Making a Difference

This Saturday is a chance to make a difference in somebody’s life, in the life of our community.

Push politics aside along with the spot one inhabits on the political spectrum, and one’s faith and boil it all away to the simple act of extending a hand, of putting forth the effort to pull someone else up, or ahead.

Of making a difference to somebody who – and there are plenty of such folks in these trying times – needs a difference made in their life.

Part of what is coming on Saturday, annual Make a Difference Day, is a cross between a challenge and an effort to clean up the community.

For years there has been a “trash” committee within the city of Port St. Joe, examining ways to eliminate unsightly roadside trash, unkempt yards or homes and in simple terms make the community a more spiffy looking city.

One of the most encouraging aspects to arise from those discussions about trash has been an effort to move to more recycling, in the city and the county as a whole.

Various groups of people have been examining the issue of recycling and their efforts are picking up steam to the point that there is now the Gulf County Committee on Recycling.

On Saturday that committee is issuing a challenge to the community.

During the Make a Difference Day events at Frank Pate Park the recycling committee will be collecting aluminum cans.

The challenge to the community: how many aluminum cans, from soda to beer, can be collected in a four-hour period.

From 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. ET the recycling committee will be accepting all cans. Save your empty cans this week, join your kids out in the streets, sidewalks and roadsides collecting whatever cans you can find.

And bring them all down to Frank Pate this Saturday morning.

Call it dipping your toe in the water or a first foray, but the Gulf County Committee on Recycling, which meets on Mondays several times a month and can always use more members, hope this Saturday’s effort will be an initial step toward bringing recycling to Gulf County.

And if you are going to call yourself a eco-tourist destination does it not follow that the community would want to do everything possible to make this as eco-friendly a community as possible.

That is just part of what is going on Saturday.

Another community clean up project will be spearheaded by the Port St. Joe High School NJROTC, which coordinating the renovation of the old Methodist Church in Highland View.

While collecting and dropping off aluminum cans, stop by the Piggly-Wiggly, the IGA in Wewahitchka, the Dollar Stores in the county, Ramsey’s Printing and Office Supply or CVS Pharmacy and drop off any cans and/boxes of non-perishable food items.

Carts have already been set up at each location to receive donated goods or you can bring the non-perishable food to Frank Pate Park.

As we head into the holiday season, what will surely be a difficult holiday season for too many who call this county home, the donations of food will help stock the shelves of the Angel Pantry operated by People Helping People.

Run, as in literally the guy is running all day to help those other than himself, by Jerry Stokoe, People Helping People assists in feeding dozens of people every day.

And in these tough times more and more people are calling upon their assistance so People Helping People can use all the assistance the community can muster.

But Saturday is no all about being a responsible citizen by recycling or by reaching out to help feed those in need, there will also be a bit of fun.

Bring the kids down to Frank Pate as you drop of aluminum cans or non-perishable food items and have a hot dog, let the kids play in the bouncy house or whatever they call that fun contraption that inflates and allows energetic kids to burn plenty of calories just by bouncing off the walls, safely.

There will also be other games for individuals and adults, including badminton and hula hoops.

Everybody who assist in the community clean-up effort, brings in aluminum cans or donates to the food pantry will receive a pin recognizing their participation during Make a Difference Day.

There list of those assisting in Saturday’s events, the public schools, the Washington Improvement Group, the Gulf County Democratic Party, People Helping People, gives a clue as to the community involvement already in place.

Now all they need is you. Come out, make a difference. Chances are good it will make a difference in the way you feel about yourself and your community.

For more information about Make a Difference Day or People Helping People please call Jerry Stokoe at 229-5262