Nearly 1,700 students, faculty, staff and alumni from The University of Toledo are expected to participate in this year’s Big Event, UT’s largest, student-run service project, on Saturday, April 14. 

Volunteers will spend the day in neighborhoods throughout Toledo raking, picking up garbage, painting and more at parks, businesses and UT’s campuses. 

Students will gather at the UT Student Recreational Center on Main Campus at 9:30 a.m. to receive their job assignments for the service event that will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz will speak to the group of volunteers at 10 a.m. to thank them for their work and to get them excited for the service they will be doing to benefit the community.  

The annual event is meant to show students’ appreciation and give back to the surrounding communities by completing service projects.  

“It is a great way to give back to the city that has done so much for us as students and growing professionals,” said Gabrielle Latreille, the director of this year’s Big Event. “Also, providing service alongside friends and others is a great way to grow closer together and make a larger impact.” 

This year, students from more than 70 different organizations will work at around 60 job sites in the community providing an estimated 7,000 hours of community service.  

Several of the Big Event project locations include:

• A grassy area at 914 Upton Ave. near a neighborhood from noon to 2 p.m.
• A complex that houses dozens of veterans at 1065 Garden Lake Parkway from noon to 2 p.m.
• Community gardens at 3613 Monroe St. and 2545 Monroe St. from noon to 2 p.m.