When moving to the Augusta area several years ago, Susan Murray wanted to make connections with others and learn more about her new home. She found that and more in the Augusta Area Newcomers Club.
“When you come to a new community, you don’t know people,” said Murray, the organization’s treasurer. “They welcomed me with open arms. I had all these things to do, people to go to lunch with, and we were helping community organizations. Everyone here wants to have fun and do things.”
Founded 52 years ago, the club once only allowed its members to stay in for a couple of years before they cycled through to stay true to the name, but now members can stay in longer. Membership has grown to about 250 people.
Within the club are a variety of different groups – from book clubs to card groups to other types of social activities. And the organization adopts a charity each year, raising funds and volunteering where possible.
“Many of our members are drawn to the area because of children and grandchildren,” said Cheryl Schuback, the club’s communications director, who joined the group in 2019. “I love spending time with my family, but I want to interact with folks my age who have similar interests I could connect with.”
And she said there are so many activities during the club year that members could probably be involved with something almost every day. The club members typically meet from September to May. They recently celebrated their year at a luncheon at Champion’s Retreat, voting on officers for the next year and celebrating the highlights of the previous one.
Also, they presented a $22,500 check to Drumgoole Family Initiatives and its Bridge Builder program, which will be building a tiny home community and providing mentoring services to teens transitioning out of the foster care system.
Dr. Jackson Drumgoole said the funds would go toward the project’s construction and was appreciative of their efforts.
“This shows that when we put politics aside, race aside, when we put everything else aside, we in this city can truly wrap around any complex problem and solve it,” he said.
Not only did the members raise money, they partnered with Project Linus to collect handmade quilts for the young adults who will be living in the tiny homes.
Murray said that other group members with a talent for shopping also purchased items for the homes. The club will take the summer off and return in September for an event at Sacred Heart Cultural Center. To learn more, visit the website.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
