BANGOR – Students at the Penobscot Job Corps Academy set out to”make a difference” by participating in National Make a Difference Day this fall. The event was sponsored by USA Weekend, Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Center National Network and supported by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman. It is the largest nationwide day of service, with millions of young people simultaneously gathered to help change lives in a positive way.

The day provides young people the opportunity to get involved in meaningful community service while fostering a lifelong commitment to volunteerism.

Amanda Keniston, 17, of Palmyra, celebrated Make a Difference Day by presenting a check in the amount of $816.50 to the American Red Cross office in Bangor.

Keniston led the effort on the Job Corps campus to raise funds to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina by sponsoring dress-down days with all proceeds going to the relief fund. A $2 donation was suggested “but the staff were so generous and gave above and beyond that amount,” Keniston said.

Students at Job Corps receive a small stipend biweekly, and on payday Keniston was in the dormitories asking students to contribute. She was touched by the generosity of her peers.

“We don’t make a lot of money here and some students gave half of their pay,” Keniston said. “I set out to do this to fulfill the required community service hours for my high school diploma, but I gained much more than that. I was surprised how good it feels to give to someone I may never meet, and to see firsthand the generosity of my fellow Job Corps students. They don’t have much money, but still gave anyway.”

Other students at Penobscot Job Corps Academy celebrated the day by partnering with Eastern Agency on Aging’s EAA-Z Fix It Program. The program offers assistance to individuals who need an extra hand with duties and chores around the home.

Eight students set out with rakes in one hand and window cleaner and paper towels in the other. They pitched in to assist community members like Marguerite Peterson of Bangor. As a recipient of the program she said that it was “a wonderful help for those of us unable to do the chores as we used to.” The students filled 21 bags of leaves in Peterson’s yard.

Patrick Mardas, 18, of Old Orchard Beach, is enrolled in the facilities maintenance vocation at the Job Corps Academy and was one of the volunteers who helped rake Mrs. Peterson’s lawn. “I felt like I accomplished something meaningful and I had a great sense of happiness knowing I was giving back to the community and to those who just need an extra hand,” Mardas said.

The students wrapped up the day by paying a visit to the staff at the offices of U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, and U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud. Job Corps culinary art students prepared baked goods and hand-delivered them in gratitude for their support of the Job Corps program and for the many ways they have made a difference.

While delivering the baked goods to Collins’ office on Harlow Street in Bangor, the students extended an unexpected appreciation to the security guards monitoring the federal building.

The security guards screened the baked goods, and the students explained the reason for the special delivery. As they left the building the students felt it was only right to give a box of goodies to the security officers, too.

“We all make a difference, sometimes in big ways and sometimes in small ways, and today is the day to celebrate that,” said culinary arts student, Kevone Reddick, 20, of Bridgeport, Conn.