Free giveaways, great deals and some good entertainment are sure to attract many local Ferris students to attend this year’s Meijer Madness.
The eighth annual event collaborated by Ferris and Meijer will be held Saturday, Aug. 25, from 7-10 p.m.
“The thing I enjoyed most about Meijer Madness was the amount of fun giveaways they had and the amount of community and business involvement,” Caraline Visuri, Ferris junior in graphic design, said.
Many of the students come out to Meijer to take advantage of all the giveaways that local businesses provide.
Allison Schuster, Ferris sophomore in pre-pharmacy, said, “I really enjoyed all of the drawings I had the opportunity to enter. The giveaways were fantastic as well. The best giveaway was the opportunity to throw a Mary Kay party and win free makeup.”
This year, new and returning students will receive a welcome bag filled with information, coupons and deals from local businesses.
Once inside Meijer, students doing some of their back to school shopping will be able to take ten percent off their entire purchase, though groceries, Meijer Gas Station and C-Stops, HBC, alcohol, tobacco, prescriptions, gift cards, lottery, postage, park and entertainment tickets and layaway are excluded.
Even if some students are not interested in shopping, there will be a live DJ, a Shutterbooth area and a trailer filled with arcade games to keep the crowd entertained.
Campus buses will provide transportation to students living on campus. They will be picking up students from the Rankin Student Center, Bond Hall, and Miller/Travis Hall, circling every fifteen minutes starting at 7:45 p.m.
According to Cindy Horn, director of University Recreation, Meijer Madness continues to grow each year in popularity and attendance. It is estimated that approximately 3,500 students will attend the event this fall.
“I believe the deals are absolutely worth it. College is expensive, but between the giveaways and coupons, you’re guaranteed to save a few bucks,” Visuri said.
Dustin Joling, Ferris sophomore in public relations, said, “They’re the best deals of the year. You’d be a fool not to go.”
About 25-30 local businesses are expected to participate. The Big Rapids Meijer is located just off Perry Avenue. For more information, contact Elvira Rajala at ext. 2606.