– Alexis Pfannenstiel
***The writer is enrolled in Comm 240 News Reporting.***
On Thursday, April 3, the Student Government Association partnered with Tigers in Service to host the fourth annual “Big Event,” when Fort Hays students volunteer around the Hays community.
Noelle Husmann, SGA public relations director and Kearney Neb. senior, said 96 FHSU students volunteered.
“We had students scraping paint for the Hays Community Assistance Center, (doing) yard work for the First (United) Methodist Church, and even sorting through clothing for The Arc of the Central Plains,” Husmann said. “Some students even helped wrap Christmas presents for the non-profit organization Operation Christmas Child.”
Over the past four years, ‘The Big Event” has progressively grown in the number of projects that need to be done and the number of people willing to volunteer their time.
“Although the weather this year wasn’t ideal, we still got a lot accomplished,” Husmann said. “ I received numerous phone calls with people thanking me for providing volunteers; everyone was very grateful.”
Fort Hays State Junior Nick Schmidt spent two hours helping wrap and package shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child under the direction of Connie Eigenmann, assistant professor of communication studies.
“I really enjoyed helping Dr. Eigenmann organize shoeboxes that will be given to impoverished children all over the world,” Schmidt said. “I think ‘The Big Event’ is a great way for students to get involved in the community, and I’m really glad I decided to participate.”
Not only did students volunteer with organizations around the community, but they also helped with a campus cleanup that afternoon.
“The Quad and residential areas were picked up, along with the sidewalks of one to 13 streets from Elm to Main,” Husmann said. “At noon volunteers also cleaned the downtown Hays area along the railroad tracks and on Main Street.”
To see pictures of the event, visit the FHSU Student Government Association Facebook page their website.