Making a Difference

Today, children all over the world are making a difference in the lives of others by making changes in their daily routine, volunteering their services and time and raising money for charities.

Make a Difference for the Environment

TerraCycle, producer of organic plant food, is actively helping children “reduce, reuse, and recycle.” Through their TerraCycle Brigade program, students throughout the country are collecting materials, such as bottles, cookie wrappers, metallic juice boxes, and yogurt containers. The company then uses these materials to package their plant food or to make new products including backpacks, pencil cases and planting pots.

TerraCycle pays schools for each donated material and even takes care of shipping costs.

To find out how your school can get involved, visit www.terracycle.net/brigades

Make a Difference in the Life of a Special Needs Child
The Friendship Circle is an organization that helps families with special needs children. Their Friends@Home program gives teenage volunteers the opportunity to spend time with children who have physical, mental and/or emotional issues. Volunteers span from Grade 7 through college and undergo training before being matched with families. Teenagers play games, talk and form bonds with their special friends through weekly visits.

To join the Friendship Circle, visit www.fcnj.com

Donating Video Games Help Others
Do you have video games that you no longer play? If so, you can donate them and make a difference in the life of a child. A Gift for the Future Children’s Fund is raising money by selling donated video games. Proceeds, or money raised, from this activity benefits children in need of shelter, education and positive role models.

To donate your video games, visit www.savedgames.org