The Student Nurses Association is teaming up with Lee County's Head Start program to host Project Underpants, a month-long project accepting donations for underprivileged children.
Project Underpants is SNA's fall philanthropy where members collect new and unopened children's underwear, sizes 3-8.
Stuart Pope, faculty adviser for SNA, said the project began after members visited Lee County schools for informational presentations.
"While we were there, some of the students noticed that a few of the kids were not participating and not behaving like they were happy," Pope said. "After asking the teachers and finding out they'd had an accident, the students found that while their clothes were being washed, they didn't have anything else to put on, which can be humiliating."
Members of SNA quickly agreed that they could find a way to help with this issue.
"These are kids with backgrounds of disadvantages," Pope said. "So our students said, 'What can we do to help?' and settled with Project Underpants."
Jessica Godwin, senior in nursing and president of SNA, said anyone is welcome to donate to Project Underpants.
"We have bins located around several of the sorority halls," Godwin said. "If anyone wants to volunteer to be a liaison for us, they can take a bin to set up in their dorm. We also accept monetary donations to buy more underwear to fill in the gaps of what we don't have, since we'll have more of some sizes than others."
Project Underpants is not limiting the donations collected to Lee County. The SNA voted to include an orphanage in Malawi, Africa, that is currently under construction and will house approximately 100 children when complete.
"This is the first year that we are sending underwear overseas, so we're happy to be taking the project international," said Blair Snell, senior in nursing and SNA vice president.
Auburn SNA is part of the National Student Nurses Association, and Auburn members held a presentation at this year's annual conference, inspiring schools in Virginia and Texas to host their own Project Underpants events.
The SNA is also teaming up with area businesses to promote the initiative.
The Chick-fil-A on Magnolia Avenue will give a free milkshake donors until Nov. 18.
"Cici's Pizza is hosting a Project Underpants now, and when a customer mentions the project, they will donate 10 percent of the ticket to the cause," Pope said. "Donations made this night will get someone a free drink, as well."
Students are encouraged to contact any member of SNA to make donations or if they have questions about where to donate.
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