Augusta, GA
Finding Solutions: Augusta Woman’s Club leads “Katherine’s 100 Trees” project at Diamond Lakes
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Volunteers planted nearly 60 trees at Diamond Lakes Park Friday to bring shade to families and runners who use the trail during hot summer afternoons.
The tree planting was part of a project called “Katherine’s 100 Trees” led by the Augusta Women’s Club. Students from Westminster, Augusta Parks and Recreation, Augusta Fire and the Savannah Riverkeeper participated in the morning planting.
“Feels good knowing that people will get to enjoy this and our hard work will pay off,” Banks Carter, an eighth-grader at Westminster participating in service day, said.
Project honors 95-year-old board member’s dream
Mary Jacobson with the Augusta Women’s Club said the project started when a 95-year-old board member shared her final wish.
“One of our board members that was about 95 and at a board meeting she was sitting beside me and said Mary you want to know what I want to do before I die, she said I want to plant 100 trees,” Jacobson said.
The organization has planted more than a couple thousand trees across Georgia since the project began.
“This has been this lady’s dream and I love seeing it through. It warms my heart,” Jacobson said.
Adding to previous plantings
The Augusta Women’s Club planted 45 trees at Diamond Lakes a few years ago and added 56 more today. Some of the new trees are expected to grow 50 feet tall in an area where shade is needed.
“We live down the road and have these walking tracks that in the summertime are absolutely brutal, so we are trying to put in shade trees along the walking track,” Jacobson said.
Tonya Bonitatibus, executive director for Savannah Riverkeeper, said the organization’s participation represents a long-term commitment to the Augusta and Savannah areas.
“This is just a long term commitment specifically within the Augusta and Savannah areas to try and be engaged outside the river in attempt to get others to come into the river space with us,” Bonitatibus said.
Carter encouraged others to get involved in their community.
“Just make sure you always give back to your community. Make sure you see the beauty in your community because someone worked to do that and always give back when you have the chance,” he said.
The Augusta Women’s Club gave away 2,000 trees to residents for Earth Day. The organization has 1,000 trees coming next month and plans another community giveaway.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Students showcased drones they built during a two-week summer camp at Augusta Regional Airport on Friday.
12 junior and high school students attended the camp, where they learned to fly and build drones designed to help others.
Anderson Puryear, a student, said the camp focused on delivering small medical supplies.
“It was focused on delivering small medical supplies like an EPI pen or glucose packet for like diabetics and for people with allergies in need in the real world that could obviously help save lives, and if people are like in a place in a boat or like in the desert or in the forest where they can’t easily access those supplies it can save their lives,” Puryear said.
The airport partnered with Georgia Tech, state troopers and the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Department for the Air Edu Summer Camp.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival brought families to the Augusta Fairgrounds on Friday despite the muggy heat.
Cultural and community-focused events, live music performances and food trucks were available at the celebration.
Tonia Hill, attending the Juneteenth celebration, said she loves the holiday and is supporting the community, though she acknowledged the weather conditions.
“I love Juneteenth. And I’m supporting everybody. It’s hot. It’s hot. It’s hot,” Hill said.
The festival runs until 10 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Dream Center is seeing more families turn to its food pantry this summer as children lose access to school lunches.
Organizations like the Augusta Dream Center see a surge in families who relied on school lunches during the academic year, according to Hallie Kohan, assistant director.
“We see a lot more families that have young kids who are in need that simply don’t have those meals they are normally getting,” Kohan said. “We see an influx of families that come through.”
Demand is up, but the food supply is not keeping pace.
“Right now we are having some food distribution issues so while we are seeing an increase in families, we are seeing a decrease in the amount of food coming through our doors,” Kohan said.
The center is asking the community to host food drives or donate kid-friendly items such as mac and cheese and oatmeal.
Every Sunday the Dream Center opens its doors for a hot meal, serving as many as 120 people.
“Families can come in and get their hot meal. They sit down, it’s dignified, it’s a diner,” Kohan said. “It’s a welcoming experience for kids to come in and not feel like they are in need.”
No paperwork is required to receive help.
“Just because you think someone is in a great situation, in today’s economy you never know,” Kohan said. “It could be your neighbor, mom, or best friend.”
The Augusta Dream Center food pantry is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 5 to 6 p.m. Hot meals are served Sundays from 5 to 6 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
-
Montana6 minutes agoPlanning For Life After Coal Cost a Montana County Commissioner His Seat – Inside Climate News
-
Nebraska9 minutes agoToday in History – June 20: ‘Carhenge’ opens to public in Alliance, Nebraska
-
Nevada21 minutes agoNevada’s First And Largest Military Outpost Is Now A Historic State Park To Camp, Paddle, And Hike – Islands
-
New Hampshire24 minutes agoNew Hampshire faces child care crisis: Costs rise, options fall – Valley News
-
New Jersey29 minutes agoParsippany Positioned for the Spotlight Through New Jersey’s Film Ready Program | Parsippany Focus
-
New Mexico36 minutes agoAPD: Pedestrian hit and killed in early morning crash
-
North Carolina38 minutes agoNorth Carolina’s 5 Most Efficient Scorers Next Season
-
North Dakota44 minutes agoFor North Dakota producers, ‘death by a thousand paper cuts’
