Bubbles the clown, in his brightly colored outfit and huge red nose, waved at passersby from the corner of Third and Vernon street in front of the Ironton City Center. That was just enough to convince Jessica Burton and Brandy Bewer, both of Ironton, to be a little curious.

"I had to come in and see what was going on," Burton said, laughin. Once inside, she found information booths, a storytelling area and a table with refreshments - all part of the annual Make A Difference Day event, sponsored by the Ironton

Area Kiwanis Club.

A number of area agencies offered health screenings, free giveaways and information about everything from safety to early childhood education to pregnancy counseling services.

This was the first year Two Hearts pregnancy counseling center took part in the Ironton event.

The Ashland, Ky.-based non-profit Christian organization offers free pregnancy tests and various forms of prenatal and assistance to women with unplanned pregnancies. The agency recently opened an office in Coal Grove.

"We just want to get the word out to the community. We're here and the only stipulation is that you must be pregnant," Executive Director Sandy Brown said. "We want to let people know we're here and that there is always hope, and that hope is Jesus. That's what we're here for."

Many of the participants were returnees. Dr. Hal Jeter, a South Point dentist, said he was pleased to see more people come through the doors. His table offered literature on dental care and free tooth imprints of children that parents can keep and use in the event the child is lost or abducted. "We just want to do whatever we can to help people stay safe and healthy," Jeter said.

Jeter's offering was

one of the drawing cards for Jody Newman, of Kitts Hill, who brought her four children to the city center. "Eli goes to head start and they told us about it (Make A Difference Day)." Newman said. "I came to get them fingerprinted and get the tooth imprints."

Throughout Lawrence County, numerous organizations turned out to add their gift of community service to the national day of giving: members of the Boy Scout troop 38 in Proctorville helped clean up a country cemetery that had become overgrown and neglected. In Coal Grove, members of the Church of the Nazarene handed out clothes to the needy, and offered health screenings and free lunches.

At the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8850 in Ironton, the table was set for as many as would come: The VFW and its Ladies' Auxiliary offered spaghetti dinners in exchange for donations of canned food.

"This is just to make a difference for the ones who don't have as much we have." auxiliary member Janet Dixon said.

Ladies' Auxiliary president Nancy Osborne said the auxiliary will also have a blanket drive next month. The blankets will be given to local churches, the Ironton City Mission and other agency that help the needy. "They don't have to be new but they must be clean," she said.

Auxiliary member Phyllis Johnson said that while those in need are getting food and material comforts, those who give are getting something in return as well: the reward of knowing small acts of kindness truly do make a difference. "This really makes you feel great," Johnson said.