Students at Towson University value and thrive off of diversity and connectivity. They use their skills and knowledge to help others in the community every year. In fact, this last year over 8,955 students completed service hours within and outside of the Towson Community. These activities range from building houses with student groups like Houses for Humanity to gleaning produce for food banks like the TU Student United Way.
Students preparing Halloween cards for Pickersgill residents.
The different service activities are endless, but they also happen right in our own backyard. Here at Pickersgill, we have had students come in to visit, host games and activities, as well as make and deliver cards for holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s and Christmas. Hours are dedicated to connecting our two great communities and changing lives. The day that reaps the most service hours for these students is The Big Event.
TU students gather around for a picture after, The Big Event, a huge day of service in Towson.
The Big Event, which began in 2010, is one of Towson’s greatest accomplishments. The event is a day reserved specifically for service where Towson students and alumni join up and connect with homeowners, businesses and other establishments to give and help anyway they can. The activities help further interweave the fabric of the greater Towson community that connects us all. In the past year, Towson has had over a 1,000 student volunteers and expects to have over 1,700 this year. In fact since The Big Event began, the number of participants and community impact has more than quadrupled from 2010 with just 350 volunteers. The prospect for the amount of service that can be done this year is huge. More and more students are interested in helping others and excited to make an impact on the lives of their future and current neighbors, like Pickersgill.
The Big Event Planning Committee headed to a retirement community to jump-start the service!
Our home, Pickersgill, not only runs on volunteering and service, but began with it. The same care and gumption that Mary Young Pickersgill used in creating such a community back in 1802 is used today. Even after 213 years, Pickersgill still provides Towson with a thriving and really useful structure to grow upon. So sign up to volunteer today for we know that the community at large is here for the greater good. Or join us on a Saturday morning for Bingo hosted by Towson University students.