In honor of Make a Difference Day, Community Unit School District 200 students are giving back this year.

Make a Difference Day is the largest and most encompassing day of helping others in the United States.

This year, nearly all of CUSD 200 schools are participating in Make a Difference Day 2011 with various activities either on or off-site the schools. With so many of CUSD 200 schools participating, the District estimates that over 5,000 of our students are making a difference this year.

CUSD 200 Superintendent Dr. Brian Harris said that, “Our schools committed to ‘making a difference’ and teaching the importance of service in our learning environments. District 200 believes that successful schools result when a partnership exists between the schools, parents, and the community. We are very proud of all of our students.” Each school is “making a difference” in their own, unique way. 

Here is what's going on at the District 200 schools:

Jefferson Preschool is conducting a donation drive to support Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF). Tot Trot Registration is at 9:30 with the races beginning at 10:00 Bower Year-long make a difference activities on “Make A Difference Thursdays.” Activities include writing Thanksgiving letters to soldiers overseas.

Emerson Elementary is collecting gently used shoes for children in Africa, so that they are able to go to school. Pick-up 10/21, 1:30 p.m.

Hawthorne Elementary is doing a neighborhood raking event. People in the neighborhood are signing up to get their lawns raked. Saturday 10/22 9:30 to 11:30

Lincoln Elementary made holiday cards for soldiers. We did this earlier to meet the deadline.

Longfellow Elementary will do a small food collection (for the city drive) spearheaded by our PTA and a scout troop. – Stuff-A-Truck

Lowell Elementary staff will be sending items to the Marines and the students will start the process of writing holiday cards to the troops. Two staff members have sons who serve our country.

Madison Elementary is participating in a cereal collection for the People’s Resource Center. – Stuff-A-Truck.

Pleasant Hill Elementary: students and staff are invited to bring non-perishable food items for two local food banks. These items are being collected in the classrooms each morning, and will be presented to the Interfaith Food Pantry and Milton Township Food Pantry on Friday.

Sandburg Elementary is participating in a food drive to help DuPage PADS and the Outreach Community Center.

Whittier Elementary: Stockings for Soldiers

Wiesbrook Elementary: toy drive for the children at Children’s Memorial Hospital from Oct. 3rd-Oct. 21st. The great news is the idea came from the students and they organized everything. Oct. 3rd-Oct. 21st

Edison Elementary: The Edison Monster Mash Dash, Edison Fields, Edison will help “feed” the monster with non-perishable food items to support Make a Difference Day. Run/walk the Edison “Monster Mile”. Enjoy a cup of apple cider and a game of bean bag toss. Saturday, October 22 9 – 10:30 am

Monroe Middle School Student Council is organizing a school wide Make a Difference Day project to support Stuff a Stocking. We will hold a school wide collection drive the week of October 17-21. All items will be donated to Operation Support our Troops. Student Council will also be visiting Wynscape Nursing Home to visit residents, organize games, and deliver goodie bags.

Wheaton North High School will host its Sock Drive at WNHS vs. WWSHS game. Socks are donated to troops overseas. Friday, 10/22