DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University just wrapped up another annual Week to Engage. This is an entire week where student-athletes and members of the Averett community give back and connect with the city of Danville.

The hometown university worked with a total of 29 partners to tackle 58 service projects during the week of Sept. 11-16. A total of 350 students, faculty and staff signed up for Week to Engage with an additional 50 showing up to projects.

Averett Athletics is a big part of Week to Engage as many teams signed up for a specific project through the university's Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness (CCECC).

"It's really good for us to give back to this area because — us being student-athletes — we're going to be here for the next four years so this is kinda going to be our home for a while," freshman men's soccer player Colton Duchess said.

During Week to Engage, Averett partnered with after-school sites, Dan River Basin Association, God's Storehouse, the Alzheimer's Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club and many more.

"It helps the children have a positive role model in their life," junior softball player Essence Pulliam said. So like, when they get to be our age they'll want to do it also.

Week to Engage is used to promote intentional volunteering opportunities and to show the Averett community that they can help fulfill the community's needs. The experience is said to grow teams closer together, open their eyes to what is going on around them and to create core values.

"Averett Athletes in general and even just Averett in general — everyone does something, everyone's a part of the community and it's just great to see everyone together," senior women's soccer player Cassidy Feldt said.