NATCHEZ &045;&045; Everyone talks about making a difference in the community, but who’s doing something about it?

Several churches and other organizations are taking part in projects as part of today’s nationwide Make a Difference Day observance.

River City Sweepers Ruritan members are calling all area organizations to help them collect money from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at Wal-Mart to purchase school uniforms for needy children.

Specifically, the group is targeting for help &uot;homeless&uot; children &045;&045; defined here as children living with anyone other than their real parents and who can’t afford uniforms of their own, said Ruritan Zone Gov. Arella Bacon.

Through the school system, &uot;I found out what a great need there is for something like this,&uot; said Bacon, whose group’s goal is to raise at least $1,000 for the cause today.

Bacon said that group plans to vie for a national Make a Difference Day grant soon to further fund the school uniform project.

In the past, Ruritan groups have received accolades for their Make a Difference Day efforts.

The Linwood Circle Ruritan Club received a national Make a Difference Day award for its work, along with other volunteers, in fixing up a house that had, among other things, no running water.

At Susie B. West Apartments this morning, members of Girl Scout Troop 224 will hand out literature on breast cancer detection and prevention to residents.

Sandra Washington, the troop’s leader, said the troop got the idea for the project from one of its members, who had a relative suffering from breast cancer. In addition, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

&uot;People should be more knowledgeable,&uot; Washington said. &uot;After all, African-Americans are the leading group to contract breast cancer.&uot;

The Mayor’s Youth Council, in morning and evening shifts, is also volunteering at the Natchez-Adams Humane Society building on Liberty Road. In the past, the group has collected everything from dog food to cleaning supplies for the organization and has helped out with cleaning at the shelter.

More Make a Difference Day events include:

Morgantown Elementary School, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Natchez Mall, signing up students for cards

Zion Hill No. 1 Baptist Church, 349 Lower Woodville, reading fair, 10 a.m. to noon.

The On-the-Move 4-H Club picking up trash, painting hydrants and planting flowers starting at 8 a.m. at Extension building

Prayer Tower Church of God in Christ, Health and Safety Awareness Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.