UF Volunteers Help 90 Families Each During Move-In Weekend

Volunteers at the University of Florida just wrapped up an incredible weekend helping thousands of new students start their college journey with a warm welcome and plenty of helping hands.

Throughout move-in weekend for the fall 2026 semester, resident assistants and volunteers stationed themselves across campus to greet families, answer questions, and haul heavy boxes and suitcases. The operation required volunteers to work two eight-hour days in the Florida heat, but their enthusiasm never wavered.

Junior RA Aidan Hosler explained the massive scale of the effort. His residential area alone welcomed over a thousand students, with volunteers coordinating 30 cars every 30 minutes across three different buildings.

"As a resident assistant, this is one of the ways that we get to welcome residents to our community," Hosler said. "It helps them settle into the community, feel part of that area, and just bring positivity to other people's lives."

Senior RA Gretta Burke pushed through the brutal heat with a smile. "I know it's so warm, and it's brutal. We do two eight-hour days; I just think it's so much fun," she said.

For Burke, the weekend means more than physical labor. She remembers her own move-in day and finds joy in witnessing the bittersweet moments between students and their families.

"I love welcoming the students to campus, and I also really love seeing the parents," Burke explained. "I just think it's so sweet to see all of the both sad and happy moments where the families are saying goodbye for the year and trusting their kids with us."

Sunny's Take

What makes this story special isn't just the impressive logistics of moving thousands of students in one weekend. It's the volunteers who remembered their own nervous first days and chose to make the experience easier for others. They turned what could be a stressful, chaotic experience into a welcoming celebration.

By Sunday evening, each volunteer had personally helped about 90 families navigate one of life's biggest transitions. The next generation of Gators is now settled in and ready for classes, thanks to students who gave up their weekend to spread kindness.