Hundreds of students along with faculty and staff from The University of Toledo will lend a hand to do some good throughout the city Sunday, Aug. 28.

The volunteers will spread out across the community and spend the day raking, pulling weeds, painting, picking up garbage, washing windows and more at parks, residential homes, businesses and UT’s campuses.

The annual Big Event is the largest single-day community service event completed by UT students in the Toledo area.

“The Big Event is a great way to give back to Toledoans and businesses who do so much to support us throughout the year,” Joseph Leech, UT engineering student and director of this year’s event, said. “As we start our fall semester, we are enthusiastic to do something special and show we intend to make positive contributions to the city.”

This year’s Big Event will feature a new kick-off called Paint Your Pride.

Students will meet at 10 a.m. at the Student Recreation Center on Main Campus and use stencils to paint the Rocket insignia across campus.

“We are creating a new tradition,” Dr. Phillip “Flapp” Cockrell, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, said.

Several of the Big Event project locations across the city include:

• Bancroft Hills, the neighborhood just east of UT Main Campus between Bancroft Street and Dorr Street and between St. Francis de Sales High School and Westwood Avenue, from noon to 2 p.m.

• Wildwood Metropark from noon to 2 p.m.

• UT Main Campus along the Ottawa River from noon to 2 p.m.

The next Big Event is scheduled for March 25, 2017, when students will again give back to UT’s neighbors.

“We will also be doing several Service Saturdays throughout school year,” Leech said.

Media Coverage
NBC 24 (August 28, 2016)