On Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., OrangeSeeds will host the annual The Big Event, the University’s largest student-run day of community service. The Big Event is organized by first-year and transfer students who work directly with nonprofit organizations in Syracuse to coordinate service projects for student volunteers.
“Participating in community service means a lot to me,” says OrangeSeeds member Kevin O’Donnell, a first-year student in the Newhouse School and the Whitman School. “Engaging in community service makes you realize that you are a part of something bigger and that your actions really have an impact.”
This year, The Big Event’s community relations committee is partnering with 14 organizations, including Meals on Wheels, Sarah’s Guest House, Wilson Park and Habitat for Humanity. Past Big Events have taken place at such sites as the Westcott Community Center, the Salvation Army, Dr. King Elementary School and Thornden Park.
OrangeSeeds volunteers for the 2016 Big Event.
“I think the best thing that each of us can do individually is do our part to give back to the community that has given us a home, and the easiest way to start is to volunteer our time,” says O’Donnell.
The Big Event kickoff and check-in begin at 9 a.m. in Shemin Auditorium in the Shaffer Art Building. A complimentary light breakfast will be provided, along with a free T-shirt for the first 150 volunteers. Transportation to the service projects is provided following the kickoff.
To participate in this year’s event, all students must sign up before the April 14 deadline.
For more information or to request accommodations, contact OrangeSeeds at orangeseeds@syr.edu.
