April 11 marked the twenty-third time that the Student Government Association hosted the Big Event, a city-wide event that serves to better houses in community through yardwork and home improvement jobs. Members of the Pittsburg State community and beyond volunteered to help out, with around 47 groups answering the call of service.
“The Big Event, for us, is a city-wide community event. We do yardwork, we clean windows, we do all types of different things,” commented Natalie Garland, a senior nursing major. Garland also holds the position of Chairman of Service and Sustainability in the Student Government Association, and had a hand in helping get this year’s Big Event prepared.
At 8 a.m. that morning, members of the Student Government Association arrived at the Crossland College of Technology to help get volunteer kits prepared, which they laid along the parking spaces of the western part of the building. Kits included rakes, gardening gloves, and cleaning supplies; all neatly placed in sustainable paper bags from Aldi.
Soon after, Corey Humble, a senior biology major and the current student body president, and Darrel McLeod, the vice president and a junior communications major, arrived with donuts for the members of the senate. As they ate their breakfast, Humble, McLeod, and Garland gave a pep talk to the volunteers. Then, the Student Government Association finished preparing before the rest of the volunteers started showing up at 9 a.m.
Every volunteer group was assigned a number, which corresponded to a different address. Once they received their assignment, the volunteers would pick up their supplies and make their way to their respective locations.
One group that stepped up was made up of members of Pittsburg State’s football team. They all went to the house of Phil and Mary Beitzinger, two Pittsburg residents who needed assistance in their backyard, namely rearranging flowerbeds and laying down mulch. The team chose to help out with the Big Event out of gratitude for the Pittsburg State community.
“The community does a great job in supporting us as football players. It’s always good to give back in any way we can,” commented Jaydon Knight, a junior exercise science major who plays tight end for the Gorilla football team. Also with him was sophomore business management major Blake Carr, who plays linebacker.
“We just wanted to give back to the community as much as we can. They do so much for us, so it’s only right that we do stuff for them,” Carr continued.
Aside from running the event, members of the Student Government Association were also helping out with service. Darrel McLeod was one of those members, working alongside the Rock Climbing Club to help with yardwork at a different location.
“The reason I keep doing it is because of the memories I’ve made of it. The best camaraderie I’ve found is when all of SGA is putting their heads together to make the best work happen,” McLeod explained. “It’s beautiful to see all these great leaders come together for one cause. I love this event and hope it continues long after I’m graduated.”