Helping Hands

Students volunteer at 230 homes

Ferris State students bridged the gap between themselves and the citizens of Big Rapids by participating in the BIG Event.

Students gathered at Top Taggart Field at 9 a.m. on April 12 for the seventh annual BIG Event. Approximately 1,400 student volunteers participated in helping 230 homes.

Ferris health care systems administration and pre-diagnostic medical sonography senior Amanda Jewell was the Director of this year’s BIG Event.

“The BIG Event helps to eliminate the barrier between the university and the city of Big Rapids,” Jewell said. “It provides an opportunity for the Ferris student body to come together to give back to show our appreciation for what the community does for us.”

Ferris pre-optometry freshman Jessica Arnot participated in the BIG Event for the first time this year and plans to volunteer again in the future.

“My experience today was great,” Arnot said. “I liked the people I worked with and it was nice to do something for someone in the community that needed help in their yard.”

Ferris pre-pharmacy sophomore Darian Stevens joined her RSO, Ferris Idols, and said the BIG Event is “just one small way we can give back to the community.”

“My experience was very fun,” Stevens said. “We all worked really well together and finished raking leaves and gardening at the church early, so we were able to play on the playground after.”

According to Jewell, each year adjustments are made to improve the BIG Event.

This year, leaders from Big Rapids worked alongside student volunteers to “help eliminate the gap.”