Augusta University students are increasing their involvement in community service through the Jags Jump In initiative, a program designed to connect volunteers with local organizations and individuals in need. The initiative, organized by the Office of Community Engagement, aims to make volunteering more accessible by providing transportation and structured opportunities. This year, the number of Jags Jump In events will double from three to six.
“Jags Jump In is just one of the initiatives helping us create meaningful ways for students to connect with and give back to the community, made possible through our strong collaboration with Student Life and Engagement,” said Amanda Richardson, community engagement manager for the Office of Community Engagement.
A key part of Jags Jump In is its partnership with Project Refresh, a nonprofit that offers mobile showers and basic necessities to people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity in Augusta. Project Refresh was founded in 2020 by Brittany Hutto and provides services eight times a month.
“The best way I know how to explain to people the importance of a shower is we all remember how it felt after not having a shower for several days, or maybe even weeks, after Hurricane Helene. That feeling you had when you finally were able to get a shower, that’s what our guests experience every time they shower because some of them have gone a week without a shower, and others have gone three to six months,” Hutto said.
Project Refresh works both by collaborating with other organizations at their events and by holding monthly standalone events at May Park. On the last workday each month at May Park in downtown Augusta, Project Refresh partners with the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Richmond County office. From 9 a.m. until noon, guests can access showers as well as hygiene kits, clothing, health resources and more. Volunteers from Augusta University help set up facilities, greet guests, distribute supplies and clean between uses.
“We have a monthly refresh program where we give our feminine guests a month’s worth of feminine hygiene products. It’s everything they need for their menstrual cycle,” Hutto said. “We also have a shoe program called ‘Walk a Mile in My Shoes’ where we give our guests shoes every 90 days. And then our team has members who are nurses and occupational therapists, so we also do a lot of wound care, care for diabetics and other health-related care.”
Through regular visits around the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA), Project Refresh staff have established relationships with many guests.
“We had a gentleman we were trying to help with resume building. He came to one of our events and said, ‘I’m not going to get a job right now. I’m going to check myself into rehab. You guys have been more like a family to me than anything I’ve ever experienced, and you’ve reminded me of the fact that I have value and worth,’” Hutto said. “To me, that’s the impact of a shower. It’s giving someone the reminder that they have value and worth as a person. It’s helping them feel like a new shiny penny when they come out, so they feel good. They’re ready to conquer the world and do something different.”
Christopher Vega attended an April event at May Park where he received several services from Project Refresh while searching for employment.
“It reinforces the idea that there are good people out there still, and no matter what you’re going through, as long as you have those community ties, that nothing is out of reach,” he said. “It really does bring hope, because sometimes I just feel like so, so low. But then I hear this is happening. It brings me back up. It brings my head back up above water, so to speak, and I don’t feel like I’m drowning anymore.”
Vega added that volunteers offer support beyond basic needs.
“The special thing about this place is the real love and how it feels like a family,” Vega said. “You can find real love if you’re looking for it, and all you have to do is put yourself out there. No matter how dirty and bad you feel about yourself, don’t hide away from people who are trying to help you.”
Augusta University students across disciplines participate alongside faculty during these events by running intake forms or providing direct support based on their training.
Kara Jones volunteered at an April event along with classmates from her graduate program in Allied Health Sciences.
“I did a mental health minor in undergrad because all of our health goes together – mental health and your physical health. It all works toward your overall well-being,” Jones said. “If you don’t have the means to take a shower then that really doesn’t make you feel like a person anymore.”
Ella Biddy also volunteered at May Park while studying dietetics at AU.
“The positive energy from an event like this is huge thing especially for the community and people who have trouble with access to food housing or other necessities,” Biddy said.“Your physical health affects your mental health so if you have poor mental health it can be harder take care physical health or seek out proper attention.”
Biddy emphasized why AU participation matters:
“It really helps students faculty staff connect with community,” Biddy said.“It’s really important get AU students faculty staff involved community helping projects like Project Refresh others because it’s really good give back but also gives them idea maybe where want be who want help as they’re thinking about career what paths take life.”
Hutto agreed on student involvement:
“It’s imperative because students are building skill sets,and it’s giving students opportunity serve those who can’t maybe get services elsewhere,” Hutto said.“Community huge.If our guests here failing then our community eventually going fail.There so many different ways serve nonprofits.It’s really cool have students come say ‘We’d love take project actually build something use real life,’and we will use it.So think cool.”
Students interested in participating can find upcoming volunteer opportunities through JagPulse,the university’s official platform for service tracking.
