PSU students plan mass community service project Saturday

  Wednesday, April 9, 2014 2:00 AM
  News

Pittsburg, KS

Homer Cole is looking forward to Saturday, when a swarm of Pittsburg State students descend on his home to rake leaves, wash windows and clean gutters. Although getting the work done is important, for Cole and many others like him across the community, the real value of the Big Event is the interaction with students.

More than 860 Pittsburg State University students are scheduled to take part in the annual Big Event, an annual, massive community service project sponsored by PSU’s Student Government Association. The project sends students across the city where this year they will work at 137 homes. This is the 11th year for PSU’s Big Event.

“The Big Event is an opportunity for Pittsburg State students to show the community how much we appreciate their support throughout the year,” said Jake Letner, a PSU senior and chairman of this year’s activity.

In what has become an annual tradition for Cole, after the students tackle a number of chores around his home, he plans to serve them refreshments and visit a while.

“I enjoy being around the students,” said Cole, who is a familiar figure at athletic events throughout the year.

Both student organizers and recipients of the service work say the Big Event highlights the strong and historically close relationship between the university and the community.

“It’s not just something for one Saturday in April,” Cole said.

The Big Event will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday with a gathering in John Lance Arena, where students will get their assignments for the day. From there, they will fan out across the city to complete their tasks.