Missouri Western State University’s Center for Service and the Student Government Association will host the fifth annual “The Big Event,” a nationwide day of community service, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 28.
The initiative, which originated at Texas A&M University in 1982, has evolved into the largest student-run service project in the country. At Missouri Western, the event serves as a formal “thank you” to the St. Joseph community.
This year’s efforts will center on the neighborhood near 29th and Lafayette, an area the university adopted through the Imagine St. Joseph 2040 Adopt-a-Block program. Volunteers will focus on:
- Collecting litter and clearing blocked sewer drains.
- Assisting the YWCA’s Bliss Manor and Pivotal Point’s transitional apartments with bulk disposal needs.
- General beautification to promote community health and mental well-being.
“The Big Event embodies our commitment to civic engagement and the belief that learning extends beyond the classroom,” said Angie Osborn, director of the Center for Service. “By serving those who invest in our students, we demonstrate that gratitude is more than words—it’s in our everyday actions.”
Volunteers are asked to meet at the Mark Twain Early Learning Center parking lot, at 705 S. 31st Street, to receive supplies and instructions. The university will provide transportation for participants who require it.
Students and community members can register online at griff.vn/BigEvent26.
