By TENA L. COOK and ABIGAIL SWANSON, CSC
CHADRON – More than 400 volunteers worked at more than 45 job sites in the Chadron area Saturday during the 10th annual The Big Event. The day of service capped off a special week for The Big Event since Chadron’s City Council approved an official proclamation naming April as The Big Event month. The event normally involves painting, cleaning, yard work, hauling trash, as well as food collection and outreach to care facility residents.
Third year The Big Event (TBE) staff member and Marketing Coordinator Kenzie Smith said volunteers were working hard and having a good time when staff stopped by to check on them Saturday.
“We're just so excited to see all these people so passionate about service and celebrating 10 years.
Kincaid Strain, TBE student staff outreach coordinator, said the weather was perfect.
“We had so many volunteers who were eager and happy. I feel like the day went pretty smooth. We've put a lot of hard work into this and Dr. French-Collins, as well, and it's really cool to see it all come together,” Strain said.
Becky Fernau, assistant professor, said the Social Work Club members had a rewarding experience collecting food donations for the CSC Food Pantry and Closer to Home.
“Some of our students aren't necessarily the most comfortable talking to strangers, so it gave them an opportunity to have some conversation with community members. It put the college out there, as well, and plugged The Big Event. I had a lot of people ask me about it since they had been seeing people wearing the shirts around town,” Fernau said.
April Waggoner, president of the Social Work Club, estimated nearly $1,000 worth of food and $375 in gift cards was donated at Walmart.
Waggoner said she was pleasantly surprised by two donations. One woman stopped with a cartful of food and the students thought she would donate a few items or a few sacks. Instead, she donated the entire cart of food. Another man donated a $300 gift card.
Katrina Christensen of Guernsey, Wyoming, said she enjoyed learning about the history of Chadron by cleaning at the Dawes County Historical Museum with Revive.
Some worksites involved reading, playing games and performing music for the elderly. Dr. Elizabeth Kraatz and Dr. Allison Fritz enjoyed interacting with Crest View Care Center residents.
“It’s cool to see how many students are willing to volunteer in the community and all the projects that they've done in the past. We're new here so we’re slowly getting to know people so it's nice to get to see different parts of the community and meet people,” Kraatz said.
Anna Cooper said her brother talked a lot about his volunteer work with TBE so she was eager to carry on the family tradition by gardening at the Chadron Intermediate School with the Zi Delta Zeta sorority
Chadron resident Colleen Patterson had called on TBE volunteers several years ago for yard work and decided she needed help again.
“I used to be able to do this yard work myself. It’s so nice to have the extra hands. They got it done so fast. It would take me all summer to do this work. They were right here, ready to go and in no time at all they had it looking really nice,” Patterson said.
Nebraska State College System Chancellor Paul Turman participated in his second TBE.
“It's a really exciting event. I think the students who have worked to organize this over the last 10 years have really built this into what it is. It was nice to be at the reception last night where alumni who had been a part of putting this in place were there to be recognized. They told some of their stories and the impact of serving their community and what they've learned through this activity,” Turman said.
Turman said the college is performing an important service bringing experiential learning opportunities to students.
“They leave this institution really having embraced that. I think The Big Event is one of those activities that certainly helps signify community involvement here in Chadron,” Turman said.
Alumna Ashley Jackson, a senior compliance associate for IQEQ, an investor service group, returned for the reception.
“It was incredible to hear from former staff as they told what kind of an impact The Big Event had on their lives and to hear from current staff about what The Big Event is today. Being in the same room as other people who experienced what kind of big things can happen through The Big Event was something I will never forget,” Jackson said.
Another TBE alumni, Cassady Maln, said it was especially meaningful to be in Chadron for the 10th anniversary.
“It's cool to see how it's grown even just the years that we've been out and see faculty, staff, students giving back. It’s awesome and we're glad we got to come be a part of it this year,” Maln said.
