‘Big Event’ bigger than ever with record number of volunteers

The Auburn University Big Event was bigger than ever this year with a record number of volunteers and outreach projects in two counties.

More than 1,200 AU student volunteers scattered across the area Saturday to give a helping hand on more than 60 projects as a way of saying thanks and giving back to the community.

The Big Event has been sponsored by the AU Student Government Association since 2003. The annual community outreach program originally began at Texas A&M University in the early 1980s and is now held at more than 50 universities nationwide.

The AU Big Event has grown by approximately 400 student volunteers each year since 2006, according to Adam Carlisle, 2008 Big Event coordinator.

“It’s very much a part of the Auburn (University) tradition, as well as a genuine love Auburn students have for the community,” said Carlisle, who worked on projects at Dean Road Elementary School.

Auburn University student volunteers also worked on projects at Storybook Farm, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lee County, Auburn Day Care Centers, Loachapoka Elementary School and the Food Bank of East Alabama.

Members of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity helped sort and box canned food items that will be distributed to 100 food pantries in a six-county area served by the Food Bank of East Alabama.

Many of the students had volunteered at the food bank during previous Big Event projects.

“We like to serve the community in every way possible, and SGA gives us a great chance with the Big Event,” said Dana Hollenbeck, Alpha Gamma Delta sorority member and junior microbiology major. The sorority had four teams at other locations.

“I just feel like I’m helping,” Hollenbeck said, adding, “Auburn does so much for us in providing our education and the community helps with that as well.”

AU student volunteers also helped out at the Food Bank of East Alabama Community Market, where they cleaned up around the outside of the building.

“I’m extremely impressed with this,” Martha Faupel, Food Bank of East Alabama executive director, said. “From our perspective it’s been great.”

An army of more than 100 AU student volunteers met at Loachapoka Elementary School early Saturday morning, vowing to stay until all projects were completed. The students pitched in for a variety of jobs that included pruning shrubs, cleaning the nature trail, planting flowers, pressure-washing windows and painting murals in the bathrooms.

“Auburn University is just wonderful. They came in ready to go,” said Loachapoka Elementary School Principal Mary Ross said, who invited elementary students, parents and community businesses to help out during the one-day project.

This was the first year the Big Event included projects in Tuskegee, Carlisle said. A number of AU students went to a parsonage in the Macon County city to help build and paint bunk beds.

“They were having to sleep on the floor,” Carlisle said.