Augusta University gives back to the CSRA through Days of Service

Days of Service, Augusta University’s annual community service project, takes place each November. This year, more than 1,100 volunteers registered to participate and help out with various community service projects.

The annual Days of Service project is just one of the many ways Augusta University comes together to share its spirit of service with those who need it most.

More than 30 CSRA nonprofits and community organizations benefited from the approximately 2,200 volunteer hours. The volunteers took part in over 60 projects at 40-plus locations.

“Each year we put out the call to students and employees to come together in service to our shared community,” said Tina Baggott, associate vice president of Volunteer Services and Community Engagement.

“This year, once again, our AU and AU Health System family stepped up in a big way. From providing comfort items for cancer patients to completing beautification projects along the Savannah River, our volunteers gave generously of their time and talents to make the community the very best it can be and continue to demonstrate the Jaguar spirit of service is one that we can all be proud of.”

Examples of campus and community impact:

• AU volunteers served 45 clients at the Ronald McDonald House.
• The Wednesday Warrior group served over 160 meals at the Master’s Table Soup Kitchen.
• The HCCU team raised $1,700 for the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home, purchasing 15 Fire HD tablets and cases for the residents.
• Roger Duke’s project management students raised 1,540 pounds of non-perishables for the Open Paws Food Pantry. Duke is a professor in Hull College of Business.
• The Medical College of Georgia dean’s office donated 273 care and comfort items to the AU Patient- and Family-Centered Care Program.
• Georgia Cancer Center employees donated over 230 cleaning supplies to support the Comfort House’s annual clean-up day.
• Volunteers wrote 121 holiday cards for American Red Cross donors.

What they are saying:

• “We are so grateful for the time and talent of our AU volunteers! Such an amazing group who had a very long wish list of items to complete and knocked it out in no time. They did it all, from washing the house, cleaning out garden beds, laying out pine straw, potting plants and refreshing the paint on our handrails and rocking chairs. The team arrived on time, ready to work and helped transform our back yard to an oasis for our members on Central Avenue. Thank you!” — Sarah Cuevas, Jud C. Hickey Center for Alzheimer’s Care
• “Thanks so much for continuing this Days of Service — it’s a huge benefit to our nonprofit.” — Susan Everitt, American Red Cross
• “The volunteers that came were great and even reached out to continue their volunteering in an individual capacity.” — Karleigh King, Ronald McDonald House Charities
• “Again, all volunteers were super! They took initiative when initial assessments were completed, and carried our book sorting efforts beyond expectations. A large concern for us is to present new and different offerings at every sale and continually update what we have on the bookshop shelves, and with the aid of the AU team, that was achieved this time. Would like them all back again, if possible, at every future book sale!” — Dennis Garman, Friends of the Augusta Library
• “The AU Days of Service volunteers were awesome working with our members. Coach Dip Metress and the members of the AU basketball team created a variety of different stations on the court where our members not only had the opportunity to work on their basketball skills, but also to develop friendships! Our members are always very appreciative of others working with them and seem to step up their game to show everyone what they are capable of. We cannot thank everyone enough who volunteered and set up the AU Days of Service.” — Pamela Stickler, The RECing Crew