With only two days remaining until Make a Difference Day, local organizations are either winding up their projects, preparing for Saturday or celebrating early.

The Mercer County Housing Authority and Keystone SMILES Americorp/VISTA members held a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday at Sharpsville Gardens Community Learning Center to mark a year since renovations began at the center.

Last year on Make A Difference Day, MCHA and Keystone SMILES volunteers set up a new sign and planted flowers at the center as a kick-off for renovations. The center opened July 5.

"This year, our theme is ‘What a difference a year makes,’" said Joyce Fosdick, executive director of Keystone SMILES. "This year, the project is complete."

What were previously dark, empty rooms are now bright and cheerful, full of toys, games and children’s artwork. The building houses a MCHA site office, the Sharpsville Gardens Children’s Learning Center and a community learning center.

Ms. Fosdick said Keystone SMILES volunteers traveled from Clarion County three days a week for almost a year to renovate the center.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony and a reception, Judy Haines, director of the children’s learning center, and one of her assistants, Mary Jane Staton, helped three of the center’s students put on a program. Volunteers then began minor landscaping in front of the building.

Just across the street at Once Again Consignment and Resale Boutique, owner Meg Whaling and Joyce Winner, president of the Hermitage Newcomers Club, were counting to see how many coats they had to donate to the Shenango Valley’s Koats for Kids program.

So far, they have 20; their goal is 100.

For the second year, Once Again and the Newcomers Club have teamed up to raise money to buy coats to donate to Koats for Kids with "Operation Klean Kloset."

The club is asking for donations of fall and winter clothing in good condition, which will then be sold at the boutique. All profits from the sales of the donated items will go toward Koats for Kids. Last year, they were able to donate 55 coats to the program.

So far, in addition to the 20 kids’ coats, Mrs. Winner has received $250 in cash donations and Ms. Whaling has made $400 in sales of donated items.

"I think we’re going to do better this year," Ms. Whaling said.

The items donated for Make a Difference Day are marked with purple tags and are mixed in with other merchandise, unlike last year, when the donated items were kept separate.

On Saturday, Once Again shoppers can enjoy punch and cookies and will receive a 10 percent discount coupon for the next visit with a purchase. Once Again will be open from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Mrs. Winner said she wants to encourage people to donate new or gently used children’s coats for the project. Coats, cash donations or clothing donations can be dropped off at the boutique.

For more information about donations, call Mrs. Winner at 342-2678.

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