Orange Seeds volunteers during a previous year’s The Big Event.
Join us for Syracuse University’s largest student-run day of community service, The Big Event, an annual opportunity for students to support local nonprofit organizations within the city of Syracuse. The Big Event will be hosted on Saturday, May 1, from noon to 3 p.m. ET. To participate in this year’s event, virtually or in-person, registration is required by Sunday, April 25, at 11:59 p.m. ET. The first 125 students to register for the in-person experience will receive a free OrangeSeeds volunteer t-shirt! Please note, early registration is encouraged as space is limited.
“The Big Event is a great opportunity to get involved and serve the great Syracuse community, by supporting local non-profits and individuals in our community,” says Jimmy Luckman, program coordinator within the Office of First-Year and Transfer Programs and the advisor of OrangeSeeds. “We have a history of implementing The Big Event for over 10 years and we are excited to support and find new ways to show the community and campus that we love Syracuse!”
Hosted by OrangeSeeds, a first-year and transfer student empowerment program, The Big Event 2021 will be conducted in a hybrid format, hosted in the stadium as well as online through Zoom. The in-person portion of this event will be hosted according to the Stay Safe Pledge. Additionally, in-person volunteers will be required to be compliant with weekly testing prior to attending the event. All students interested in the event may participate virtually or in person. Please note students who test positive or are currently in quarantine will be required to participate virtually.
The changes caused by the pandemic haven’t stopped the passion behind planning this year’s event. “The Big Event is important to me because it is such a great way to contribute to the greater Syracuse community and create real beneficial change,” says OrangeSeeds member Kelly Carroll ’24. “We have all worked so hard to plan this day of service, and I am so excited to see everyone on May 1!”
Students participating in person can help with yard cleanup with Vera House, building and painting tables with Meals on Wheels, farm work with Brady Faith Farm and more. Other in-person volunteer activities include creating care packages for students in quarantine and isolation with the Syracuse University Cheer Team and creating hygiene packages with the Student Association (SA). For students that are remote or would like to participate virtually, there are many ways to be involved. Virtual experiences include a paint session with the Leukemia Society and in a hybrid format, card/letter writing with Proliteracy.
For more information or to request accommodations, please contact OrangeSeeds at orangeseeds@syr.edu or call 315.443.9187.
Story by Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience graduate assistant Alana Boyd G’21, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
