Make A Difference Day: A Community Effort That Transforms Schools

Make A Difference Day is a national day dedicated to volunteerism, which Bloomfield Hills Schools has historically celebrated on a single day of the year. This school year, with volunteer opportunities for several weeks before and after the district-wide Make A Difference Day event, it was a movement that sparked lasting change, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of parent volunteers and school PTOs within the BHS community. Whitman Elementary School in Pontiac became the focus of a transformative initiative, resulting in the creation of a fully equipped library and countless smiles on the faces of Whitman students.

While students across Bloomfield Hills Schools came together to help organize books in late October, the library itself still needed to be finished. The project involved retrieving tables and furniture from another closed school, organizing an extensive collection of books, and setting up the library space. Led by MADD coordinator Kt Leung, volunteers Emily Dolinski, Angie Hockey, Jen Jovanis, Stephanie Norsted, and Sally Walker poured their energy into this monumental task. 

On November 26th, the Whitman Library celebrated its grand opening. Each child received a book bag filled with five books to take home and keep. The kids were thrilled to “shop for their books,” picking titles that excited and inspired them. The library is now not only a resource for Whitman students, but also a hub for the Read to a Child program and several other organizations that support literacy and learning at Whitman.

But the generosity didn’t stop there. The Way Elementary PTO took action to support Whitman students by organizing a warm clothing drive at both Way and Eastover, collecting an incredible amount of winter gear to keep the students cozy during the colder months. Lone Pine Elementary joined the effort by hosting a change donation drive at their book fair. The proceeds will be used to purchase even more books for the Whitman Library, ensuring that the gift of reading continues to grow.

The outpouring of support from the BHS community for a neighboring school is nothing short of remarkable. Looking ahead, planning has already begun for next year’s Make A Difference Day. If you know of a deserving charity or organization that could benefit from this collaborative initiative, please email suggestions to bhsmadd@gmail.com. Together, we can continue to create ripples of kindness, and impact changes that extend far beyond a single day.