TAMIU Students Set ‘Big Event’ March 29

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) students will participate in the 6th annual “The Big Event” benefiting the South Texas Food Bank Saturday, March 29 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Over 150 students will help the STFB to organize three trailer loads of food, complete maintenance to the facility and storage facilities, create distribution packages for needy families and assist with their distribution.

Sylvia Hinojosa, TAMIU outreach and retention specialist for the Office of Student Conduct and Community Engagement, said “The Big Event” is all about giving back.

“This event allows our students to show appreciation to our community and develop a stronger sense of community between Laredo residents and TAMIU students.  It is a way our students can give back to our community,” Hinojosa explained.

This year, students from the TAMIU Student Government Association’s L.O.V.E. Committee selected the STFB in an effort to educate and create awareness about hunger issues in South Texas. Past “Big Events” at TAMIU have included park cleanups and repairs to houses.

The South Texas Food Bank serves an average of 30,000 families throughout eight counties in South Texas and is a member agency of the United Way of Laredo, a certified member of the Feeding Texas (Formerly Texas Food Bank Network) and Feeding America’s Food Bank Network – the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization.

The Big Event, which originally began at Texas A&M University in College Station in 1982, has been adopted by dozens of universities and now serves many communities across the nation.

All TAMIU students can participate in “The Big Event.” A waiver form must be signed and turned in on-site in order to participate. Students receive community service hours for their efforts and lunch is provided for all participants.

For more information about TAMIU’s The Big Event, contact Mayra Hernández at mghernandez@tamiu.edu or 326.2286.

For more information about the South Texas Food Bank, call 956.726.3120 or visit www.southtexasfoodbank.org

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu