More than 2,000 people participated in the 16th annual Service Raleigh event Saturday in an effort to promote service in the greater Raleigh community.

Despite the stormy weather, the event attracted its largest number of participants yet.

Students participated in a variety of events such as highway trash pick-ups and transplanting, which were aimed at improving the Raleigh area and bringing together communities.

Service Raleigh was well prepared for the rain and had a backup schedule in case of inclement weather, according to Gabrielle Robbins, a sophomore in animal science and co-head for the community involvement committee.

At the event, there were a significant number of high school students that participated in addition to college students. 

The opening ceremony, originally planned to be held at Harris Field was moved to Carmichael Gym, where it consisted of an introduction and a few guest speakers. Several outdoor events were cancelled due to the rain, but those that could be done indoors were moved inside.

Mitchell Moravec, a freshman majoring in materials science and psychology, said he was in a group of about 10 people who worked with Pan Lutheran Ministries, specifically the PLM Families Together organization, which provides temporary housing for the homeless.

Moravec said he greatly appreciated the program and felt that it opened the door to a more permanent relationship between students and the greater Raleigh community.

Service Raleigh was created 16 years ago through the cooperation of N.C. State’s student government and the Park Scholars. It has gained popularity throughout the years and has brought communities all around Raleigh together in the effort to aid organizations, according to Robbins.

One of the goals of the program is to “inspire our volunteers to a lifetime of involvement” and, so far, it has successfully brought back many people from previous years, as well as inspiring many to come back the following year.

Siddhu Vadakkeveedu, a sophomore in biomedical engineering, also participated in Service Raleigh. He was in a group of fewer than 10 fellow biomedical engineers and was tasked with improving the exterior of Spring Arbor of Raleigh, a retirement home.

Vadakkeveedu said his group picked up trash and worked on gardening and landscaping projects. Vadakkeveedu said he greatly appreciated the program and said he “plans on doing [Service Raleigh] in the years to come.”

In addition, Vadakkeveedu said that the program was extremely well planned. According to him, emails were sent out in advance detailing plans in case it should rain. Furthermore, he enjoyed how well everything was organized and how the groups were made and split up effectively.

Vadakkeveedu said Service Raleigh is a great way for both college and high school students to learn about how to get involved with volunteering, as well as a great way for Raleigh-area organizations to find volunteers interested in specific causes.