WZZM 13 Takes part in 'Make a Difference Day' | News

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - Saturday was 'Make a Difference Day'--the largest day of volunteering in the United States.

This year, Gannett employees including those at WZZM 13 participated.  Zach Kooyer, 10, joined the WZZM 13 family and other children at Kids Food Basket,  stuffing enough bags to feed 5,000 young students, living at or below the poverty line. The food packaged at Kids Food Basket was paid for with a $5,000 grant from the Gannett Foundation.

"This is something different, something special," said Tim Siegel, a sales department employee for WZZM 13. "We get to see each other in a different environment, and it's something worthwhile that has an immediate impact."

Saturday's volunteer events impacted communities across Michigan and the country.

"Even though Grand Rapids isn't my home community, I still worked a lot back at home and I wanted to bring it back to my college experience," said Ellyn Goncer, a Grand Valley State University sophomore. 

Goncer was among 350 GVSU students who volunteered at 17 sites Saturday.  She helped build a community garden at Grand Rapids' newest park on Eastern Avenue SE.

Others helped at a Grand Rapids Goodwill site.

"It's worth it to me to come and do this. It's more worth it than going to work at a job," said volunteer Morgan Baker, who is a senior at GVSU.

An estimated three million people felt the same way Saturday.