I want to take this opportunity to speak about the KU Big Event, its cancellation and my wonderful neighbors. I am an elderly woman and, unfortunately, on March 9, I fell in my home and broke my shoulder. I still have problems and I am currently in physical therapy. I didn’t know what I was going to do in the coming spring with all the yard work that needed to be done but I participated in the KU Big Event two years ago. 

It was a godsend to me and has been for other elderly people in our community, helping us stay in our homes longer than we would if we were on our own. I tried to participate last year but was told that it was closed. I called again this year hoping to get on their list due to my injury. I had not heard back from anyone at the Big Event until I called around the first of April only to be told it was closed yet again. I was very disappointed but thought I could try and do my yard work myself. 

The Saturday before the Big Event I was trying to rake with one hand when my neighbor, Rebecca, saw me and she asked, “Should you be doing that?” I told her it needed to be done to which she replied, “Well, I got a little time.” She was helping me clean and trim my flower beds when I got a phone call.  The Big Event called to tell me that they had 23 additional volunteers and I was placed back on the schedule. I was very grateful and relieved after a woman from the Big Event” came to my house to see what needed to be done.  

I was aware that there might be storms on the day of the Big Event but did not know it was canceled until the Friday night before the event. My other neighbor, Kim, came over saying, “I’m the Big Event.” I didn’t understand what she meant until she explained that it had been canceled due to the weather. Over the last few weeks, she cleaned out the rest of my flower beds, trimming my rose bushes and planting some flowers.  

I am so grateful to have wonderful neighbors, including some who brought food, and I hope all the elderly who were impacted by the cancellation of the Big Event had people to help them as well. I am also grateful for all the volunteers with the Big Event and I hope that it continues to assist the elderly in our community. I look forward to the Big Event next year.