TAMIU’s ‘The Big Event’ Offers Service Saturday
What has hundreds of arms and feet, features smiles that can light up the darkest room, truly puts the serve in “service” and doesn’t cost a penny?
That would be the hundreds of Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) students participating in this Saturday’s 8th annual “The Big Event” from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Big Event central rally point will be at the McKendrick, Ochoa and Salinas Branch Library at 1920 Palo Blanco. Students will then provide services to Laredo’s District II and III.
Over 300 students are scheduled to provide completely volunteer services including yard and graffiti cleanup, landscaping, tire collection, highway trash pick up and a focused cleanup campaign on 140 city blocks.
Laredo City Mayor Pete Saenz and City Councilman Alejandro Perez, Jr. will welcome students with a proclamation celebrating The Big Event and the spirit of service truly exemplified by TAMIU students.
Mayra Hernández, director of TAMIU’s Office of Student Conduct and Community Engagement, said “The Big Event” is all about TAMIU students giving back.
“This event lets students show appreciation to our community and strengthens a sense of community between Laredoans and TAMIU students. It is a way our students can give back,” Hernández explained.
Past TAMIU “Big Event” observations have helped local food banks, revitalized city parks and repaired homes.
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. It has also become a global phenomenon with events planned in Germany, Italy, Pakistan and Spain, among others.
All TAMIU students can participate in “The Big Event.” A waiver form must be signed and turned in onsite 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 Hernández at mghernandez@tamiu.edu or 326.2288.