept in the trunk of my car. Then I would show up at a happy hour, pretend I was meeting someone and help myself to the free taquitos.

At that point, I promised God that whatever I ended up doing, I would try to be the best at it. And that when I was in a position to do so, I would share my blessings.

Cut to today, when I've been fortunate enough to find success as an actor. But I never forget where I came from: a place of isolation and hunger. No matter how far I go, I'll always be the guy who wants to give back. I'll always be the guy who remembers how frightening, cold and horrible it was during the winter of 1986. I'll always try to reach out to people who might be in that position -- no matter how they got there.

That's why I hooked up with the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank to produce public service announcements showing that you don't have to be homeless to be hungry. To think that I might help a young man who's in the situation I once was makes me feel like I've kept my promise.

The ironic thing is that after I started working with the food bank, I reached another crossroads in my life. I decided I wasn't going to play any more thugs, and I had to pay a price for that in the amount of work I had. I was two steps from the food bank myself when I got my job on "Grey's Anatomy." Only this time, I was driving a Mercedes.

Life changes in the blink of an eye. Don't wait until your fortune changes to become active. The more you donate your time and give, the more you fill up your bank with good credit, so to speak.

For me, giving back is not about a day; it's a consciousness. I hope that by making a difference on Oct. 28, you'll be inspired to make a difference the day after that. And the day after that, until it becomes a daily event. As Winston Churchill said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

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Pitch in: Gather food for hungry kids in your area

The Los Angeles Regional Foodbank that Isaiah Washington supports is a partner with America's Second Harvest -- The Nation's Food Bank Network.
For Make A Difference Day, the national network's 200-plus food banks will coordinate donations for community food drives. The focus: childhood hunger. Last year, America's Second Harvest fed 9 million of the 14 million kids at risk for hunger in America.

You can help.
Host a food drive in your community. Kid-friendly foods most needed include peanut butter and jelly, granola bars, cereal, canned meals, and gelatin and pudding cups.

In some areas, food banks are working with local USA WEEKEND carrier newspapers to rally volunteers and increase donations.

Online, the cooking site Allrecipes.com is encouraging its millions of users to collect food over the Halloween weekend.

To find a food bank in your area, go to secondharvest.org.