The Volunteer Action Center hosted its annual Make a Difference Day (MADD) on Sept. 21, one of the largest days of service on campus. 723 volunteers participated this year, showing the U of A student body's phenomenal commitment to the local community. MADD 2024 volunteers served for a total of 1,690 hours, which had an economic impact of $56,497.63. The VAC would like to thank every volunteer for their service.

This event would not have been possible without the partnership of the various nonprofits and community organizations. MADD 2024 consisted of 24 projects hosted at local parks, non-profit organizations, and community events throughout the Northwest Arkansas area. Volunteers sorted donations at Potter's House Thrift Store, completed seasonal farming tasks at Apple Seeds, assisted with building a pavilion for the Salvation Army, and cleaned up city trails with Fayetteville Parks and Recreation, along with many other projects.

Volunteers had the opportunity to reflect on their MADD volunteer experiences on Givepulse — the Givepulse volunteer platform is hosted by the VAC and is available for community agencies to post volunteer opportunities free of charge.

Tyler Moore, a MADD volunteer wrote, "I volunteered at the Square 2 Square Bike Ride in Fayetteville. I had a great time handing out medals at the finish line, providing riders with refreshments, helping them take pictures, and congratulating them on finishing! I am so glad I was able to contribute to the community in this way, as biking is one of my favorite hobbies. I really felt connected with the community!"

Another MADD volunteer, Moname Matute, wrote, "Helping put together care packages for middle school girls this Saturday was such a great experience — seeing everyone come together and knowing we were making a difference felt really rewarding!"

MADD is coordinated by the VAC Student Engagement team, consisting of nine board members and a graduate assistant, who began to plan for MADD in spring 2024. The Student Engagement team trained 24 student volunteers as project leaders who acted as points of contact for each organization. They also hosted a kickoff event on the Union Mall on the morning of MADD to provide breakfast and T-shirts to all participating volunteers.

The VAC is always looking for volunteers and sharing ways to get involved on campus. Follow @uavac on Instagram and check out Givepulse to stay up to date on upcoming service opportunities and information about the next Make a Difference Day occurring in fall 2025.

The Volunteer Action Center is a student-led organization that connects students at the U of A to service opportunities on and off campus. The VAC seeks to foster a positive relationship between students at the U of A and the Northwest Arkansas community through its six signature programs: Be B.O.L.D., Dream B.I.G., the Jane B. Gearhart Food Circle Food Pantry, Passionate About Literacy, Razorback Food Recovery, and Student Engagement. Learn more by visiting volunteer.uark.edu or @uavac on Instagram.