QU Crews Work "Big Event"

Saturday's weather was sunny and beautiful, but for hundreds of Quinnipiac University students, staff and alumni, it was spent doing work at a number of area sites for the annual "Big Event"

More than 1,300 undergraduate students, 102 graduate students and 29 faculty and staff members registered to roll up their sleeves for volunteer projects at 93 sites as part of “The Big Event.”

The students, staff and faculty worked at sites in and around Hamden, as well as in Branford, East Haven, Meriden, Middletown, Milford, New Haven, North Haven, Oxford, Shelton, Southington, Wallingford, Waterbury, West Haven and Woodbridge.

In Hamden, about a dozen students painted and spruced up the basement at Grace and St. Peter's Episcopal Church on Dixwell Avenue, where the church holds its weekly Friday evening

"It's wonderful," said Allison Batson, the church's education director and Dinner for a Dollar coordinator. "They were here on time and have been really doing a great job."

Students also did work in a number of other Hamden sites, including clean-ups on Skiff Street along Kohls; on Putnam Avenue by Stop and Shop; at the Keefe Community Center and the playground there; at St. Ann's Soup Kitchen; Hamden Middle School; Shepherd Glen School; Bear Path School; the Children's Center; Sleeping Giant State Park; Whitney Center; Hamden/North Haven YMCA and the Pardee Rose Garden.

In addition, 80 Quinnipiac alumni worked at eight locations in Boston, Bridgeport, Hoboken, N.J., Los Angeles, New Haven, New York City and Providence, R.I.

“It’s an opportunity for students at Quinnipiac to give back to our community and show our appreciation,” said Amy Solomon, a freshman and an event organizer. “It’s the chance to be part of something great.” 

“This event gives our alumni the opportunity to work toward the same goal as our students, faculty and staff,” said Kimberly Evans, associate director of alumni affairs and an event participant.

This is the third year Quinnipiac has held The Big Event, which began at Texas A&M University 29 years ago.