'Big Event' scheduled March 31 to serve Lincoln community

For the second consecutive year, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will host "The Big Event." This national, one-day service project is organized and executed by students as a way to thank the community that has hosted them through their academic careers.

The Big Event at UNL gives students a chance to express their gratitude to the city of Lincoln. In its inaugural year last year, more than 800 students, staff and faculty participated in activities ranging from the beatification of parks to picking up trash along highways. This year, nearly 1,500 participants will serve the needs of the Lincoln community at more than 60 different nonprofit service sites.

Coordinated and sponsored by UNL Student Involvement and the Association of Students at the University of Nebraska, groups of volunteers will be assigned to job sites solicited from community agencies and neighborhood associations. Participants will plant community gardens, paint, pick up litter, serve meals, do construction, organize pantry and library shelves, and serve on a multitude of other requested service projects from agencies throughout Lincoln.

Started at Texas A&M University in College Station in 1982, the Big Event community service project has grown into a nationwide activity, with more than 70 institutions participating.

After the service is completed on March 31, there will be a celebration on the Nebraska Union Memorial Plaza for volunteers and the Lincoln community members. Highlighted speakers will include Lincoln Mayor Coleen Seng, and Juan Franco, vice chancellor for student affairs at UNL.

For more information, contact one of the event co-chairs, Laine Norton or Amanda Wiltgen by e-mail at the links below.

CONTACTS: Laine Norton and Amanda Wiltgen, Big Event Co-Chairs