A Fairfield Township circle of friends will spend national Make a Difference Day today knocking on doors to ask donations for a young, recently widowed mother of three. An Enquirer story today by Jennifer Edwards tells of the "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" fund drive to benefit the Fisher family, rocked by the Oct. 4 death of James "Ty" Fisher, 33, from an undetected heart problem. Peggy Fisher, 32, was left with three daughters, no job and no health insurance. About 20 neighbors, many of them women with young kids, determined to deliver more than just hot meals and sympathy.

Friends, relatives and others already have donated about $5,000 to Peggy or to a U.S. Bank fund set up for the family. The neighbors hope to make that fund grow. Their efforts won't end with today's drive.

That's part of the power of Make a Difference Day. Since USA WEEKEND created the day in 1992, millions have mobilized each year on the fourth Saturday of October in a national outpouring of volunteerism, but the idea is to inspire acts of kindness year-round. Last year, at least three million people on this day roused themselves out of their home cocoons and comfort zones and did something for neighbors. It can be something as simple as raking leaves for an elderly shut-in or as elaborate as helping build a Habitat for Humanity home for a new homeowner, but they share a common spirit of looking out for each other.

Ever since the heart-rending attacks of 9/11 and the extraordinary nationwide solidarity that followed, Make a Difference Day has acquired perhaps an added sense of purpose. This year's Aug. 14 blackout showed most people even in supposedly hard-nosed cities looked out for each other instead of taking advantage of a temporary crisis.

Thousands in Cincinnati today are taking part in the Walk As One benefiting the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center's educational programs. You can find other worthy projects on the Web site.