OPELIKA — EAMC-Lanier in Valley may not deliver babies, but the EAMC campus just down Interstate 85 does for many Greater Valley Area mothers. To help keep the new little ones warm and start them on the road to college football fandom early, the hospital has teamed with Auburn University athletics to provide them AU branded blankets.

Gifting the blankets was started last year. In the three month period starting in September of 2017, coinciding with football season, EAMC gave out 480 blankets according to the hospital’s director of public relations and marketing, John Atkinson.

“It was just an idea that my Fox Sports rep and I had in the spring of 2017 when we were discussing the upcoming season,” Atkinson said. “Our contract allows us to co-brand with Auburn on a limited basis… Since everyone loves football in the fall and newborn babies, we thought they would make a great combo.”

The blankets will be offered to every newborn, no matter which county they hail from. Because of the proximity to the school, only Auburn will be represented on the blankets. Atkinson said that EAMC does this to celebrate the births while also giving the babies and mothers something to remember the hospital and area by.

“Most people who come to the hospital are there because they are injured or ill,” he said. “Pregnant women are among the few people excited to go to a hospital and welcome the birth of their newborn child… We’re excited to send those newborn babies home in an EAMC / AU blanket as a special reminder of their child’s birth.”