Making a difference

Saturday, Oct. 21, 2000 | 9:31 a.m.

Elizabeth Wines' seventh grade U.S. history class is collecting luggage.

The more the better for the Woodbury Middle School students, who plan to give the suitcases to foster children who often lug possessions in garbage bags when moving from home to home.

The class project is a contribution to Make A Difference Day next Saturday. Wines is expecting about 90 pieces of luggage to trickle in Tuesday, the designated drop-off day.

There are roughly 2,000 children statewide in foster care. Another 800 live with relatives.

"It's something that hits close to home," Wines said. "We were thinking about people we have in our own schools."

Make A Difference Day, sponsored by USA Weekend magazine and the Points of Light Foundation, is observed by millions nationally. Since 1992 the fourth Saturday of October has tugged at the altruistic strings of community members, who head out to do good deeds.

Last year about 2 million volunteers participated in 5,000 projects nationwide. Thousands of Las Vegans will be involved in community projects Saturday, organizers said.

Volunteers will paint shelters and plant trees. The young will visit the elderly, and food will be distributed to the needy. Hats and gloves will be collected for the homeless.

Nearly 1,600 youngsters, most Girl Scouts and Brownies, will comb the Las Vegas Valley, picking up litter. Hot-air balloons will float above, raising money for deaf children.

"The message is that by volunteering, even one day, you can make a difference," said Fran Smith, executive director of the Volunteer Center of Southern of Southern Nevada. "The larger goal is to encourage people to give to their community (regularly)."

Wines plans to continue the "Luggage With Love" project throughout the year and is hoping other schools will join.

The idea came from an article Wines saw about 11-year-old Aubyn Burnside of Hickory, N.C., who ran a similar collection in her area. Burnside's idea has already spread to 19 states, Wines said.

Donating luggage for foster children is one small thing that makes a big difference in a person's self-esteem, according to Kathy Shane, a state foster care specialist. "It's so sad when you go to move a child and all they have is a garbage bag."

Those who want to donate can drop off new and used luggage at the school, 3875 East Harmon Ave., before or after school. Call 799-7660.

Students and staff of Gibson Elementary School in Henderson are collecting used clothing for the new Shade Tree Women's and Children's Shelter and a local men's shelter. Nearly 15,000 articles of clothing already have been collected.

The project is in conjunction with a study on ephemeral artists Andy Goldsworthy, Robert Smithson and crop artist Stan Heard. Before donating the clothes, students will make a collage covering 2 acres.

At the same time students are learning what it's like to be homeless, said art teacher Rebecca Gray, who is heading up the project. Donations have come from students, parents and local churches.

Local stores are also participating. Twenty-five 7-Eleven and AM/PM markets will serve as staging areas for the mass cleanup by local youth groups and Girl Scouts. The cleanup is sponsored by Business Watch Network, a professional organization of local businesses, schools, police departments and government officials.

Smart & Final stores are providing gloves and bags for the cleanup. The Coca-Cola Co. is providing T-shirts, and Republic Services of Southern Nevada will pick up the collected litter.

Volunteers are "almost double what we had last year and several hundred more than we had the first year," said Mike Ault, member of the Business Watch Network and a Metro Police captain. "It does a little for the community, and the (Scouts) get to earn recognition."

The cleanup is accepting volunteers through Monday from youth groups, organizations and church groups. Call 229-3544.

Other local Make A Difference Day events include:

To find more about more activities, call the Southern Nevada Volunteer Center at 892-2321 or visit the website at makeadifferenceday.com.