OU’s The Big Event, the largest student-led community service day on campus, will take place Saturday.
“Community through service” is the motto that defines The Big Event. The Big Event is an opportunity for OU students to give back to those in need and build their community service skills.
The Big Event at OU began in 1999. Initially, only a couple dozen volunteers attended. Now, The Big Event is the largest student-led community service day on campus, attracting around 4,000 students and community volunteers.
Volunteers are assigned a job site to serve at, ranging from building homes to gardening. But The Big Event is about more than just the work that’s done.
Preston Dunlap, vice chair of outreach for The Big Event and volunteer for three years, said there's more to The Big Event than volunteering.
“The Big Event is not just ‘big’ because of the numbers of volunteers but because of the impact it has on the lives of those we serve,” Dunlap said. “We have countless job sites that couldn't get this work done without OU students showing up on a seemingly random Saturday to help them out.”
The impact also extends to students’ experience.
When reflecting on her time volunteering for The Big Event, Mia McDonough, sophomore and second-year volunteer, said she enjoys watching the progress.
“The Big Event is such a fun way to give back to the community and surround myself with people who are passionate about volunteering,” McDonough said. “I absolutely love seeing all the progress and how happy the nonprofits are.”
Donations to The Big Event can be made online.
The Big Event will begin with an opening ceremony at 8 a.m. Saturday on the North Oval. More information on The Big Event is available on Instagram and online.
This story was edited by Madisson Cameron. Andrew Paredes, Avery Avery and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
