Missouri Western Students Clean St. Joseph Streets Saturday

Student volunteers at Missouri Western State University are proving that gratitude looks like action this Saturday morning in St. Joseph, Missouri.

For the fifth year running, students will spend two hours cleaning up the neighborhood around 29th and Lafayette streets as part of The Big Event, a nationwide day of service. They'll pick up litter, clear blocked sewer drains, and restore pride to streets surrounding the YWCA's Bliss Manor and Pivotal Point's transitional apartments.

The cleanup runs from 9 to 11 a.m. on March 28, with volunteers gathering at Mark Twain Early Learning Center for supplies and instructions. Transportation will be provided for anyone who needs it.

"The Big Event is dedicated to giving back to the community that gives so much to us," said Angie Osborn, director of Missouri Western's Center for Service. The university chose this neighborhood through the Imagine St. Joseph 2040 Adopt-a-Block program, committing to regular care for residents who call these streets home.

The focus on practical improvements like drain clearing and trash removal might seem simple, but Osborn points out the deeper impact. Clean spaces contribute to healthier living environments and improve mental wellbeing by creating surroundings that feel safe and cared for.

The Ripple Effect

What started as a simple thank you at Texas A&M University in 1982 has grown into the largest one-day student service project in America. Now colleges across the country dedicate one Saturday each spring to showing appreciation for the communities that support their students.

Missouri Western's partnership with the Center for Service and Student Government Association demonstrates that learning extends far beyond classroom walls. By serving neighbors who live near campus, students practice civic engagement and build lasting connections with the city they call home during their college years.

The cleanup targets an area with vulnerable populations, including families in transitional housing working to rebuild their lives. A cleaner, safer neighborhood sends a powerful message: your community sees you and cares about where you live.

Students can still register at griff.vn/BigEvent26 to join Saturday's effort and be part of something bigger than themselves.