Children in hospitals will have blankets made for them with the funds raised by the AFCSP (Association of Family and Consumer Science Professionals) club at Wayne State College. 

“We decided to do a bake sale to raise money for Project Linus which is a non-profit organization that donates blankets to children in hospitals,” Payje Rayback, AFCSP club president, said.   

AFCSP members hosted the bake sale in the library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 13. The bake sale allowed students to receive treats for donating money to make blankets for Project Linas.   

“It’s a really hard time for children and families,” Carol Erwin, an associate professor of family and consumer sciences at WSC, said. “So, I think whenever any sort of group does things to give something to those families, whether it’s time or an item that can be comforting like a blanket, it’s really special.” 

The bake sale allowed students to learn about the AFCSP club and what the club does for the community.   

“We are not just a cooking and cleaning club,” Rayback said. “We are students who want to be more involved with the FCS profession and get professional development through conferences. It helps with the community.” 

AFCSP members gain skills in learning how to raise money and help with events. 

“I love they get their own hands-on experience with the raising of funds and to get the materials to specially make the blankets then giving to Project Linas to distribute to the families,” Erwin said. “In the future sense, when they become teachers and professionals, they may be the ones who are facilitating groups of their own students doing fundraisers.”  

Students participating in the bake sale got to learn about AFCSP and Project Linus. 

“The opportunity to interact with students and educate them about our club and its purpose,” Harleigh Claussen, an AFCSP club member, said. “Our main purpose is really to create a space for all family consumer sciences majors to gather and talk about what we’re doing.” 

Club members spent time baking the treats for the event. 

“We baked at home,” Claussen said.  

Club members baked treats themselves and different types of treats were provided at the bake sale.  

“Most of our students are majors in FCS (Family and Consumer Sciences) and FCS education,” Erwin said.  

The club consists of students and officers who help the community through events.  

The AFCSP club is involved in the community more than just a bake sale. 

“We’re going to a nursing home in April at Kinship and doing an Easter activity with all the residents,” Rayback said. “We do a lot of community involvement.” 

AFCSP helped create an impact on children by making blankets for Project Linus. The bake sale is only one of the events the AFCSP club does to help the community.