The Big Event is a smashing success

She was impressed by the workers’ “awesome” work ethic and willingness to do many different kinds of work from shoveling gravel in the parking lot to cleaning and sorting inside and even heavy lifting. Some students also helped her prep medicine for a medical service trip she and six other Chadron residents are taking to Mexico in June.

Proceeds from items hauled by The Big Event volunteers from storage sites around town to the church for the upcoming community-wide garage sale will be used to support students and others going on the trip with Johnson.

Head Start Director, DeAnn Koerber said of The Big Event volunteers at her job site, “They were hard workers. They jumped right in with enthusiasm and a fantastic sense of humor.” Like Johnson, she was impressed with the project members’ inclination to see things that needed to be done and volunteer to do them even if they weren’t on the list of duties.

“They rolled up their sleeves and tackled the painting. These are things would we have deferred. We are so grateful for their help,” Koerber added.

Sam Parker, a CSC student intern with The Big Event, said at the end of the day, “It was an amazing. Everyone made it a great event - from the volunteers to the work site supervisors, Subway, all our sponsors and everyone who was involved. We are building a bond with the community and that’s just as important as the work we accomplished. That matters. We feel good and so many people were smiling today. That’s what it’s all about.”

The CSC women's basketball team helped the Museum of the Fur Trade, the football team cleaned Wilson Park and the wrestling team moved furniture, built shelves, painted lines on the basketball court, and repaired a fence and built a gate near the playground of the Trunk Butte Christian School. The volleyball team and health professions club went door to door collecting food and delivering it to "Closer to Home" while the men's basketball team hauled heavy equipment at Outlaw Printers.

Even with wet weather forcing a change in plans that eliminanted some landscaping and yard work at additional sites, work was completed at 14 locations including Crest View Nursing Home and Chadron Community Church.

Other activities completed by the army of 400 included planting trees on C-Hill and picking up trash on campus and around town with Keep Chadron Beautiful. Additional photos can be seen on the CSC News page and on the official CSC Facebook page.

Student organizations involved in the Big Event included: Ag Club, Student Alumni Counsel, International Club, Health Professions Club, NAFME, Blue Key, Cardinal Key, NOCS, Revive, Public Relations Club, Social Science Club, Psychology Club, Legal Studies Club, Residence Life Association, ROTC, Omega Phi Rho, Allies Club and FCS Club, Social Work Club and the Cheer Team.