Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Volunteers will be out and about on Saturday, Oct. 25, helping to improve the community as part of National Make A Difference Day.
“Make a Difference Day is the largest national day of helping others. It is a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. This will be the 18th year it is celebrated,” said Kim Smith, spokesperson for the Presque Isle Historical Society.
Volunteers have contributed numerous hours of free labor over the years to communities across the country. In 2007, three million volunteers participated in the event nationwide, said Smith.
This year, volunteers are being asked to help make improvements at the historic firehouse at the corner of Church and Second streets.
“The Presque Isle Historical Association will be sprucing up the 1950s addition to the historic fire station that day. Work will begin at 10 a.m. and go until roughly 2 p.m. Volunteers wishing to help paint, clean and perform other tasks should arrive dressed in clothing that can get dirty,” Smith said.
A hamburger cookout will be held at noon as part of the festivities.
“There will be no charge for the burgers, but donations will be accepted. In case of rain, the project will be done on Sunday, Oct. 26 at the same time and place,” said Smith.
“The Building Committee wanted to do some sprucing up this fall. The restoration of the exterior of the original part of the building has been completed and it looks really nice. However, since the renovations to the newer portion of the building have not been done yet, it looks even shabbier by comparison,” said Smith.
Although this will not be a ‘restoration,’ Smith said it will at least make it look a little better “until we are ready to do the actual restoration.”
“In addition, we wanted to be a part of the national event, so it was logical that we set the project for this date,” said Smith.
Created by USA Weekend magazine, National Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. Each year in April, hundreds of good deeds done on Make A Difference Day are selected for honors, headlines and charitable donations. For more information, visi online att: www.usaweekend.com/diffday.
The Historical Society was founded in 1963. Its mission is to study, promote and preserve the history, culture, heritage and physical artifacts of Presque Isle for future generations. You may contact the Historical Society by mail at: PO Box 285, Presque Isle, ME 04769; e-mail pihistoricalsociety@hotmail.com; call 762-1151; or on the Web at www.pihistory.org.
