Women for Abilene Christian University donated six new benches on campus for their annual spring project funded primarily by baked goods sales.
Every year, Women for Abilene Christian University (WACU) fundraises close to $15,000 to spend on a new spring project that fills the needs for different departments on campus. Hazel Fillmon, WACU vice president and physical director of the ACU Museum, said every two years they fund a big project, and every other year, they donate to four or five departments who put in requests.
This year, WACU collaborated with the Physical Resources Department on campus to install four benches facing the GATA fountain and two along the walkway between McKinzie and MacDonald Hall, heading toward the science building.
“We made cement benches many years ago, and they were crumbling, so we wanted something a little more appropriate,” said WACU president Nancy Miller.
Fillmon said their primary source for income comes from selling baked goods. WACU used to sell pies in the living room of the Campus Center but the living room is being renovated into the Central Advising Office and therefore no longer available for their use.
During Summit in the Campus Center, WACU sold cookies and muffins, some of which were donated by women from local churches.
Corey Ruff, executive director of facilities and campus management, receives the check for the benches from Nancy Miller and Hazel Fillmon.
Fillmon and Kathy George, WACU member, still make and sell casseroles and different types of breads and cakes from noon-5 p.m. every Thursday at the ACU Museum. Fillmon said they accept only cash or checks but not credit cards.
“We’re looking to do a new project because we’re very likely gonna quit the food sales next summer because we have so few people doing it, and you know you get burned out after a while,” Miller said.
Miller said another one of the concerns is that they are not getting younger women to participate in WACU, which is an entirely volunteer-based organization.
Miller said WACU will unveil the details of the “big project” at a lunch meeting at noon Oct. 27 in the Hunter Welcome Center,
In the spring, eligible sophomores can apply for the WACU Scholarship, which is awarded to about 10-12 undergraduates per year.
