Each Spring for more than a decade, OU students and staff participating in the university’s Big Event have converged on Perle Mesta Park to give it a thorough Spring cleaning. The Big Event is a day of community service when OU students volunteer at local non-profit organizations across the entire Oklahoma City metro area. Nearly 6,000 students representing more than 100 campus organizations participated last year, and we look forward to their help again on Saturday morning, April 14th.
Our projects are similar to those required on our own yards at the beginning of the growing season: raking leaves (and thousands of sweet gum balls) and pulling weeds from all the flower beds, curbs and storm drains. We also try to mulch all the trees and give the gazebo a fresh coat of paint. These tasks would take our neighborhood Parks Committee weeks to accomplish but, it will happen in a few hours with the assistance of nearly 60 students from OU.
Please consider joining us for a few hours Saturday morning, April 14. We need volunteers to coordinate and supervise the students with each of our projects. We also need wheelbarrows, shovels and other gardening tools.
If you are unable to help, please consider donating snacks, bottled water or other supplies. There’s nothing that says ‘thanks’ better than a plate of homemade cookies or brownies to share with these students who will give up their Saturday morning to make our neighborhood a better place!
If you would like to volunteer or have any questions, please contact JB Schuelein at 525-2059!
— JB Schuelein
