Virginia Tech Prepares for Big Event
By Katie StittApril 2, 2009
Virginia Tech's largest community service project, The Big Event, will kick off Saturday, April 18, to unite students and the New River Valley.
Director Michael Jabs encourages all students to participate this year. "Not everyone knows how they can thank the community for its support," he said. "The Big Event is a great and easy way for students to serve the community."
Students, faculty, staff and New River Valley residents can volunteer in groups or individually for the event by registering on the Web site, www.sga.vt.edu/bigevent, before registration ends April 3.
Volunteers should meet on the Virginia Tech Drillfield at 9 a.m. on April 18 at the check-in desks to sign in with their group or organization. Each team captain will receive a jobsite description that includes directions to the assigned jobsite. Parking will be available around campus and will follow normal weekend parking procedures.
Jabs hopes to see more participants this year because of an increase in community job requests. "This year will be the best yet because we have increased the number of jobs to 700, and so the staff expects a bigger volunteer turnout compared to last year," he said.
Jobs range from painting to yard work to trash pickup to housework, and cannot include the use of power tools. Jobs usually last between three and four hours.
If inclement weather occurs, the event will be canceled with no scheduled rain date. Volunteers should dress for the weather and bring plenty of water for the day.
Jabs also hopes volunteers will notice the event motto. Though it reads, "One Big Day, One Big Thanks," Jabs insists that The Big Event is more than just saying thanks to members of the community.
"The Big Event volunteers really get to interact with community members through this program," he says. "Take time to get to know who you're serving because that is the greatest reward of participating."
In 2002, The Big Event found its way to Virginia Tech. In its first year, 60 jobs were completed by 475 students. Last year alone, 3,500 students, faculty and staff volunteers completed over 453 jobs around the community.
Originally started by Texas A&M University in 1982, The Big Event began as a student and faculty initiative to thank the surrounding community for its support of the university. Since its first year, the event has grown from its original six participants to over 10,000.
For questions, call (540) 231-8631 or email to bigevent@vt.edu.
Comments (2)
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NoelleCastillo33 | October 17, 2010 11:14 AMPost a comment