University students helped out the local community in the Student Government Association’s (SGA) 15th annual Big Event, the school’s single largest community service project, last Saturday, Oct. 25.
Every year, University students and faculty members from various departments, teams, and clubs come together to give back to the community they call home.
Volunteers form teams and travel to different “worksites” around the West Long Branch and Deal areas to clean up and help out. These worksites vary from food pantries and churches to litter removal from local parks and residential properties.
The Big Event has been held annually for 15 years, however, this year was slightly different.
In previous years, the event has attracted about 400 volunteers and 25 to 30 worksites.
According to SGA Big Event Chair Alyssa Sardelli, a junior business management major, this year’s event had over 700 volunteers sign up and 37 registered worksites.
“I think the [Big] Event was a huge success,” said Sardelli. “Not only did we have the highest volunteer and worksite sign-up count ever, but I’ve been receiving emails thanking us for our amazing help.”
One worksite that was grateful for the University’s help was the Stella Maris Retreat Center in Long Branch. Sisters of Alpha Xi Delta (AXiD) spent the day at the location working on gardening and landscaping.
“My group got the chance to help out a nun named Sister Clare at the retreat center,” said Ali Hart, a sophomore elementary education major and sister of AXiD.
“We were able to accomplish tasks such as weeding, planting flowers, and trimming trees.” Hart explained that the event was an extremely rewarding experience.
“Seeing how grateful Sister Clare was made the whole day and experience worthwhile.”
While some groups volunteered at places such as Stella Maris, other groups spent their time cleaning up litter outside. Groups like the Outdoors Club and Alpha Kappa Psi (AKPsi) worked at Deal Lake all day.
“We helped pick up all the trash around the lake and had some fun kayaking as well,” said Mike Lopes, a senior management and marketing major and president of AKPsi. “It was great being able to help out the community.”
For the past three years, SGA has honored members of the University community that have shown dedication to the Big Event.
“We wanted to begin recognizing the people at Monmouth University who have been enthusiastic supporters of this campus and community tradition,” said Sardelli.
“It was with that in mind that the Big Event Appreciation Award evolved.” Sardelli explained that the award goes to someone who has made a lasting difference in the event.
“This year, we were proud and honored to announce that Dr. Joseph Patten from the Department of Political Science has been selected as the recipient.”
The planning for this year’s Big Event began over the summer. Sardelli contacted over 100 different worksites to inform them of the event.
“My committee and I worked very hard to make sure there were enough worksites for all of the volunteers, as well as spreading the word about the event and inspiring the Monmouth community to sign up,” she said.
SGA President Ali Tuyahov felt that his year’s event was a success. “Alyssa (Sardelli) did an amazing job with the Big Event this year,” she said. “Every year I just watch it get bigger and bigger.”
“It has been great to watchthe progression of the Big Event over the past decade and a half,” said Vaughn Clay, the advisor of SGA. “The students of SGA are incredibly proud of their fellow Monmouth community members who devoted a day of their weekend to lending a helping hand to our neighbors.”
According to Sardelli, The Big Event was originally founded at Texas A&M University in 1982 and has since spread to colleges and universities across the country.
The University’s Big Event was first held in 2000 with only 125 volunteers and 11 worksites.
“The Big Event started as an idea 15 years ago that we got from Texas A&M University, and has become the single largest community service event on campus,” said Tuyahov.
“It is nice that so many students care about going into the community and helping in one way or another,” Tuyahov added.
PHOTO COURTESY of Monmouth University
