It’s time to nominate our Difference Makers

Presents for needy children at Christmas, a baseball league for persons with mental and physical developmental disabilities, care for the homeless and support for sheltered workshop members — those are the programs our Difference Makers have launched, supported and continued in the four years since the Daily American Republic began honoring volunteers and those creating positive change in our region.

We’re very excited to learn more about the many good deeds going on across our counties as we kick off our fifth Difference Makers campaign.

A nomination form is now live on our website at https://www.darnews.com/forms/dm. You’ll find it at the top of our homepage. We’ll also run forms in our print editions in the coming months.

You have until midnight July 18 to help us recognize that person you’ve watched give of their time and talents for years, asking for nothing in return, to create good in our community.

I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our region, especially when so much of the world is in turmoil, than by recognizing the problem solvers, creators of positive action and selfless caretakers of our area.

From the nominations we receive, we will select 10 finalists to honor in a special section of the paper Aug. 12 and then at a banquet Aug. 17 at the Black River Coliseum.

While we have recognized four Difference Makers of the Year since we began this journey, we have also honored more than 40 people from our region who support more programs than I can name. I say more than 40, because the finalists have included groups, such in 2021 when the SEMO Honor Guard was nominated for their work to recognize veterans.

We encourage everyone to take a moment and look around at the people who support the many good programs and efforts in our area. If you see someone creating a positive difference, let us know. Please share who it is and give us as many details as possible on what they have done.

These nominations are used to determine the Difference Maker of the Year.

These annual events also help raise funds for worthy causes in our region.

This year’s charity is the Boys and Girls Club of the Heartland. We are donating a portion of all new newspaper subscriptions received between now and Aug. 17. The BGC will also receive a portion of funds generated through the Difference Makers campaign. The final donation will be announced and presented Aug. 17, at the Difference Makers banquet. Proceeds from a silent auction will be part of the donations given Aug. 17 to the BGC. The DAR is accepting donations currently for the auction and they can be dropped off at our office, 208 Poplar St.

Since our Difference Makers project began, more than $25,000 has been raised to support charities like the United Gospel Rescue Mission, The Bread Shed, FosterAdopt Connect and Haven House.

BGC was chosen this year as it looks ahead at major expansions in Poplar Bluff and across Southeast Missouri.

“BGC focuses on academics, healthy lifestyles, good character, and citizenship. BGC fosters positive relationships with adults, provides opportunities for new experiences and a place to make new friends, and an environment where children can learn and play safely during out-of-school time,” Terri McCormick, who serves as director of development and chief financial officer, explained.

“We started in 2000 with 25 members, slowly increasing our enrollment over the next five years. In 2005, we had 200 members. In 2012, we opened ‘school-based’ sites and increased our enrollment to 425. We currently have 723 enrolled in Boys & Girls Club of the Heartland,” she said.

To help with these fundraisers, please reach out to anyone at the BGC or DAR.

For any questions about Difference Makers, please give us a call at 573-785-1414.

Donna Farley is the editor of the Daily American Republic. She can be reached at dfarley@darnews.com.