 "Photo: Photo courtesy of the Big Event Committee.")
One Big Day. One Big Thanks. One Big Event.
That is the slogan of the nationally recognized day of service, the Big Event. It is also a slogan which has caught the eyes of over 400 Quinnipiac University students who have already signed up for the campus-wide event.
“Our goal is 500 volunteers,” said Big Event Chairperson, Jennifer Walts. “I definitely think we will meet or exceed that goal.”
In just the first two sign-up days, over 250 people took out registration paperwork, according to Walts
Originally started in 1982 at Texas A&M University, the Big Event has since grown as universities across the country have joined in the effort to thank their local communities.
“The Big Event is going to be a big ‘thank you’ to all the people in the [local] communities,” said Kaitie Lovett, Student Government Association’s Big Event team captain.
As of Feb. 23, 53 service sites have confirmed their participation. The number is three more than the Big Event goal of 50 sites. And there are still a number of sites interested.
“We've been speaking with a few sites that are interested, and now we're just waiting for confirmations,” Site Logistics Chair Jamie Kloss said.
The different categories of sites available to volunteers are: elderly service, nature, medical/research, youth service, educational, and community outreach.
One nature site is Sleeping Giant State Park across the street from Quinnipiac. There, students will clean up hiking trails and help promote wildlife reserves. Other teams will be sent to local schools to help with tutoring. Each site decides what it needs volunteers to do.
Community outreach is a broad category that includes book collecting, homeless shelters, and animal shelters.
“We have a site in just about every category imaginable,” Community Outreach Chair Melissa Trinks said. “There are plenty of different volunteer activities for students to choose from that will fit their interests.”
Although faculty can’t directly participate in the Big Event, they have been lending their support. Some of the offices offering a helping hand include Chartwells, the Office of Community Service, Athletics, and the Public Affairs Office.
“It is our hope that as the Big Event continues year after year at Quinnipiac, faculty will be able to get involved and form teams,” Trinks said.
Student Government Association (SGA) is heavily involved in the Big Event and hope that it will show the surrounding community that Quinnipiac is thankful.
“It is an opportunity to let the community know that we appreciate all that they do for us, and we want to repay them for that,” Lovett said.
The Big Event rally will take place on March 24 at 8:30 p.m. The Big Event has teamed up with Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) for Earth Hour, which aims to reduce energy consumption on college campuses. Entertainment will include local bands and free organically grown local food will be provided.
If the Big Event exceeds the 500 volunteer goal, excess volunteers will be sent to a waiting pool and sent out to sites as needed.
Team captains will receive a confirmation e-mail two weeks after they register which will include their site, contact information for the site and what their task will be.
Students interested in registering for the Big Event can pick up paperwork at the Big Event table in the student center. Both teams and individuals are welcome. The last day to turn in paperwork is March 23rd.
1 comments
btw great article.