Since I was a young boy I was instilled with the belief by my parents that one of the greatest things we can do as individuals is to help those in need. That by helping our neighbors we may be able to improve the community we live in, even if it is something minor. Because of how I was raised I have grown to hold philanthropy work close to my heart.

I think it is very cool that my college champions student involvement in our surrounding community, and that it gives us the chance to make large impacts in local neighborhoods. One of the many ways that my college allows to serve is through an annual event called “Big Event”.

Big Event is a completely student managed organization that every year galvanizes the Centenary community into helping the neighborhoods in our part of Shreveport. It has been going on now at our campus for ten years, and each subsequent year our scope of assistance has grown wider and wider.

Although every one thought it was going to rain last Saturday, it didn’t, we had a strong enough turn out that our work sites were all full with hard working students, and college alumni. We were working in yards, on roofs, in the streets, and in gardens doing anything we could to help those who couldn’t help themselves.

It was a great feeling to sacrifice time to help others. It was great to see that our Big Event had such an impact on these families and on the participants. I am blessed to go to a college where this type of communal initiative isn’t atypical, but rather an expected norm.

I understand that philanthropy work is everyone’s ideal way of spending their freetime. I get that. However, giving up an hour or even two to help people with making their lives a little easier by completing tasks they couldn’t do alone is worth it. You may not receive any form of monetary gain from helping someone, but I feel like you might gain some sort of spiritual direct deposit.

For those who go to Centenary and didn’t have the opportunity to give back this year don’t worry. We’ll be back again next year with Big Event 11, and you’ll have every opportunity to join our group, and if youd like to volunteer right alongside us when the day comes in the Spring. Remember what JFK said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Im pretty sure it wants you to help it grow by volunteering to improve it.