All across the nation and the state of Hawai'i, legions of volunteers showed compassion, assisted those in need and participated in good deed projects today as part of Make A Difference Day — a national celebration of neighbors helping neighbors.

On O'ahu, much of the kindness was done in the rain, which was the one thing that apparently didn't make a difference.

Oblivious to the downpour, kids, parents and neighbors collected cans, cleaned up beaches and helped the homeless.

At St. Francis School in Manoa, students and their folks painted outdoor statues and did landscaping around the campus. In Wai'anae, volunteers were trained to assist in a program to bring separated siblings in foster care together once a month.

The Hawai'i chapter of Project Linus in Hilo collected handmade blankets for kids in need. Back on O'ahu, families of deployed U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy personnel painted World and U.S. maps in the campus halls at Mokapu Elementary School.

Created by USA Weekend Magazine, Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. Last year more than 3 million people cared enough to volunteer for tens of thousands of projects.