Angela Hernandez said volunteering for the United States Census is her way of saying “thank you” to Mount Pleasant.

“I’ve lived here for four years,” the Allen Park senior said. “It’s kind of my way of giving back.”

Hernandez was one student volunteering at the Census tour that came to campus Thursday. Students, city and Census Bureau officials dispersed bags filled with items such as coffee mugs and mini footballs as a reminder to mail census forms.

The tour is one of 13 of its kind going across the country to promote participation in the census.

“This is phenomenal we’ve had this kind of coverage,” said Zaf Khaja, a partnership specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau. “The response has been overwhelming.”

Khaja said the tour has focused especially on college campuses because this age group, especially, may be confused as to where they count.

“You are the young folk and you will define what we are as a nation,” he said. “If you don’t define it, who will?”

Where the money goes

Students are required to fill the census out in the place where they live a majority of the year. On-campus students will get a form from their resident assistants and return it to them. Off-campus students can mail their forms back, or return them to the Bovee University Center or City Hall, 320 W. Broadway St.

Census data is used to apportion more than $4 trillion in federal funding over the next 10 years, as well as reapportion congressional and state legislative districts, said Mike Price, media specialist for the Census Bureau.

“Representation in Congress is what makes democracy work,” he said. “We want every state to have their representation.”

Farmington Hills junior Zac Cohen, who lives off-campus, said he has not gotten his census form yet, but said the information at the tour was helpful.

“Once I get mine, I will (fill it out),” he said.

Jeff Gray, director of planning and community development for Mount Pleasant, said the city will eventually be able to track how many forms have been returned.

“Our goal is to keep that response rate up there,” he said.

While some items the tour was giving away lasted, Gray said some giveaways ended quickly.

“I think the lunch sacks went in about 10 seconds,” he said. “But people are loving the mugs.”

E-mail the author: David Veselenak