A total of 175 Perkins students and 12 staff members volunteered for numerous community service projects throughout a four-county area as part of this year’s Annual Make A Difference Day. The projects took place during the week of Oct. 23.

The activities included renovating a closed hotel into housing for victims of summer flooding in Pike County, Kentucky; holding a car wash to raise funds for Shop With A Cop; assisting with stocking food pantries with Appalachian Reach-Out and working with other county organizations with a clean-up effort at Paintsville Lake in Paintsville, Ky.

Both students and staff appreciated the opportunity to assist those in need. Student David Francisco said, “I understand that many people need help. I had a lot of fun, and it felt good to work for a good cause.” Instructor Chris Howard said the service projects help “students understand that it takes a lot of work and commitment to reach out to people who need the basic necessities for living. Many of our students might have experienced this themselves, and it gives them a positive feeling of doing something beneficial for other people.”