Marquette, UWM collaborate for Make a Difference Day, Nov. 12

Nov. 10, 2022

Make a Difference Day 2019MILWAUKEE — Student and staff volunteers from Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee will serve together on Saturday, Nov. 12, to help older adults across Milwaukee County get their homes ready for winter.

Make a Difference Day is an annual, nationwide event. Locally, the two universities come together with the mission of serving the greater Milwaukee area.

Students, faculty and staff volunteers will visit more than 100 homes of senior adults in Milwaukee County as they prepare their homes for the cold months ahead. Volunteers will participate in various projects, such as raking leaves and other yard work.  

The event is made possible through Marquette University and UWM’s partnership with Eras Senior Network, a local nonprofit organization, whose mission is to engage and support seniors in leading meaningful lives.  

Kathy Gale, executive director of Eras Senior Network said that each year, seniors look forward to volunteers from these institutions, and without their help, seniors may try to do the work themselves and risk falls or other medical emergencies.

One-third of older adults live alone, and some are unable to complete the outdoor tasks required as the winter months approach. According to the Milwaukee County Department on Aging Area Plan 2019-2021, Milwaukee County has a higher percentage of people aged 65 and over living alone when compared to the rest of the state. 

“We want to live in a community where our elders are honored and supported,” said Kelly Walker, director of the Center for Community Service at Marquette. “On Make a Difference Day, Marquette can put this belief into action. I’m grateful to our partners at Eras who provide our students with this opportunity to get involved.”

Interview opportunities:

Interviews with Make a Difference Day participants, including staff, student volunteers and homeowners are available from 10:00 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Nov. 12, at a benefiting home in Milwaukee. For more information on exact locations, contact Zack Garrity, program manager for the Center of Community-Based Learning, Leadership, and Research at UWM, at (262) 720-3713 or zgarrity@uwm.edu. 

About Melissa Barclay

Melissa Barclay

Melissa is the senior communication specialist in the Office of University Relations. Contact Melissa at (414) 288-6712 or melissa.barclay@marquette.edu.