Evan Turman and many of his fraternity brothers spent Saturday cleaning up old tires from the property of an elderly man in North Park Veteran’s Center. 

Turman and 3,225 Pitt students participated in Pitt Make A Difference Day, a program that gives students an opportunity to provide direct, hands-on service to their community. Pitt’s Student Government Board, in collaboration with the Office of Student Affairs, organized the volunteer efforts for the seventh annual event, which took place Saturday in Oakland, other parts of the city and its surrounding areas from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

According to a University press release about the event, 4,500 students signed up. Mimi Frisch, a member of SGB’s Allocations Committee, said that more than 70 buses transported students to 91 volunteer sites. A few sites were within walking distance, including two right on campus, while others were located as far as Champion, Pa., an hour and a half from campus.  

This year’s PMADD saw an increase in participation from last year. According to Mary Mallampalli, who coordinated last year’s PMADD, about 3,000 students attended last year’s event, for which 4,000 signed up, and the event included 63 work sites.

Frisch said that she did not have the official amount spent on this year’s event, but Mallampalli said that more than $35,000 was spent on PMADD last year. 

Participants met and signed in at the William Pitt Union at 9 a.m. before leaving by bus for their assigned locations. Groups of students, undeterred by the early start time, held garbage bags or other tools while working to beautify neighboring communities.

Turman said that he and his brothers from Pi Kappa Alpha plan to participate in PMADD in future years. “The owner was incredibly grateful that we took the time to do what he physically was unable to do,” he said.

Sarah Cassatt, a sophomore health and nutrition major, spent the day mulching and planting seeds at a community garden in East Liberty, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh’s East End.

“It was cold, but we were working for a great cause, so it was completely worth it,” she said. “I wish I had become involved [with PMADD] earlier in my [college] career.”

Although the weather was cold, students’ energy was lively and contagious.

Kristen West, a freshman social work major, said she is excited to participate in PMADD next year as well as in other volunteer events at Pitt.

“I think that being a part of PMADD is especially good for those who are originally from outside of Pittsburgh because it allows them to give back to the city that has given them such a warm welcome,” West said.