By MACY MAXWELL/Staff Writer
The East Texas Big Event, a day of community service co-hosted by UT Tyler and Tyler Junior College, took place Feb. 22 in Tyler.
During the opening ceremony in Bergfeld Park, volunteers heard from TJC President Juan E. Mejia, UT Tyler President Dr. Julie V. Philley and Tyler Mayor Don Warren.
“It’s so good to see each and every one of you here today,” Philley said. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am for all of our students that are here to volunteer. Our faculty, our staff, this means a lot to everyone, and I look forward to just a great day of serving East Texas.”
Warren followed Philley’s speech with a welcome of his own.
“Seeing people over at the park is the highlight of my day,” Warren said as he looked out at the volunteers gathered in the park’s amphitheater. “And seeing people here volunteering is the highlight of my day (today).”
He continued, “When I look out and see all of you young people … out here volunteering for our city, it really touches my heart. So on behalf of the city of Tyler … thank you for being a part of this today.”
A few of the places students volunteered at included:
● Oakwood Cemetery
● Junior League of Tyler
● Goodman Museum
● Bergfeld Park
● Tyler Rose Garden
● Salvation Army
● Downtown
● The Foundry Coffee House
● The Tyler Public Library.
At The Foundry Coffee House, volunteers earned their green thumb. They were tasked with pruning, mulching, uprooting, and replanting the plants in the coffee shop’s outside sitting areas.
See what happened during The Big Event. Video by Jude Ratcliff.
The volunteers who worked downtown were tasked with picking up litter. These volunteers were split into three groups: one group covered the square, another the parking garage at Elm and Broadway, and the railway depot north of the square.
At the Tyler Public Library, volunteers helped build bookshelves and carry the metal shelves to the second floor from a storage area.
More Photos from The Big Event.
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