Amid Augusta University’s LEAP Week activities, incoming students had the opportunity to make new friends and give back to the community.
On Friday, students took part in several volunteer efforts including making blankets for the non-profit group, Project Linus. For the AU activity, students made tie blankets, cutting the edges of a piece of soft fabric and tying the edges off.
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“It’s so much fun,” said student Vanessa Dominguez-Acosta, who completed two blankets with her fellow students.
The ballroom in the student services center was filled with tables — each with a team of students working on blankets. Four students were at Dominguez-Acosta’s table. The volunteer effort was part of the second day of LEAP Week activities, and the students said they were glad to have the chance to get to know one another over the project.
“And we’re helping someone,” said Shelton Edwards, another student who was at the table with Dominguez-Acosta.
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LEAP Week is an extended orientation at Augusta University. It began Aug. 5 and will conclude with freshman convocation on Tuesday, Aug. 10. Classes begin Aug. 11.
The blanket-making activity was one of several service projects students worked on in two sessions Friday. They also stuffed backpacks with school supplies and painted rocks, according to Roberto Aragon, Augusta University’s coordinator for student involvement.
Joining the Augusta University students were about 10 airmen from Fort Gordon’s 305th Cyberspace Operations Squadron.
Senior Airman Riley Reinold attended her first blanket-making day in Evans last month and told people from her squadron about the organization.
“Every first Friday, we leave work early and go to a restaurant or play miniature golf. It’s a good way to boost morale,” she said.
And giving back makes people feel good, she added.
Christine Newby, local chapter coordinator for Project Linus, said she hoped to have 200 blankets to give to children in need by the end of the day.
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Blanketeers, as Project Linus volunteers are called, have made 2,300 blankets so far this year, Newby said.
As the supply has increased, so has the demand.
“We just got in with the burn center,” she said.
And some of the fire stations are also taking blankets to give to children affected by house fires.
Project Linus meets on the third Saturday of each month at Platt’s Funeral Home on Belair Road.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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