October 25 is Make A Difference Day. A national day of neighbors helping neighbors. Don't forget to do your part in making this day a success.

Monthly Events

Adopt A Shelter Dog Month. Twenty-five percent of the dogs waiting for adoption in shelters were surrendered by people who said the dogs didn’t fit in with their lifestyles. The ASPCA sponsors Adopt A Shelter Dog Month to advocate ending the euthanasia of all adoptable pets. For more information, visit www.aspca.org.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This marks the 22nd year of this campaign to raise awareness about violence perpetrated against women and their children. For more information, visit www.ncadv.org for more information.

Dyslexia Awareness Month. Millions of children and adults worldwide live with this neurological disorder that impedes their ability to read; many more go undiagnosed. Use this month to learn the signs of dyslexia and understand its consequences—at home and in the workplace. For more information, visit www.interdys.org.

National Breast Cancer Month. It is national breast cancer month. In addition to getting a check up, visit www.nbcam.org to find out how you can help “Pass the Word” about screenings and early detection.

National Crime Prevention Month. Make your community a safe place to live, work, and play with crime prevention tips. For more information, visit www.ncpc.org.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Visit www.dol.gov/odep to find out more about this mission to educate the public on the contributions and skills of American workers with disabilities, and to highlight the employment issues and barriers that still need to be addressed.

National Reading Group Month. To celebrate the joy of sharing books and to inspire individuals who do not belong to a reading group to join one or start one of their own. For more information, visit www.wnba-books.org.

Weekly Events

Fire Prevention Week. Oct. 5–11. Established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the theme of this year’s observance is “It’s Fire Prevention Week: Prevent Home Fires!” For more information, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.

National Food Bank Week. Oct. 12–18. Recognizes food banks—including donors and volunteers—for their efforts to alleviate hunger in the United States. For more information, and to learn how to help visit, www.secondharvest.org.

Daily Events

World Vegetarian Day. Oct. 1. The annual kickoff of World Vegetarian Month celebrating vegetarianism’s benefits to humans, animals, and our planet. For more information, visit www.worldvegetarianday.org.

National Diversity Day. Oct. 3. A day to celebrate and embrace who we are, despite our cultural and ideological differences. For more information, visit www.nationaldiversityday.com.

Yom Kippur Oct. 9. Yom Kippur is the "Day of Atonement" and refers to the annual Jewish observance of fasting, prayer and repentance. This is considered to be the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. For more information, visit https://urj.org/holidays/yomkippur/

Columbus Day Oct. 13. New York declared Columbus Day a holiday in 1909 and on October 12, 1909. The first recorded celebration of Columbus Day in the United States took place on October 12, 1792. Organized by The Society of St. Tammany, also known as the Columbian Order, it commemorated the 300th anniversary of Columbus's landing. For more information, visit
https://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/today/oct12.html

National Bosses Day. Oct. 16. Patricia Bays Haroski created National Boss Day to honor her father who also became her boss at State Farm Insurance Company in Deerfield, Ill. Haroski chose the date October 16 because that is the birth date of her beloved father. In 1958, she registered the holiday with the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. For more information, go to https://www.thebossday.com/history.html

Make A Difference Day. Oct. 25. A national day of neighbors helping neighbors. For more information, visit www.makeadifferenceday.com.

Halloween Oct. 31. Though mostly fun, games and dressing up in costumes today, Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). For more information, visit
https://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=713&display_order=1&mini_id=1076