Ten years ago, USA Weekend magazine began an initiative to get communities to make a difference. That effort will be celebrated this weekend.

More than 2.2 million volunteers will spread through their communities, participating in Make a Difference Day with acts of kindness to assist more than 25 million people.

For members of the Forest Park Chapter of Zeta Beta Sorority - partnering with the Kroger Co. and the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati - helping young people get jobs through a three-week Youthworks Training Program will make a big difference.

Saturday is the final day of the training sessions, said Robin L. Busby, director of marketing for the chapter.

"As a part of Make a Difference Day, youth will prepare for job interviews by participating in mock interviews," Ms. Busby said. "Actual interviews for jobs with Kroger are scheduled for November 2."

She said the training sessions were designed for teens 14-17 to learn and practice job readiness skills.

Several hundred students at the Milford Exempted Village School will be cleaning up the East Fork of the Little Miami River from 9-11:30 a.m. on Saturday.

"It is part of a life skills class which deals with maintaining water quality," said Valerie Miller, communication coordinator for the school district. "I think a majority of the 900 students will be involved."

Students will gather at the Target store on Milford Parkway to begin collecting litter and cleaning up the area.

Covedale Girl Scouts and Western Wildlife Corridor members will clean up and replant Woodside Preserve, at Ashbrook Drive and Prosperity Place in Price Hill, on Saturday.

"We will extend existing trails, install birdhouses, bat houses, and butterfly houses in the preserve," said Cheryl Reinke Peck, land protection coordinator for the corridor.

The groups will work on the preserve from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The scouts will be led by troop leaders Katie and Teresa Hein.

The preserve is 4.5 acres of relatively flat land, which was formerly a playground, surrounded by wooded hillsides.

"Some of the flat areas will be planted with native trees and native wildflowers," Ms. Peck said.

The Western Wildlife Corridor is a conservation organization dedicated to preserving the steep wooded hillsides along the Ohio River Valley from Price Hill to the Indiana border.

For Bob Carter, Make a Difference Day will mean bringing together families to celebrate Cincinnati's Black Family Day, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Findlay Street Neighborhood House, 901 Findlay St., West End.

"The event is free and will be fun, exciting, and educational for the entire family," said Mr. Carter, coordinator of the event.

Allen Howard's "Some Good News" column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.