Members of the Wichita State community completed more than 450 hours of community service over the weekend with Wu’s Big Event.

The Community Service Board, a campus organization, planned the event, which included students, faculty and staff completing service projects at 23 locations Friday and Saturday. The locations included United Way’s Give Items of Value (GIV) Warehouse, several YMCAs, Woofstock and others.

“The whole goal of the Community Service Board is to participate in passionate service together, and we wanted to give the Wichita community an idea of how passionate Wichita State is in giving time to the community,” said Lauren McGuire, big events chair for the board. “We’ve noticed that a lot of individuals want to volunteer, they just don’t know how to, or don’t know who to ask or don’t want to take the time to go do that. So that’s where we come in.”

McGuire said at first, it was difficult to find places for students to volunteer during Wu’s Big Event. She said United Way’s Volunteer Center helped with that problem.

“They got my email about Wu’s Big Event,” McGuire said, “and they said that they could nudge a little my way and get some more service sites for us, and they ended up being a huge asset, and I really appreciated their help.”

Mark Stump, director of direct services for United Way, said the GIV warehouse couldn’t exist without the support of volunteers. For that program, companies donate items and nonprofits throughout Kansas can come “shop” at the warehouse to get much-needed items for free, ultimately saving them money in overhead expenses.

Students spent time sorting items and removing barcodes, laughing as they worked. Sarah Cummings, a WSU alumna and returning student, volunteered Saturday since she had a break in her work schedule. She said she thinks it is important for students to spend time volunteering because one time will lead to more.

“In the grand scheme of things, everyone wants the world to be better, despite their differences or different perspectives,” Cummings said.

Stump is also a WSU alumnus — and former WuShock — and said he was happy to have the students there. He also said that volunteering is beneficial for students.

“From the students’ perspective, they get an opportunity to see that there is a need out there and that they do have the ability, regardless of skill set, to be able to come help us with this project,” Stump said. “They didn’t see the clients and the people that they’re helping directly, but they know that there’s a need out there.”

McGuire said this was the first time Wu’s Big Event was held, and even though the group didn’t meet their goal of 1,895 service hours, they did complete 450.

“That’s what matters, is the amount of service that we were able to give out to the community,” McGuire said. “This was the first time we’ve done this. We’re hoping in the future we can get enough volunteers to reach that service number.”

McGuire said the Community Service Board is planning Wu’s Big Event 2.0 for the spring semester. She also said as a way of thanking student volunteers, the Rhatigan Student Center and University Bookstore will hold National Student Day on Thursday. During that day, students who show pictures of themselves volunteering can win prizes and other incentives.

For more information, go to wichita.edu and search “National Student Day.”