Students volunteer for community service
By: Danielle Carver
Issue date: 4/2/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Student participants gathered outside the Corbett Center Student Union early Saturday morning to kickoff one of the largest student-run service projects at New Mexico State University, known as The Big Event.
First, participants signed in to see what agency or organization they would be volunteering for. These early risers were eager to consume breakfast burritos, Junga Juice and Durango Bagels as sustenance for a day of giving back to the community. Students then separated and went to their assigned location, dressed in grey and crimson shirts provided by the Associated Students of New Mexico State University.
The Big Event originated from Texas A&M University in 1982. ASNMSU brought this tradition to Las Cruces in 2002.
According to Sasha Seams, the ASNMSU assistant director of community outreach, The Big Event was even bigger and better this year, with more publicity, participants and overall community involvement.
"This year we really revamped," Seams said. "It's really exciting. We didn't anticipate the community would be this involved, and they were."
Seams said more agencies and businesses signed up this year to have volunteers help them out. Also, several restaurants such as Dion's Pizza, Cattle Baron, Texas Roadhouse and Chiles donated gift certificates to volunteers as a way to honor their service and time.
Some of the various agencies student volunteers were assigned to included: La Casa, Las Cruces Nursing Home, Family and Youth Stepping Stones, the Boys and Girls Club of Las Cruces, Safe Haven Animal Incorporated, Tresco Inc. and the Salvation Army.
At the Salvation Army thrift store, volunteers sorted out a giant mound of clothing or organized various clothing racks.
Sylvia Prince, the Salvation Army store manager, said she was impressed by the volunteers' enthusiasm to help out the organization.
"I think they're little angels," Prince said with a grin. "They're just a blessing to the thrift store. We really appreciate the generosity of the community."
Volunteers also spent time repainting outdoor playground equipment and pulling weeds at the Salvation Army Church backyard, just one of the many business and organizations involved with The Big Event.
As Seams toured each location to ensure things were running smoothly on Saturday morning, she said she was impressed.
"It's just really nice to see the whole community coming together and students wanting to help," Seams said.
The Lambda Chi fraternity helped staff at Haven Animal Incorporated by doing yard work.
Bryan Benson, the fraternity president, said it felt good to help out.
"All of the guys were pretty excited," Benson said. "We were just glad to help them out."
The Big Event and Keep State Great are two of NMSU's main service projects, The Big Event having the larger turnout over past years.
"It's just the students' way of saying thank you to the Las Cruces community," Seams said.
First, participants signed in to see what agency or organization they would be volunteering for. These early risers were eager to consume breakfast burritos, Junga Juice and Durango Bagels as sustenance for a day of giving back to the community. Students then separated and went to their assigned location, dressed in grey and crimson shirts provided by the Associated Students of New Mexico State University.
The Big Event originated from Texas A&M University in 1982. ASNMSU brought this tradition to Las Cruces in 2002.
According to Sasha Seams, the ASNMSU assistant director of community outreach, The Big Event was even bigger and better this year, with more publicity, participants and overall community involvement.
"This year we really revamped," Seams said. "It's really exciting. We didn't anticipate the community would be this involved, and they were."
Seams said more agencies and businesses signed up this year to have volunteers help them out. Also, several restaurants such as Dion's Pizza, Cattle Baron, Texas Roadhouse and Chiles donated gift certificates to volunteers as a way to honor their service and time.
Some of the various agencies student volunteers were assigned to included: La Casa, Las Cruces Nursing Home, Family and Youth Stepping Stones, the Boys and Girls Club of Las Cruces, Safe Haven Animal Incorporated, Tresco Inc. and the Salvation Army.
At the Salvation Army thrift store, volunteers sorted out a giant mound of clothing or organized various clothing racks.
Sylvia Prince, the Salvation Army store manager, said she was impressed by the volunteers' enthusiasm to help out the organization.
"I think they're little angels," Prince said with a grin. "They're just a blessing to the thrift store. We really appreciate the generosity of the community."
Volunteers also spent time repainting outdoor playground equipment and pulling weeds at the Salvation Army Church backyard, just one of the many business and organizations involved with The Big Event.
As Seams toured each location to ensure things were running smoothly on Saturday morning, she said she was impressed.
"It's just really nice to see the whole community coming together and students wanting to help," Seams said.
The Lambda Chi fraternity helped staff at Haven Animal Incorporated by doing yard work.
Bryan Benson, the fraternity president, said it felt good to help out.
"All of the guys were pretty excited," Benson said. "We were just glad to help them out."
The Big Event and Keep State Great are two of NMSU's main service projects, The Big Event having the larger turnout over past years.
"It's just the students' way of saying thank you to the Las Cruces community," Seams said.
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