Hogs and Kisses is a micro-sanctuary that opened its barn doors in Charlottesville in 2021. This year, Madison House is partnering with the farm to give UVA students an opportunity to volunteer with the seven pigs, five rabbits, and two turkeys! Click to learn more about Hogs & Kisses and the volunteer experience.
Madison House’s Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope (CASH) program works to train and coordinate student-volunteers to provide free tax preparation for low- and moderate-income community members…This year marks 15 years since the launch of the C’ville Tax Aid Coalition — a partnership including Madison House and the University of Virginia Community Credit Union that is coordinated by the United Way of Greater Charlottesville. Since its inception in 2007, the Coalition has generated over $35 million in direct economic impact for the Charlottesville area community.
As a first year at the University of Virginia (UVA), Chelsea Li (CLAS ‘20) wanted to soak up all the opportunities that the University had to offer. She found herself exploring new clubs and classes and was especially eager to be in the community. “In high school,” she said, “I felt as if I was missing a lot of the learning that happens outside the classroom.” This desire to stretch her curiosity across disciplines and interests, along with an intrinsic desire to uplift those around her, was what first brought Chelsea to Madison House.
The House has long been a place where students can come to find or rediscover themselves and their place within the community. This held true for Paige, who shared that “it gives me peace of mind knowing that I am a good swimmer but that's not what defines me. There's so much more to life, like helping others. My time at Madison House has allowed me to see that.”
Kruse, from Ridgeland, Mississippi, is a fourth-year student in the McIntire School of Commerce. She initially got involved in the program because of her prior experience in advocacy work.
“Ultimately, the goal of the program is for students to learn about environmental science through a native lens,” Kruse said. “Maelee Hearington, another UVA student, and I wrote the curriculum to focus on science, social activism and social justice. We also provide additional resources like workbooks, markers, easels and notebooks.”
As Head Program Director of the Adopt-a-Grandparent program, Emma has dedicated many hours to getting to know the woman she calls her “adopted grandma”. After discovering that they both had lived in Emma’s hometown in West Virginia, they quickly developed a close relationship. “My favorite part of my week is getting to spend time with her,” says Emma. Read more about Emma’s experience in the Adopt-a-Grandparent program at Madison House.
For over 40 years, UVA students have been volunteering with Therapeutic Adventures and IndependencePlus Adaptive Sports. Mark Andrews founded the program when he was a graduate student at UVA from 1980-1983. In the past four decades, a family-like community has developed among the athletes and volunteers as they inspire and encourage one another. “We exist to provide leadership, programs, and specialty therapeutic services to educate, to challenge, and to inspire persons of all ages and abilities. Individuals who have experienced traumatic or catastrophic life events learn positive ways to adapt and overcome those challenges. Our unique approach of teaching, coaching, guiding, and mentoring makes it possible for persons with disabilities and complex medical needs to restore, to rebuild, to re-create themselves,” comments Mark.
With seven programs under her Madison House umbrella, third-year UVA student Dao Tran manages 65 volunteers and oversaw 500 hours combined of service in the Fall 2023 semester. Dao is Head Program Director of After School Programming, as well as a co-Program Director for the Music Resource Center. Read on to find out why Dao is invested in serving the community.
Sonia Patel (she/her) is a fourth-year Cognitive Science major in the College of Arts & Sciences. Sonia is the president of Charlottesville Community Access to Resources, Exposure, and Support (Cville CARES), a CIO whose mission is to serve the underprivileged and underserved community of Charlottesville. Sonia also is a volunteer with Medical Services and Head Program Director for Tutoring with Madison House. Her post-graduation plans include attending medical school and becoming a physician in the future.
She is a researcher working in labs in the biology, biomedical engineering and neurological surgery departments. Also a Madison House volunteer, she is a founder and head program director of the Creative Learning After School and Summer Program; a program director with Madison House Medical Services; a member of the Madison House HELP Line Outreach Team….
