When Ogeechee Technical College received a donation of watermelons, they wanted to find a way to use them to help the community. After holding a lunch for Joseph's Home for Boys last week and then a faculty appreciation watermelon cutting this week, they still had watermelons left over.

            So they contacted the Boys and Girls Club and Monday they served about 175 children watermelon.

            "This seemed like an easy way for us to give back to the community," said Ogeechee Technical College President Dawn Cartee in between serving watermelon slices.

            Cartee and other OTC employees were busy as they had nearly 200 watermelons available to distribute.

            "I didn't know children this size could each so much watermelon," Cartee said.

            Mike Backus, resource development director for the Boys and Girls Club, said he eager to have OTC give watermelon to the children when they offered.

            "We consider our relationship with OTC very important," he said. "The kids are very appreciative."

            Backus said the gesture was a great way to wind up the summer activities before school starts on Wednesday.

            "It's great to see all the support staff and even the president of OTC out here," he said.

            Cartee said events like the watermelon cutting are examples of how the school can be involved in more than just the academic aspect of the community.

            "We want to not just help educate people, but to give back to the community," she said. "We've got the faculty, the facilities and the resources," she said. "We need to be an active part of the community by doing things like this."